Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents

ICS-300 “Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents” is a 3-day in-person class, offered in various places by various agencies. Most SCCo ARES/RACES volunteers take it when it is offered (once a year) at the Santa Clara County EOC. To sign up for it, you must first create an account at the Bay Area Training and Exercise Program website.

The requirements for an account speak of “employment” for an emergency response agency; however, volunteering for them is accepted as well. You will need to be sponsored by your city’s emergency manager or through the county OEM. Contact your EC and/or the county DEC for assistance if needed.

Once an ICS-300 session is posted, it will fill very quickly. You will almost certainly be put on a waitlist. In our experience, people on the waitlist very often do get in due to cancellations. Make sure to check your waitlist status on the BATEP website the night before the class, as they have a habit of admitting people from the waitlist and not notifying them.

BATEP is not the only source for ICS-300. CSTI (the same website as for SEMS classes) also has it sometimes. And there are other agencies that offer it (although some of them charge for it). Consult your city’s emergency manager or the county DEC if you need help finding a class.