IMSA Worldwide
More Than a Century of Public Safety The International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA) traces its history back to 1896 when a group of municipal signal professionals from several East Coast cities gathered in Brooklyn, New York, to share knowledge, improve construction and maintenance practices, and learn about emerging technologies. Today, IMSA is recognized as the oldest known association of its kind in the world and serves a professional community of more than 24,000 certification holders.
One Industry. Many Sections. A Shared Mission.
Looking for IMSA International's official website?
Visit the IMSA International website for certification information, membership, policies, and additional resources.
While the technology has changed dramatically since that first meeting in Brooklyn, the foundation of IMSA remains remarkably familiar: bringing professionals together to share knowledge, advance industry practices, and support the safe installation, operation, and maintenance of public safety systems.
That same spirit is at the heart of About Phase Academy’s mission. We believe that sharing knowledge, supporting one another, and helping professionals build successful careers strengthens our entire industry. Whether that means welcoming a student into one of our programs or helping them connect with their home IMSA Section, our goal remains the same: to help people find the knowledge, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed.
🏠 A Note About Your Home Section
IMSA Exam Prep Programs use the same established program materials regardless of the Section providing the program, and certification candidates may attend programs offered through other IMSA Sections. At About Phase Academy, however, we always encourage students to attend programs offered by their home IMSA Section whenever possible.
Not just to support your local Section, but because there is a unique benefit to learning from the people who work where you work. Local moderators often bring valuable knowledge and experience specific to their geographic area — including local practices, agency expectations, common field conditions, and other real-world insight that may not be part of the certification exam but can be incredibly useful on the job.
However, we also understand that timing matters. A certification may be needed for an upcoming project, a new position, a promotion, a raise, or another professional opportunity — and sometimes the program you need simply isn't available locally when you need it.
That's why we're happy to welcome students from anywhere. 😊
Our advice is simple: If your home Section has the program you need when you need it, SUPPORT THEM! If they don't, explore the other IMSA Sections below and find the opportunity that works for you.
At the end of the day, our goal is to help you get where you're trying to go — even when the best path doesn't lead through our classroom. 😊
🌎 Find Your IMSA Section
IMSA's network of Sections brings that mission to the local and regional level, connecting professionals with certification programs, industry resources, events, and one another.
Explore the IMSA Sections below to find the organization serving your area.
| IMSA Section | Territory |
|---|---|
| Arizona | Arizona |
| British Columbia | British Columbia, Yukon |
| Canadian Prairie | Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan |
| Central | Kansas |
| Far Western | California, Hawaii, Nevada |
| Florida | Florida & Caribbean Islands |
| Indiana | Indiana |
| Michigan | Michigan |
| Middle Atlantic | District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia |
| Midwestern | Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin |
| New England | Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont |
| New Jersey | Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania east of the Susquehanna River |
| New Mexico | New Mexico |
| Northwest | Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington |
| Ontario | Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, Labrador |
| Rocky Mountain | Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming |
| Southeastern | Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee |
| Southwestern | Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Mexico |
| Tri-State | Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania west of the Susquehanna River |
Section names with active websites are linked directly to their respective Section pages.
Still not sure where to start? Reach out to us! Whether the right program is with About Phase Academy or another IMSA Section, we’re always happy to help point you in the right direction. 😊
🤝 A Note to Our Fellow IMSA Sections
Sometimes you just need an extra set of hands. 😊
Not sure how to get an online program up and running? Need a moderator or instructor to help cover a program? Have students waiting for a certification you aren't currently able to offer? Or maybe you're exploring ways to expand your program offerings and aren't quite sure where to start?
We're here for you, too.
About Phase Academy is always happy to share what we've learned, answer questions, help troubleshoot, or explore ways we can work together to make sure IMSA students get the programs and support they need.
We’re here to work together — to further IMSA’s mission, serve our members, and strengthen our industry. 🤝 🤝
If we can help in any way, we're happy to so just reach out 😊 If we don't have the answer, we'll do our best to help you find someone who does.