10/01/2026
Region 2 West and Region 3 Fire Chiefs and School Directors,
I hope this email finds you and your staff in good health!
Beginning October 1, 2026, all Fire & Rescue personnel using OSFM 24 will be required to have a valid 10-digit FEMA Student Identification (SID) number associated with their account.
OSFM is implementing the FEMA SID as a unique identifier to help ensure training, certification, qualification, and testing records are accurately associated with the correct individual. Unlike information such as a name, address, email address, or agency affiliation, which may change throughout a person's career, the FEMA SID remains associated with the individual.
What You Need to Do Now
Important: Most users should expect to enter their FEMA SID again beginning October 1, even if they have previously provided a FEMA SID to OSFM. OSFM 24 is not currently configured to accept FEMA SIDs with leading zeros in the required 10-digit format. The system will be updated on October 1 to accept and require the correct 10-digit FEMA SID format.
Please locate your FEMA SID now and have it available, but do not update your FEMA SID in OSFM 24 before October 1.
If you have previously been issued a FEMA SID but do not remember the number, do not register for a new SID. FEMA provides a lookup tool that can be used to retrieve your existing number at https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid/account/find
If you have never been issued a FEMA SID, you can register for one at no cost through FEMA at https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid/register
FEMA SIDs used in OSFM 24 must contain exactly 10 digits. Individuals with an older FEMA SID containing fewer than 10 digits will need to add zeros to the beginning of the number until it reaches 10 digits.
For example, 1234567 becomes 0001234567.
Beginning October 1
When logging into OSFM 24, users who do not have a valid 10-digit FEMA SID associated with their account will be directed to the Account Information page. A valid, unique 10-digit FEMA SID must be entered before continuing to the OSFM 24 Dashboard.
Please forward this message to personnel and instructors within your department or organization. We are asking Fire Chiefs and School Directors to help us distribute this information as widely as possible so Fire & Rescue personnel across North Carolina are aware of and prepared for the new requirement.
FEMA SIDs are issued and managed by FEMA. OSFM staff cannot create a FEMA SID, look up your FEMA SID, reset your FEMA SID account, or make changes to your FEMA SID information.
For additional information, instructions, and answers to frequently asked questions regarding the FEMA SID requirement, please visit https://ncosfm.gov/FEMASID
Please do not reply to this email. Additional information and guidance regarding the FEMA SID requirement is available at the webpage above.
Thank you,
Joe
Joe Ramsey
Deputy State Fire Marshal/Certification Specialist,
Region 3 and Region 2 West
Learn why OSFM is using FEMA SID for Fire & Rescue personnel, how to find or register for a FEMA SID, and how to enter your 10-digit SID in OSFM 24.
