By John Laye

Education and training are different. Training is knowledge specific, and is usually a stand-alone course; education teaches principles, and is usually a program of linked courses. A good maxim is, "An educated person can train him/herself."

Which type of course or program best fits your needs depends on where you are in the order of things. Educational programs are designed for managers – people who must analyze complex situations, then develop and manage projects to improve things, often by applying concepts that move an organization beyond tradition; "thinking outside the box" is a current metaphor. Training courses are usually designed for technicians or coordinators—people who are expected to apply established rules to limited parts of an overall situation.

Reading a one or two sentence description of a course or program is unlikely to reveal whether it meets your specific needs. Ponder your goals and objectives, then check with colleagues who have taken the courses, and phone instructors or program directors to discuss the issues you want to examine.

"Certificate" and "certification" also mean different things. A certificate verifies the student has completed the specified course or program. Much of a certificate’s value is attached by many to the institution that issued it. "Certification" usually means the holder passed one or several trials designed by experienced professionals. The better certifications require the holder to demonstrate proficiency in the real world of our profession.

About the author:
John Laye is a Certified Management Consultant and a Fellow of the Business Continuity Institute. He teaches at FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute and for the University of California at Berkeley’s Extension.

CERTIFICATION ACRONYMS

ABCP Associate Business Continuity Planner
Disaster Recovery Institute
(314) 434-2272

AEM Associate Emergency Manager
NCCEM
(703) 538-1795

CBCP Certified Business Continuity Professional
Disaster Recovery Institute
(314) 434-2272

CEM Certified Emergency Manager
NCCEM
(703) 538-1795

CISSP Certified Information Security Systems Professional
(ISC) 2 Inc.
(508) 842-0452

CPP Certified Protection Professional
ASIS
(703) 522-5800

CR Certified Restorer
ASCR
(301) 604-4411

CRP Certified Recovery Planner
Harris Disaster Recovery
(800) 978-9696

CTS Certified Trauma Specialist
ATSS
(803) 781-0017

CTR Certified Trauma Response
ATSS
(803) 781-0017

FBCI Fellow Business Continuity Institute
44-1-886-833-555

MBCI Member Business Continuity Institute
44-1-886-833-555

MBCP Master Business Continuity Professional
Disaster Recovery Institute
(314) 434-2272

PROGRAMS

Associate Degree Programs
Bachelor Degree Programs
Certificate Programs, Concentrations & Minors
Certification Programs
Post-Graduate Programs
Various Courses Offered

ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS

DELAWARE TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Karen Stevenson
Telephone: (302) 571-5302

ST. PETERSBURG JUNIOR COLLEGE
George Buck, Director
Telephone: (813) 341-4479

SCOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Margaret Baxter
Telephone: (319) 441-4085

BACHELOR DEGREE PROGRAMS

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Keith Holterman, RN, EMT/P MBA
Telephone: (202) 994-4372

THOMAS EDISON STATE COLLEGE
Office of Admissions
Telephone: (609) 292-9992

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
Telephone: (301) 985-7881

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
David Neal, Director
Telephone: (940) 565-3292

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS, CONCENTRATIONS, & MINORS

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, DOMINGUEZ HILLS
Environmental & Occupational Health & Safety
Tia Kuhl
Telephone: (310) 243-3741

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES
Dr. Denis E. McGrath, Program Coordinator
Telephone: (213) 343-4915

EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Gerald Lawver
Telephone: (313) 487-1161

FRONTIER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Wes Weber, Program Director
Telephone: (618) 842-3711

ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Lynda Rummel
Telephone: (716) 475-4999

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY EXTENSION
Emergency Preparedness Planning & Management
Telephone: (510) 643-7143

UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX
Contingency Planning and Management
Telephone: (888) 325-1509

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND
Dr. James L. Narduzzi
Telephone: (804) 289-8133

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
Dr. Fred May
Telephone: (801) 581-8218

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
Don Schramm, Eng. Prof. Dev.
Telephone: (608) 263-7757

CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS

BUSINESS CONTINUITY INSTITUTE
John Sharp
Telephone: 44-1-886-833-555

CALIFORNIA SPECIALIZED TRAINING INSTITUTE (CSTI)
Hazmat Certifications
Telephone: (805) 549-3005

DISASTER RECOVERY INSTITUTE
Jay G. Bender
Telephone: (314) 434-2272

HARRIS RECOVERY ASSOCIATES
Sharon Aebersold
Telephone: (800) 978-9696

NATIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL ON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (NCCEM)
Beth Armstrong
Telephone: (703) 538-1795

POST-GRADUATE PROGRAMS

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
Michael K. Lindell, Director
Telephone: (409) 845-7813

UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Wayne Greene, Director
Telephone: (604) 822-4218

VARIOUS COURSES OFFERED

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, CHICO
Christine M. Rodrigue
Telephone: (530) 898-4953

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
John Harrald, Director
Telephone: (202) 994-7153

GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY
William L. Waugh, Jr.
Telephone: (404) 651-4592

HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Crista Martin
Telephone: (617) 432-3515

INDIANA PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING INSTITUTE
Rick Schlegel, Director of Prep. Div.
Telephone: (317) 232-3980

MIS INSTITUTE
Michael Sobol
Telephone: (508) 879-7999

NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
Earl E. Hansen
Telephone: (815) 753-0579

PENN STATE UNIV, HARRISBURG
Mike Hooper
Telephone: (717) 948-6292

PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
Dr. Gregory S. Forbes
Telephone: (814) 863-2458

PUBLIC & PRIVATE BUSINESSES
Telephone: (314) 894-2052

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
James K. Mitchell
Telephone: (732) 445-4103

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, CARBONDALE
Dr. Ben Dziegielewski
Telephone: (618) 453-6021

STROHL SYSTEMS EDUCATIONAL DIVISION
Business & Service Continuity Planning
Pat Moore
Telephone: (610) 768-4120

SURVIVE! USA
Business Continuity Planning
Series of Eight Workshops
Telephone: (800) SURVIVE

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
Wendell Lawther, Associate Professor
Telephone: (407) 823-2604

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER
Department of Geological Sciences
Telephone: (303) 492-8141

UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
Thomas Drabek,
Sociology Department
Telephone: (303) 871-2050

UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
Hugh W. Stephens
Telephone: (713) 743-4001

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Susan Cutter,
Geography Department
Telephone: (803) 777-5236

UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AT KNOXVILLE
Dr. Susan M. Smith
Telephone: (423) 974-1108

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, OSHKOSH
John A. Cross,
Geography Department
Telephone: (920) 424-1217

WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
David F. Gillespie
Telephone: (314) 935-6674

WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
Dr. Della-Giustina
Telephone: (304) 293-2742