Emergency Managers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of emergency managers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for emergency managers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of emergency managers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for emergency managers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Emergency Managers?
Do emergency managers need a degree? What kind of experience do emergency managers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for emergency managers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Emergency Managers
Jobs Postings for Emergency Managers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 5,146 (44%)
- Master's degree: 2,411 (21%)
- No Education Listed: 2,354 (20%)
- High School or GED: 1,404 (12%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 333 (3%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of emergency managers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 44% of positions. In 21% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 20% of postings no education level was listed.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Emergency Managers
Jobs Postings for Emergency Managers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 931 (15%)
- 2-3 Years: 2,257 (37%)
- 4-6 Years: 1,903 (31%)
- 7-9 Years: 465 (8%)
- 10+ Years: 569 (9%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for emergency managers. In 37% of job postings for Emergency Managers, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 31% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 15% of job postings for emergency managers.
What Kind of Degree Do Emergency Managers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for emergency managers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 14 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective emergency managers, and in 2023 a total of 104,828 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective emergency managers.
Top Degree Programs for Emergency Managers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Emergency Managers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 43,663 |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration. | 27,457 |
| Criminal Justice/Police Science. | 19,812 |
| Homeland Security. | 2,894 |
| Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management. | 2,589 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 43,663 |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration. | 27,457 |
| Criminal Justice/Police Science. | 19,812 |
| Homeland Security. | 2,894 |
| Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management. | 2,589 |
| Intelligence, General. | 2,413 |
| Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism. | 1,935 |
| Fire Services Administration. | 1,431 |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other. | 1,386 |
| Critical Infrastructure Protection. | 588 |
| Criminalistics and Criminal Science. | 410 |
| Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations. | 186 |
| Protective Services Operations. | 52 |
| Critical Incident Response/Special Police Operations. | 12 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Emergency Managers
Launch an exciting career as a police officer, corrections officer, or investigator by learning the ins and outs of the U.S. criminal justice system and all its interconnected components, including law enforcement, corrections, and the courts.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Maintain social order and earn credentials for a leadership role in police, corrections, security, or court administration.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Acquire specialized knowledge while developing a holistic view of the criminal justice system.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 6
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Tackle critical issues facing individuals and communities with advanced leadership and management skills ideally suited for a complex criminal justice system.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your master's degree online and earn real-world skills to advance your career within public service.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn a 14-month online Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with a Specialization in Healthcare and gain interdisciplinary communication and decision-making skills alongside specialized knowledge on healthcare policies, operations and analytics.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with a Specialization in Human Resources and build the leadership skills to advance a government or public service agency alongside an emphasis on strategic HR best practices.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Emergency Managers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by emergency managers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for emergency managers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Emergency Managers
Based on 9,155 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Emergency Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Management | 4,117 | 45% |
| Emergency Response | 3,190 | 35% |
| Emergency Preparedness | 2,506 | 27% |
| Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) | 1,497 | 16% |
| Incident Command Systems | 1,439 | 16% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Emergency Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Operations | 4,291 | 47% |
| Communication | 4,264 | 47% |
| Management | 4,111 | 45% |
| Planning | 3,449 | 38% |
| Leadership | 3,361 | 37% |
Based on 9,155 job postings related to emergency managers, emergency management was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 45% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for emergency response, emergency preparedness, federal emergency management agency (fema), incident command systems and project management were also highly sought.
As for common skills, operations was the most desired skill found in job postings for emergency managers, followed by communication, management, planning, leadership and coordinating.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Management | 4,117 | 45% |
| Emergency Response | 3,190 | 35% |
| Emergency Preparedness | 2,506 | 27% |
| Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) | 1,497 | 16% |
| Incident Command Systems | 1,439 | 16% |
| Project Management | 1,434 | 16% |
| National Incident Management Systems | 1,274 | 14% |
| Nursing | 1,167 | 13% |
| Emergency Departments | 907 | 10% |
| Public Administration | 852 | 9% |
| Law Enforcement | 751 | 8% |
| Crisis Management | 676 | 7% |
| Disaster Response | 665 | 7% |
| Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) | 624 | 7% |
| Disaster Recovery | 615 | 7% |
| Emergency Medical Services | 608 | 7% |
| Disaster Preparedness | 561 | 6% |
| Risk Analysis | 559 | 6% |
| Mental Health | 558 | 6% |
| Emergency Response Planning | 553 | 6% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Operations | 4,291 | 47% |
| Communication | 4,264 | 47% |
| Management | 4,111 | 45% |
| Planning | 3,449 | 38% |
| Leadership | 3,361 | 37% |
| Coordinating | 2,977 | 33% |
| Preparedness | 2,127 | 23% |
| Writing | 1,526 | 17% |
| Customer Service | 1,323 | 14% |
| Presentations | 1,161 | 13% |
| Problem Solving | 1,092 | 12% |
| Microsoft Office | 1,058 | 12% |
| Research | 1,000 | 11% |
| Microsoft Excel | 976 | 11% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 840 | 9% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 827 | 9% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 770 | 8% |
| Business Administration | 734 | 8% |
| Decision Making | 729 | 8% |
| Program Management | 696 | 8% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about emergency managers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for emergency managers.
What do emergency managers do?
How much do emergency managers make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.