Training and Exercises

The Illinois Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Branch Certification Program provides a statewide plan for the standardization of training and certification for ICT Branch personnel seeking to be certified at the state level. The Illinois ICT Branch Certification Program was approved by the Illinois Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee on September 18, 2025, and will go into effect on January 1, 2026.

Personnel that currently have an open Illinois ICT Branch Position Task Book (PTB) will be required to meet the Illinois ICT Branch Certification Program minimum requirements if submitting a PTB for state certification on or after January 1, 2026.

Personnel currently holding an Illinois State Recognized ICT Branch position and wish to obtain Illinois State Certification will have to submit for historical certification prior to December 31, 2026. Individuals requesting historical certification will need to meet all minimum standards for the position listed in the Illinois ICT Branch Certification Program. An individual applying for historical certification will need to submit the ICT Branch Certification Submission Checklist and the supporting documents to ema.swic@illinois.gov for review by the Certification Review Board (CRB).

If an individual does not apply for state certification by December 31, 2026, then they will no longer be state recognized for any ICT Branch position.

Please review the ICT Branch Certification Program at the link. Also, the table below lists the training requirements for each position. Any questions can be submitted to ema.swic@illinois.gov.

• Interoperability Summits (4 hours)
• Interoperability Presentation (1 to 2 hours)
• Statewide Interoperability Template (1 hour)
• Hands-on Starcom21 (2 hours)
• Bandwidth Management (1 to 2 hours)

Feel free to click on the CISA Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program (ICTAP) Guide below to see additional presentations and trainings offered by CISA. Offerings in the ICTAP Guide are coordinated through the Division of Statewide Interoperability.