High School

A good foundation for business continuity work includes classes in mathematics, business, English, and computers. The job requires knowledge of different types of software so take software program classes if they are offered in your school. Knowledge of a foreign language can be helpful for working with businesses in other countries and multinational companies. 

Postsecondary Education

Most companies prefer to hire business continuity planners with a bachelor's degree and prior work-related experience. Educational backgrounds vary. Some planners may have a bachelor's degree in an information technology field, such as computer science or information systems administration. Other bachelor's degrees may be in emergency management, business or public administration, public health, accounting, or finance.

Certification or Licensing

Certification is voluntary and can enhance a business continuity planner's skills, knowledge, and job prospects. For some jobs, such as business continuity director, companies may require directors get certified within a specified time period after they are hired for the job. The Disaster Recovery Institute International, among other professional associations, offers the Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) designation to professionals who meet work-experience and education requirements and pass an exam.

An internship and three years of experience in business continuity or a related field is usually required for business continuity planning jobs. Planners must have strong deductive and inductive reasoning to identify problems, gather information from a variety of sources, and develop solutions that make the most sense for companies. They have good judgement and decision-making skills. They are well versed in computer software programs for studying and analyzing data and writing reports. People who do well in this job also work well with others; they are in constant contact with coworkers, supervisors, and clients, by e-mail, telephone, and in person.