• Emergency Management Degrees
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How to Become an Emergency Manager

The first step toward this career is to earn a bachelor degree. Local, state, federal and private agency emergency management jobs will require at least a bachelor degree in emergency management, environmental science, public safety, public administration, business management or a related field. Start researching emergency management and related job postings prior to graduation on the IAEM and FEMA web sites to learn more about specific jobs and their requirements. Management level and director level jobs will require several years of related work experience in addition to education, but in some cases a master's degree will replace or reduce the the relevant work experience requirement.

The terror attacks on 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the threat of future terrorist attacks and flu pandemic threats have created a high demand for professionals that are formally trained in emergency management as well as an overall awareness of the need for such professionals at all levels. This demand as been met by a number of colleges and universities that are now offering emergency management degree programs and more schools around the country are working on programs as of when this article was published.

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Emergency Manager Job Description and Desirable Skills

Entry-level emergency managers are responsible for planning and coordinating emergency response, vulnerability analysis, consequence management capability assessments, strategic planning, working with budgets, knowledge of Homeland Security and Emergency Management initiatives, and working with public and private organizations to develop and implement emergency response policies and procedures. Emergency managers at this level must develop relationships with all city and county leaders so as to assure emergency management procedures are followed and in place. In some cases, this can be one of the more difficult skills or tasks new emergency managers face and for this reason strong interpersonal and communications skills are critical. Emergency managers often have the duty of coordinating and conducting public education programs, coordinating and developing training exercises for emergency response agencies. Confidence in ability and training is also an important trait, because all the work and planning with agencies to plan for disasters and mitigate their impact mean nothing if the emergency manager is not able to take control and expedite a response.

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Advancing Your Career in Emergency Management

Here are some general skills and knowledge requirements for advancement in the field of emergency management:

Experienced emergency management professionals should be able to demonstrate knowledge of the relevant local, state and federal laws, policies, procedures, and regulations pertaining to the protection of people, property and data. Professionals should have a knowledge of curriculum and training development and implementation, so as to effectively train other professionals and responders in emergency preparation and procedures. Professionals should have knowledge of the Management of Domestic Incidents and National Preparedness as they relate to the Homeland Security Presidential Directives and readiness programs that support these directives. Depending on position, a knowledge of Federal grant programs can be beneficial. The ability to manage and work well with people in a team environment is an important skill to develop for all emergency management professionals. Earning a Master's level degree in Emergency Management can set emergency management professionals apart when applying for more advanced positions in emergency management as well as help develop a broader knowledge base and skill sets.

Emergency Manager Job Outlook

Career opportunities in the field of emergency management are projected to grow over the next several years. The beginning of the baby-boomer retirements began in early 2008. Over the next several years the emergency management field will see the retirement of many founders of emergency management procedures and policies. These professionals exiting the profession will leave a void of knowledge but will also create opportunities for the new emergency management professionals to advance their careers. Career advancement in emergency management is accomplished with years of experience and continuing education/certifications. Our research found that current job openings, as of April, 2008, for emergency managers were offering annual salaries of $47,343 to well over $100,000 depending on experience and education.

Emergency Management and Related Degrees

= Staff Recommend School

Anna Maria College:

Bachelor's in Fire Science
Master's in Emergency Management
Master's in Fire Science

Capella University: Request information from the Emergency Management program that fits your needs and goals.

BS in Public Safety - Emergency Management
MS in Public Safety - Emergency Management
PhD in Public Safety - Emergency Management

Eastern Kentucky University Online:

Certificates: Fire & Emergency Services, Homeland Security, Occupational Safety
Master's in Safety, Security & Emergency Management: Fire & Emergency Services, Homeland Security, Occupational Safety, Ergonomics

Kaplan University:

AAS in Fire Science
AAS in CJ
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice - Fire Science
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice - Fire & Emergency Management
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice - Crime Scene Investigation
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice - Forensic Psychology
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement

Walden University:

MS in Psychology - Crisis Management and Response
MS in Psychology - Terrorism and Security
PhD in Public Policy and Administration - Public Safety Management

Click Here to request information from Walden University.