Essential Information
Individuals interested in public risk management may enroll in a risk management graduate certificate program at a 4-year college or university.
These programs generally require four courses and may be available through online study. Such programs teach individuals to recognize risks and develop plans of action to accommodate those risks. Participants learn how to plan for public safety emergencies and national disasters, prepare companies for layoffs or potential disruptions and oversee crisis management protocol. They also learn how to mitigate between public and private sectors in times of emergency and develop recovery plans. In some states, graduates may be able to obtain certification from professional public risk management organizations. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree.
Public Risk Management Graduate Certificate
The majority of the courses included in a graduate certificate program in risk management are taught through on-site seminars. Some examples of courses include:
- Risk assessment
- Risk management
- System-wide risk planning
- Public incident response
- Project risk and cost management
- Economics for public policy
- Environmental risk assessment
Career Options and Salary Prospects
Public risk management professionals oversee public safety departments, develop public safety protocol, purchase insurance for public buildings or facilities, administrate environmental programs and manage human resources. A graduate certificate in risk management can be ideal for any individual pursuing a management position in a public safety agency or in a workplace with environmental hazard concerns. According to PayScale.com, the median salary of a risk manager was $86,416 as of September 2019. Some potential positions might include:
- Public sector risk controls specialist
- Liability claims manager
- Workers' compensation manager
- Loss prevention manager
- Risk prevention analyst
Certification Options
There are some states that offer certification to public risk management professionals through organizations such as the Texas Public Risk Management Association or the South Florida Public Risk Management Association. Although national organizations such as the Public Risk Management Association do not offer national certification, they do offer professionals in the field the opportunity to gain membership. Such individuals also often have access to continuing education seminars and opportunities.
In public risk management graduate certificate programs, students take courses in financial management, environmental risks, emergency planning, mitigation and recovery. Graduates may be employed in various areas, such as liability and worker's compensation, or pursue professional certification.
