To work as an emergency management director, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have a bachelor's degree; and
• have five years or more of related work experience.

Education after high school

Many emergency management directors have at least a bachelor's degree. Some have worked or are working for local, state, and federal government agencies. While there is no major or specific training for this field, degrees in political science, public administration, sociology, or business may help.

Work experience

While education is important for this occupation, work experience is just as important. You can prepare for this occupation in many different ways. Most emergency management directors gain experience in the type of company or organization that they want to manage. For example, directors working for the federal government often begin as program coordinators or managers in the same or similar department. Often, they gain experience by working on projects that plan how to respond to a natural disaster, for example.

It is typical for directors to have at least five years of work experience before they move into this position.

On-the-job training

Few emergency management directors receive training on the job. Employers hire experienced, proven directors, or promote experienced lower-level managers and employees in related fields.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be emergency management specialists or officers. For specialists, training lasts from eight to ten weeks, depending on your specialty. Additional training occurs on the job.

You need a bachelor's degree before you can enter the emergency management officer military occupation. Training lasts two to nine weeks and you receive additional training on the job.