Training
Over the past year, SUSAR has worked to modify FEMA curriculum for position specific roles respective to state level responsibilities, planning needs and expectations. The first four are here and will be delivered at the conference in Orlando!
FAQs for SUSAR Curriculum Developed Courses
1. Why are the SUSAR Curriculum Courses being developed?
Given some of the challenges for state and local search and rescue teams to secure deliveries of the FEMA US&R Curriculum positions specific courses, the SUSAR Curriculum Courses are being developed to meet the training needs of state and local partners in the National US&R System.
2. What is the difference in the content between the SUSAR Curriculum Courses and their respective FEMA courses?
While the core course material for the SUSAR Curriculum Courses has not changed, the FEMA specific content (i.e. FEMA US&R Branch specific policies and forms) has been reduced and replaced with broader practices respective to state and local agencies, so they can utilize them to shape relevant response planning and operations.
3. Who developed the SUSAR Curriculum Courses?
Both State and FEMA US&R instructors and subject matter experts contributed to the development of the SUSAR Curriculum Courses. A team of four SMEs, two from State US&R Teams and two from FEMA US&R Teams, worked on their respective curriculum - Task Force Leader, Safety Officer, Hazardous Materials Specialist, and Planning Team Manager.
4. Are these courses sufficient to allow our personnel to perform the specific positions on our team?
Yes. The AHJ for your team is responsible for accepting what the level of training is required. For FEMA, it has been the FEMA position specific courses. In the past, all teams and personnel attended what of these courses they could, to obtain the information. With these SUSAR Curriculum courses being developed, these courses educate your personnel with the same core information all US&R responders need with relevance to state specific details and less focus on FEMA level details that often do not apply or are not available to state or local US&R teams.
5. Will the SUSAR Curriculum Project include the rest of the US&R Position Specific Courses?
Yes! SUSAR, the SUSAR Advisory Board, and the FEMA US&R Advisory Board are working together as we plan the best way to move forward with the SUSAR Curriculum Project.
6. How can I contribute to the success of the SUSAR Curriculum Project?
We are hosting a SUSAR Curriculum Project Workshop/Listening Session at the National US&R Conference. We encourage representatives from every state and every size search and rescue team to be a part of this conversations. Our goal is to meet the training needs for every team and member of the National US&R System.
7. Are the SUSAR Curriculum Course approved for Equivalency through the FEMA Program Office for their FEMA US&R course counterpart?
In short – not yet. FEMA has a strong process and rightly so, to ensure their standards are met. With is being SUSAR, it raises this question is an important one that is at the heart of the SUSAR Curriculum Project and will be discussed at the SUSAR Curriculum Project Workshop/Listening Session at the National US&R Conference.
2026 Preconference Training Courses
Training is an integral part of the State Urban Search and Rescue Alliance’s philosophy. Providing a broad range of education and skill building to our members and partners.
The following position specific courses were offered at the 2026 National Urban Search and Rescue Conference in Orlando, Florida as pre-conference courses.
November 12-15:
US&R Planning / TIS Course - $1,600
US&R Logistics Course* - $1,600
US&R Tech Search** - $1,600
US&R Heavy Equipment and Rigging*** - $3,200
November 13-15:
US&R Hazmat - $1,600
US&R Task Force Leader - $1,600
US&R Safety - $1,600
November 13-14:
SARCOP Fundamentals (SAR Common Operating Picture) - No Cost
November 14-15:
Swiftwater / Flood Rescue Logistics - $500
November 15:
Answering the Call / EMAC Workshop - No Cost
Post Conference:
November 19-21:
US&R Canine Search** - $1,600
November 22:
US&R Canine Type I Evaluation** - No Cost
Courses designated with an asterisk are off-site from the conference hotel. Transportation to these classes is not included and is the responsibility of the attendee.
Offsite Training Locations:
*Florida Task Force 4 Warehouse - Orlando, Florida
**F1RST Campus - Land O Lakes, Florida
***Lake Tech Institute of Public Safety - Tavares, Florida
All pre-conference courses are complete no later than 1700 hrs on November 15th, 2026.