There are three items to consider when looking for disaster recovery training: purpose, admissions requirements, and faculty. Disaster recovery training can be part of a law enforcement or health services training or offered as a specialized, post-graduate certificate for information technology managers. Most programs are affiliated with local information technology schools, but they are also offered by law enforcement, health services, and other specialized schools. This training encompasses large-scale disaster planning, impacting health, safety, and data access.
There are two types of disaster recovery training programs: information technology and crisis disaster recovery training. The information technology programs may seem out of place, but all financial, health, communication, and power management systems are computer-based. These types of programs focus on how to set up systems for a quick recovery, strategies for saving and restoring data, and the management of emergency systems.
Crisis disaster recovery training is focused on maintaining the health, law and order for people in the event of a disaster. This involves understanding human behavior under pressure, managing the anxiety level, and reducing the level of potential harm. This type of training is available through law enforcement academies, crisis management degrees, and advanced medical training. Additional certification is also available for psychologists and counselors.
To qualify for admission to these programs, you must meet the admissions requirements for either information technology, law enforcement, or health sciences training programs. Certificate and post-graduate disaster recovery training programs typically require an undergraduate degree or diploma to qualify for admissions. The most prestigious programs also require a personal interview, physiological profile, and an aptitude test.
Most disaster recovery training and related programs provide the biographies of their faculty or instructors on their websites. The information listed typically includes the academic credentials, work experience, special training, and any awards they have received. Review the information with care and learn more about the different areas of specialization. Look at materials referenced as emergency preparedness training, as many of the topics are closely related.
There are a wide range of online courses, videos, books, and other resources that provide information on disaster recovery. It is important to carefully review the academic credentials of these tools before investing money and time. This field is widely unregulated, so it is important to do your own due diligence. Most large organizations are working to develop a disaster recovery plan, incorporating all aspects of emergency preparedness into the program.