If you were born with natural leadership skills and an ability to remain calm in the face of natural disasters or other high-stress emergency situations, then you may have what it takes to become an emergency management director. With the goal of minimizing risk to people and their property, emergency management directors are responsible for designing emergency response plans, meeting with law enforcement officials, organizing emergency response training programs, coordinating resources in emergencies, analyzing damage assessments, and applying for federal funding assistance, according to the National Emergency Management Association. In order to assume this vital role and keep communities safe in threatening disasters, the following is a step-by-step guide on how to become successful as an emergency management director.
1. Enroll in a Relevant Bachelor’s Degree Program
Since emergency management directors often are employed by government agencies and given substantial responsibilities for crisis intervention, they typically must have a bachelor’s degree in a related area of study. Although some smaller municipalities may provide positions for candidates with only a high school diploma, most employers are now following stricter guidelines that require extensive learning in the area of emergency management. In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in emergency management, aspiring directors may consider earning relevant undergraduate training with a major in business administration, public administration, fire science, homeland security, and/or disaster management.
2. Obtain Several Years of Work Experience
While academic training is important for learning theories and strategies for building effective emergency response plans, it does not outweigh practical hands-on work experience in a related field. Most emergency management directors gather several years of on-the-job experience in law enforcement, fire safety, disaster planning, security, and other emergency management fields before seeking promotion. In addition to adding a more impressive resume, obtaining work experiences in these areas will provide you with stronger abilities for making difficult decisions quickly in high-stress and time-sensitive circumstances. Having years of work experience will also guarantee employers that you can collaborate with various agencies to utilize all available resources to respond to emergency situations efficiently.
3. Pursue Certification as an Emergency Management Director
Across the United States, many private agencies and state governments have established optional certification programs to provide emergency management directors with additional credentials to their success. While certification requirements vary greatly from state to state, some may require an emergency management director to receive certification within a short timeframe after being hired into the role. After passing the certification test, directors will usually need to obtain a minimum number of continuing education credits every three years to stay updated on changes in the field. Furthermore, you have the option of becoming a Certified Emergency Manager through the International Association of Emergency Managers to demonstrate a solid understanding of the emergency management field.
Related Resource: Emergency Dispatcher
Overall, emergency management directors are vital preparedness team members who need to possess a significant amount of knowledge to reduce damage before disasters occur and design effective emergency response plans. Emergency management directors can find employment opportunities with local governments, state governments, hospitals, universities, non-profit institutions, private companies, and healthcare services. When you follow these steps to become an emergency management director, you will have the credentials needed to compete for entering this rewarding career path and protecting people when disaster strikes.