What is Credentialing?
Credentialing ensures that responders arriving upon a disaster scene are licensed, if necessary, and have a basic, uniform level of understanding of the Incident Command System (ICS), the organizational structure used to determine Who's in charge here? Who does what? Where can we get supplies? etc. With pre-incident credentialing, state veterinarians and emergency management directors benefit from having a pool of qualified and reliable persons to assist in response.
Who should get credentialed? How do you get credentialed?
State Veterinarians from the Southern Animal Health Association developed the following potential responder activity groups:
- Veterinarians
- Animal Technicians
- Extension Agents
- Wildlife Agents
- Volunteers (includes animal owners, producers & care personnel)
- Other (includes administrative, GIS/GPS, communications consultants)
...and established minimal* requirements/training includes:
- ICS 100, 200, and 700 courses
- Overview of biosecurity procedures
- Foreigh animal disease awareness review
- Review of state's emergency plan for animals/agriculture
- Reading and signing a Code of Conduct statement
- Online ICS courses or CDs available
- FAD awareness & Biosecuritycourses - online,classroom
- SC Animal/Ag Emergency Plan (www.clemson.edu/LPH)
- Contact Clemson University Livestock Poultry Health at 803-788-2260 ext 286 or 237
Is Credentialing Mandatory?
Credentialing is not mandatory in SC, just recommended.
In some states, volunteers must present credentials to respond to a disaster!
*Additional advanced training is available and may be required in future years.