Fire Officer Certificate

Units: 28.5 units

The Fire Officer certificate prepares students for supervisory-level careers in the fire service and training opportunities for employed and volunteer firefighters. Coursework includes: Human Resource Management, Instructional Methodology and Development, All-Risk Command and Wildland Operations, General Administrative Functions, Fire Inspections and Investigations, Budget and Fiscal Responsibilities, and Emergency Service Delivery Response Students successfully completing the necessary coursework and meeting additional industry-specific requirements are eligible for California State Fire Marshal certification as a Fire Officer. Students must complete all summative tests with a minimum score of 80%. This program follows the Chief Fire Officer National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1021 Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications (2020), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1051 Standard for Wildland Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications (2020), and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1041 Standard for Fire Instructor Professional Qualifications (2019) to provide the qualifications for State Fire Training’s Fire Officer Certification. Note: In order to be certified by the State Board of Fire Services as a Fire Officer, students must have a minimum of five years full-time paid or ten years volunteer or part-time paid experience in a Recognized Fire Agency in California as a fire fighter performing suppression duties and at least two years of experience must be at the officer level (Lieutenant or higher) and be an Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) certified Fire Officer, or Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) certified Company Officer and possess, at a minimum, an associate’s degree (any major) or higher from an accredited post-secondary institution.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Prepare for and pass all required certification training standards included in the Certification Task Book in the Chief Fire Officer California Training Standard Guide (September 2017), which is based on National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1021 Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications (2020), National Fire Protections Association (NFPA) 1051 Standard for Wildlife Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications (2020), an National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1041 Standard for Fire Instructor Professional Qualifications (2019)

• Prepare for expanding/extended Type 3 incidents also allowed for dual certification with the National Wildland Coordinating Group (NWCG) S-300 Extended Attack Incident Commander course, the base course for California Incident Command Certification (CICCS) certification as an Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3). The inclusion of the eight functions of command in NFPA 1026, Standard for Incident Management Personnel Professional Qualifications, risk management concepts from NFPA 1500 Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety, Health, and Wellness Program, and other incident-based industry best practices, such as portions of NFPA 1561, Standard for Emergency Services Incident Management System and Command Safety.

Program Requirements