This page links to many external training references and resources. ARES membership and participation in ARES activities is open to ALL licensed amateur radio operators.
Before beginning training, it is recommended that each operator start their ARES Binder. This binder is either provided by your local ARES EC (Emergency Coordinator), or you can download and print the materials yourself. You can download all the ARES Binder material here.
*** NOTICE *** Unless otherwise stated, all the training listed here is available online at no cost.
Required Training for Official Credentialing
For official credentialing, members must complete the Application for Membership, provide proof of identity, pass a criminal background check, and complete the minimum required training outlined in this section. (light red border)
Register for a FEMA SID (Student Identification) number at https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid/register
What is a FEMA SID?
FEMA Student Identification (SID) number is a unique number generated and assigned to anyone who needs or is required to take training provided by a FEMA organization. Your FEMA SID uniquely identifies you throughout the FEMA organization and all of its agencies. The goal is for your FEMA SID to serve as your personal identification number instead of your Social Security Number (SSN) in support of FEMA’s effort to decrease/cease the use of SSN for identifying and tracking individuals.
Recommended Additional FEMA Training
The training in this table is recommended for credentialed ARES members. The courses listed here are either required or recommended as pre-requisites for the ARRL courses listed after this section.
Recommended ARRL Courses
After completion of the FEMA courses listed above, the following courses offered by the American Radio Relay League are recommended for those wishing to pursue leadership in the ARES® organization.
EC-001 – Introduction to Emergency Communication
*** This course costs $50 for ARRL members and $85 for non-members ***
This course is designed to provide basic knowledge and tools for any emergency communications volunteer. The course has 6 sections with 29 lesson topics. It includes required student activities,as well as a 35-question final assessment and is expected to take approximately 45 hours to complete over a 9-week period. Students will have access to the course platform at any time of day during this 9-week period so they may work according to their own schedule.
EC-016 – Public Service and Emergency Communications Management for Radio Amateurs
*** This course can be accessed for free, but the final evaluation for credit cost $35 ***
After completing the online portion of this course, and all pre-requisites have been met, a candidate wishing to receive credit for completion of this course may start the application process for final evaluation.
Go to the EC-016 Application for Final Assessment page for full instructions on completion.