To become a disaster management specialist, a student must obtain the right education and experience, as well as gain key skills that will help the student work as a first responder during natural or man-made disasters. Some disaster management specialists work for government agencies and local municipalities in their efforts to prepare for disasters, and other specialists work for private and non-profit organizations that work with the help of grants and private funding. Here are the steps most people take to become disaster management specialists.
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most people who work as emergency management directors, which is another title for disaster management specialists, earn a bachelor’s degree to prepare them for work in the field. Specialties and concentrations a student may consider include Emergency Services Administration, Public Safety, Crisis & Disaster Management, as well as many other related areas. However, students may earn a degree in another area and still qualify for work in disaster management. The BLS suggests that many people who work in emergency management earn bachelor’s degrees in public administration business, finance, public health, or accounting.
Gain Work Experience in Emergency Management
Upon receiving a degree in disaster management, a future disaster management specialist may find work in many entry-level positions with job titles like Safety Specialist, Disaster Recovery Planner, or Environmental Health Specialist. Many of these jobs are offered by county and city-level departments, as well as at the national level for groups like the National Security Agency or private businesses in industries like insurance, hospitality, and security operations.
Gain Professional Certification
Certification isn’t a prerequisite for finding work in emergency management, but gaining certified status can help a job seeker increase his or her employment opportunities. The International Association of Emergency Management offers programs that will result in the title of Certified Emergency Manager or Associate Emergency Manager. To gain certification, applicants will usually need to confirm they have an undergraduate degree and some on-the-job experience. Certification also requires that applicants submit letters of recommendation and undergo onsite skill assessments.
Enroll in Continuing Professional Education
An organization with which a future disaster management specialist should become familiar is the Emergency Management Institute (EMI), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The EMI’s purpose is to help individuals working in emergency management remain competent and aware of current emergency management procedures. One program of particular use is the Emergency Management Professional Program (EMPP), which offers lifetime learning opportunities through academies like the National Emergency Management Basic Academy. Throughout an emergency management professional’s career, he or she may participate in several continuing professional education programs with the EMI.
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Successful disaster management specialists undergo years of study and must gain a few years of work experience to rise to the specialist level in emergency and disaster response work. Individuals who already have a bachelor’s degree in a complementary area to disaster management may wish to explore certificate programs in disaster management, but anyone who hasn’t yet earned a degree might want to explore some of the many bachelor’s degree programs available in the field of emergency response. Becoming a disaster management specialist begins with getting the right education and following that degree with relevant, entry-level work experience.