Becoming an Emergency Management Specialist

The Emergency Management Specialist fights the first battle in case of any disasters, whether they are natural or man-made. These professionals assist the Municipalities, Government Agencies and other organizations to prepare for the disaster. They review emergency plans and work in tandem with the relevant government and private officials to make sure that all the needs of the people are met during the disaster.

Key Requirements:

It’s not easy to become an Emergency Management Specialist even though you possess necessary educational qualification. A person without any criminal record, will excel as an Emergency Management Specialist. As they have access to sensitive information, the employers always do a background check before hiring these professionals.

Apart from clean criminal record, the aspirants must possess excellent English writing and presentation skills. All Emergency Management centers require these skills so that people in charge can address the audience properly.

Education Requirements:

1. High School Education: It’s must for the aspiring Emergency Management Specialists to complete the high school graduation first. They can select the courses and subjects as per the requirements. But, that’s not mandatory. They can choose any other subjects too.

2. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree: As most employers prefer the candidates with bachelor’s degree, the aspirants can opt for a four-year degree program in emergency and homeland security subjects. The coursework will include disaster management, response and recovery, world politics, psychology etc.

3. Job Experience: Some employers look for Emergency Management Specialists with a minimum three years of experience. Training in disaster management or firefighting, experience in law enforcement agencies or program coordination, may serve as an added advantage to their profile.

4. Certification: The National Association of Safety Professionals (NASP) offers a certification program that awards Specialist in Emergency Management (SEM) titles upon its successful completion. Also, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) operates an Emergency Management Institute that offers free courses. These courses are offered to the Emergency Management Specialists as part of continuation of education.

Salary & Job Outlook: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for Emergency Management Specialists remain bright. The average salary of these professionals was $62,780 in 2013.

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