Yes, there are real credentials and real teams you can join as a trainee. Here's what's free, what's worth paying for, who will take you before you're licensed, and what happens to your training when a disaster hits.
Step 1: this week
About 10 hours in total, all online or close to home. Many CERT programs ask you to finish the FEMA courses before training starts.
Step 2: this year
A nationally recognized course series for health care and public safety professionals, run by university training centers such as Augusta University, Emory and the University of Miami. CDLS is a short awareness course. BDLS (Basic Disaster Life Support) mixes online modules with an in-person skills session and is the prerequisite for ADLS (Advanced Disaster Life Support), a two-day, 15-hour hands-on course in mass casualty triage, surge planning and disaster operations. ADLS certification stays active for 3 years. Cost depends on the training site, so ask your school or GME office whether they cover it.
FEMA's Community Emergency Response Team course, taught locally by first responders and emergency managers. It covers disaster preparedness, fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. The basic course is usually about 20 to 30 hours and free, and it's open to anyone, so it's a good way to learn how the non-medical side of a response works.
Some schools run their own programs too, such as the University of Louisville's Disaster Medicine Certificate Series for medical students. Ask your school what it offers.
Step 3: join a team
Join before a disaster, not during one. Teams need time to check your background and credentials and train you.
Step 4: find your people
For pediatrics-minded students and residents. Council dues are $0 for medical students, residents and fellowship trainees (AAP national dues still apply).
The World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine's group for students and early-career people, with residents and medical students on its committees.
Has a student membership level that includes the society's journal, Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness.
SAEM's Disaster Medicine Interest Group, EMRA's Prehospital and Disaster Medicine Committee and ACEP's Disaster Medicine Section, if you're heading into EM.
Board certification in disaster medicine exists for licensed physicians through the American Board of Physician Specialties. It requires a valid, unrestricted license, and experience with groups such as NDMS teams or the Medical Reserve Corps counts toward it. That's one more reason to join a team early.
List each course on your CV with the provider and completion date, and save every certificate as a PDF. FEMA emails a link to your certificate after each exam, so keep that email.
When disaster hits
Your own plan
Several days of your own medicines, phone charger and power bank, scrubs and a change of clothes, toiletries, snacks, water, glasses or contacts, and copies of your ID and badge.
If you could be held at the hospital through a storm, arrange in advance who checks on family members and pets, and give them your out-of-town contact.
Find out early whether you're on the ride-out team or the relief team, and where to report if roads close.
Disasters are hard on responders too. Use your program's wellness resources and employee assistance program, and check on your co-residents.
Household hacks for your own home
General education, not medical, legal or compliance advice. MedRise is not an emergency service and cannot respond to emergencies. For decisions about a specific person, program or hospital, talk to a clinician, your institution or your own advisers.
Sources
Sources last checked November 14, 2026. Rules and links change: open the official page before you rely on a figure.