Government & Public Safety
There are 18 government & public safety credentials in the TestPrepPilot directory: 18 national certifications awarded by a single body.
Police, firefighter and corrections entrance exams, fire service certification, federal hiring and postal assessments, dispatch and emergency management.
- Credentials
- 18
- Specialisms
- 5
- National
- 18
How do the main government & public safety credentials compare?
Verified figures for 10 of the national government & public safety credentials, drawn from each awarding body's published material. Fees change — confirm with the body before you book.
| Credential | Awarded by | Exam fee | Length | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency Medical Dispatch | International Academies of Emergency Dispatch | $300-$800 | Within the course | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
| NIMS ICS-100 | FEMA Emergency Management Institute | Free | Untimed within the self-paced course | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
| NIMS ICS-200 | FEMA Emergency Management Institute | Free | Untimed within the self-paced course | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
| NIMS ICS-300 | FEMA Emergency Management Institute | Usually employer-sponsored | 2-day (16-hour) course | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
| NIMS ICS-400 | FEMA Emergency Management Institute | Provider-dependent | 2 days | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
| NIMS ICS-700 | FEMA Emergency Management Institute | Free | Untimed within the self-paced course | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
| NIMS ICS-800 | FEMA Emergency Management Institute | Free (FEMA EMI) | Untimed open-book | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
| FAA Air Traffic Controller Selection | Federal Aviation Administration | No fee (FAA hiring process) | ~3 hours | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
| NYC DCAS Civil Service Exam | NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services | Varies by title | 2-4 hours | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
| USPS Virtual Entry Assessment 474 | United States Postal Service | Free — no registration fee; the exam is included in the USPS application | ~30-45 minutes (no strict time limit; must be completed within 72 hours of invitation) | 70% passing score (USPS publishes no cohort pass rates) |
Which government & public safety credentials lead to the highest published pay?
Ranked by the median annual wage published for the occupation each credential unlocks — the most recent figure per occupation, quoted from the source named in the guide (usually the BLS occupational series). A credential is the entry ticket to an occupation, not a pay guarantee: these are occupation medians, not starting salaries.
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FAA Air Traffic Controller Selection
$144,580 median for air traffic controllers (BLS, May 2024) — among the highest-paid federal civilian occupations, gated by an aptitude screen, not a test of aviation knowledge
The FAA publishes no AT-SA pass rate — instead it publishes hiring bands: recent campaigns require Well-Qualified (about 85 percent or above) to advance
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NIMS ICS-100
ICS-100 is a required baseline for many emergency-response roles: emergency management directors earned a $86,130 median in May 2024 (BLS)
IS-100.c requires a 75 percent passing score on a 25-question exam, with unlimited retakes (FEMA EMI)
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NIMS ICS-200
ICS-200 builds the supervisory tier of the response workforce: emergency management directors earned a $86,130 median in May 2024 (BLS)
IS-200.c requires a 75 percent passing score on a 25-question exam, with unlimited retakes (FEMA EMI)
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NIMS ICS-300
No direct occupation — but ICS-300 is required for most supervisory and command roles, where emergency management directors earn a median of $86,130 (BLS, May 2024)
No pass rate exists — ICS-300 is a course with a final exam, and FEMA does not publish cohort pass data; completion, not a percentage, is the record that matters
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NIMS ICS-400
$86,130 median for emergency management directors (SOC 11-9161, BLS May 2024)
No pass rate is published — ICS-400 is an instructor-led course graded on demonstrated competencies, not a scored national exam
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NIMS ICS-700
IS-700 is the NIMS baseline required across the response workforce: emergency management directors earned a $86,130 median in May 2024 (BLS)
IS-700.b requires a 75 percent passing score on a 25-question exam, with unlimited retakes (FEMA EMI)
Emergency Management & Dispatch 7 credentials
- Emergency Medical Dispatch Emergency Medical Dispatch — Public Safety credential from International Academies of Emergency Dispatch
- NIMS ICS-100 NIMS ICS-100 — Public Safety credential from FEMA Emergency Management Institute
- NIMS ICS-200 NIMS ICS-200 — Public Safety credential from FEMA Emergency Management Institute
- NIMS ICS-300 NIMS ICS-300 — Public Safety credential from FEMA Emergency Management Institute
- NIMS ICS-400 NIMS ICS-400 — Public Safety credential from FEMA Emergency Management Institute
- NIMS ICS-700 NIMS ICS-700 — Public Safety credential from FEMA Emergency Management Institute
- NIMS ICS-800 NIMS ICS-800 — Public Safety credential from FEMA Emergency Management Institute
Federal Hiring & Civil Service 6 credentials
- FAA Air Traffic Controller Selection FAA Air Traffic Controller Selection — Legal & Government credential from Federal Aviation Administration
- NYC DCAS Civil Service Exam NYC DCAS Civil Service Exam — Legal & Government credential from NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services
- USPS Virtual Entry Assessment 474 USPS Virtual Entry Assessment 474 — Legal & Government credential from United States Postal Service
- USPS Virtual Entry Assessment 475 USPS Virtual Entry Assessment 475 — Legal & Government credential from United States Postal Service
- USPS Virtual Entry Assessment 476 USPS Virtual Entry Assessment 476 — Legal & Government credential from United States Postal Service
- USPS Virtual Entry Assessment 477 USPS Virtual Entry Assessment 477 — Legal & Government credential from United States Postal Service
Law Enforcement Entrance 3 credentials
- Law Enforcement Physical Ability Test Law Enforcement Physical Ability Test — Public Safety credential from Law enforcement agencies
- National Police Officer Selection Test National Police Officer Selection Test — Public Safety credential from Stanard & Associates
- NYPD Police Officer Exam NYPD Police Officer Exam — Public Safety credential from New York City Police Department
Corrections & Security-adjacent Public Safety 1 credential
Firefighter 1 credential
Frequently asked questions about government & public safety credentials
How many government & public safety credentials are there?
There are 18 government & public safety credentials in the TestPrepPilot directory: 18 national certifications awarded by a single body.
How much do government & public safety exams cost?
Across the 10 national government & public safety credentials we have verified fee data for, exam fees run from $300. Renewal, membership and study-material costs are additional and vary by awarding body — each guide breaks out its own full cost table.
Do you need a certification to work in government & public safety?
None of the 18 credentials in this field is a state-issued licence — all 18 are national certifications awarded by a professional body. That usually means the certification is not legally mandatory, but employers, insurers or clients may require it as a condition of the work.
Which government & public safety credential should you start with?
Start with the one your target employer or state board names. The most widely recognised national options in this field are Emergency Medical Dispatch, NIMS ICS-100, NIMS ICS-200 — each has a full guide with eligibility rules, fees and a week-by-week study plan.
How often do government & public safety requirements change?
Fees are revised most years and eligibility rules change whenever a state legislature or awarding body acts. Every guide on TestPrepPilot links to the primary regulatory source it was verified against, and the "Sources" section is the authoritative place to confirm current figures before you book.