Subjects Exempted from the Certified Disaster Manager First-Round Exam to Vary by Existing Qualifications

[Financial News] Ahead of the first Certified Disaster Manager qualification exam, scheduled for 2028, the criteria for exemption from the first-round exam will be refined. The current law allows holders of disaster- and safety-related qualifications to be exempted from the entire first-round exam. The amendment will instead allow exemptions for only certain subjects, depending on what was verified through their existing qualifications.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) announced on the 6th that an amendment to the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety containing these provisions had been approved at a Cabinet meeting. The amendment passed the National Assembly's plenary session on the 17th of last month. The first Certified Disaster Manager exam is scheduled to be held in 2028.
Under the current law, holders of disaster- and safety-related qualifications granted under other laws, such as the National Technical Qualifications Act, may be exempted from the first-round Certified Disaster Manager exam. However, because the subjects and content verified through existing exams differ by qualification, allowing a full exemption from the first-round exam could undermine fairness among examinees.
Accordingly, the amendment specifies that the scope of first-round exam exemptions may be 'partial or full,' while leaving the detailed criteria to a Presidential Decree. MOIS plans to include standards in the enforcement decree for exempting holders of required coursework in related academic programs, as well as Disaster Prevention Engineers, Disaster Prevention Professionals and Business Continuity Management Specialists, from certain subjects such as Introduction to Disaster Management and Disaster Risk Assessment. It is also pursuing a plan to set the exemption period for first-round exam passers at two years.
The Certified Disaster Manager is a national professional qualification that verifies expertise across the entire disaster-management process, including disaster-management planning and coordination, the establishment of response systems, resource management, inspections, investigations and recovery. The first-round exam consists of four multiple-choice subjects, while the second-round exam consists of two essay-based subjects. Candidates must pass both exams and complete a training course to obtain the qualification.
MOIS Minister Yun Ho-jung said, "As the first exam will be administered in 2028, we will thoroughly gather and reflect the views of relevant ministries and experts during the remaining period, build a solid foundation for operating the system, and make every effort to train experts in disaster management."

[email protected] Lee Bo-mi Reporter