Quick FEMAs?

[bricabrac]

This is probably a silly question but does the course number having a ".a" at the end mean anything? Perhaps it's just an updated course?

For example...in just browsing the FEMA site some courses such as IS-5.a and IS-8.a exist. Are those the same as IS-5 and IS-8 in that they would be accepted?

Yes the "a" notation is for want of a better term "refreshed" course. They have been in the process over the past 9mos or so of updating the courses. I have often seen courses disappear and then reappear later. Sometimes with an "a", new or updated name, college credit or ceu award change....etc. This list has been pretty stable.