Training¶

National Wildfire Coordination Group Courses provide the foundation for wildland fire qualifications nationwide. Core courses include S-130 (Firefighter Training), S-190 (Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior), and position-specific training for engine operators, crew bosses, and incident management teams.

Student Conservation Association Wildland Fire Academy - 6-month paid positions (\(650-\)1,000/week) with full NWCG certification on Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Hands-on training preparing participants for federal fire careers.

California Conservation Corps - Operates 26+ hand crews at 13 locations with monthly stipends potentially exceeding $32,000 first year. Entry-level wildland firefighting with year-round crew assignments.

Veterans Fire Corps (Conservation Legacy/SCA/AmeriCorps) - 12-week to 6-month assignments with 94% of participants reporting the program prepared them for fire employment. Targeted toward veterans transitioning to civilian fire careers.

Clackamas Community College (Oregon) - Four certificate pathways certified by PNWCG and NWCG, instructors with 15-30 years experience, includes EMT certification.

Lane Community College (Oregon) - Includes traditional cultural burning practices from Pacific Northwest Indigenous peoples alongside standard NWCG training.

Lake Superior College - One-year Wildland Firefighting Certificate preparing students for seasonal fire positions.

Minnesota North College (formerly Itasca Community College) - Eight NWCG courses with partnerships across federal and state agencies, one of the strongest community college programs in the Midwest.

USFS Wildland Fire Apprenticeship Program - Department of Labor-accredited apprenticeships providing structured career pathways in the Forest Service.

USFWS Wildland Fire Apprenticeship - Launched 2022, DOL-accredited program with 12-48 month pathways including details to helitack, hand crews, rappel crews, and fire use modules. First class included 28 apprentices.

BIA Pathways Internship Program - Connects Native American and Alaska Native college students to paid fire management internships across BIA and tribal programs.

NAFRI Courses - National Advanced Fire and Resource Institute provides advanced training for incident management teams and overhead positions.

National Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center - Established 2021 at Tall Timbers Research Station, providing multi-agency prescribed fire training with emphasis on southeastern fire ecology.

United States Forest Service Training - Comprehensive fire training programs for Forest Service personnel.

Interagency Fire Program Management Standard (IFPM) - Standardized fire program management across federal agencies.

Fire Ecology Curriculum (Southwestern Region) - Ecological foundations for fire management in southwestern ecosystems.

Smokejumper Rookie Training - 5-week intensive program at bases in Missoula, McCall, Redding, and seven other locations. Requires 3-4 years fire experience (hotshot preferred), with specific fitness standards: 7 pull-ups, 45 sit-ups, 25 push-ups, 1.5-mile run under 11 minutes, and 110-lb pack test.

BLM National Training Center - Phoenix-based facility offering distance learning through DOI Talent platform for BLM fire personnel nationwide.

Great Basin Training Unit - Delivers approximately 60 courses annually to over 1,000 personnel across the Great Basin region.

BLM Alaska Fire Service - Maintains the "Handy Dandy" firefighting field guide and coordinates Alaska-specific training addressing unique northern fire conditions.

BLM Idaho Boise Helitack - Operates the only DOI Type 1 helicopter (UH-60 Blackhawk), providing specialized aviation training opportunities.

Wildland Fire Resource Advisor Course (N-9042) - Online course certifying 500-700+ students annually in providing resource protection advice during incidents.

Non-Fire Employee Surge Capacity Training - Trains rangers, interpreters, and other NPS staff to support fire operations during peak seasons.

USFWS Wildland Fire Apprenticeship - DOL-accredited program launched 2022, with details to helitack, hand crews, and rappel operations. Note: USFWS applies 50% of all DOI prescribed fire acres.

Wildland Fire First Aid Program - Medical Incident Technician and Medical Incident Leadership training levels. Over 740 students from 50+ Indian Country fire crews have completed certified classes, representing approximately 60% of Indian Country's permanent fire workforce.

CAL FIRE Training Centers - Four facilities (Ione, Riverside, Atwater opening 2025, and future fourth facility) providing IFSAC/Pro Board certified training for state firefighters.

City College of San Francisco Fire Science - Wildland fire academy with NWCG certification pathways.

Mt. San Antonio College Fire Technology - Community college wildland fire training program.

Reedley College Fire Technology - Wildland fire academy serving California's Central Valley.

CWFIMA (Colorado Wildland Fire and Incident Management Academy) - Operating since 1994 with 900+ staff and students annually. Served as the model for academies in New York, Utah, Texas, and Arizona.

Front Range Community College Wildland Fire Certificate - One-semester Wildland Fire Certificate for rapid entry into fire careers.

AWIMA (Arizona Wildland Fire and Incident Management Academy) - Offers 40+ course types annually addressing southwestern fire management needs.

Women in Wildland Fire - Immersive program supporting women pursuing wildland fire careers.

Washington DNR Academies - No-cost interagency training meeting NWCG standards, including virtual instructor-led training October through April. Special initiative provides funded training specifically for tribal members.

Mid-Willamette Valley Interagency Fire School - Operating since 1997, providing interagency training for Oregon fire personnel.

State Certified Burn Manager Program - Established per Senate Bill 762 (2021) with civil liability protection for certified practitioners. Two levels: pile burning, and pile and broadcast burning.

Nevada Division of Forestry Training - Trained 2,938 personnel in 2024 using 30 instructors through Rookie Academy and Engine Academy programs.

Texas A&M Forest Service Academies:

• East Texas Academy - May, Lufkin area, 26^th annual in 2025
• Capital Area Academy - October, Camp Swift, 27^th annual in 2025

Both provide comprehensive interagency training for Texas fire personnel.

Withlacoochee Training Center - 5-6 week intensive Basic Firefighter Certification Training, prerequisite for Forest Ranger employment. Emphasizes Florida ecosystem fire behavior and wildland-urban interface operations.

The Joint Fire Science Program funds 15 regional exchanges providing webinars, workshops, and field tours:

Southern Fire Exchange - Covers 11 states, partnered with University of Florida and Tall Timbers Research Station.

California Fire Science Consortium - Weekly seminar series and California Forest Science Symposium connecting researchers with practitioners.

Northwest Fire Science Consortium - California Forest Science Symposium partnerships.

Northern Rockies Fire Science Network - Maintains archive of 400+ recorded webinars.

Southwest Fire Science Consortium - Serves Arizona, New Mexico, and neighboring regions.

Great Basin Fire Science Exchange - Nevada, Utah, and surrounding areas.

Great Plains Fire Science Exchange - Plains states fire ecology and management.

Oak Woodlands and Forests Fire Consortium - Oak ecosystem fire management.

Lake States Fire Science Consortium - Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan fire research translation.

Penn State University Forest Ecosystem Management - B.S. in Forest Ecosystem Management with FOR 345 Wildland Fire Ecology. Students complete Wildland Fire Field Camp with prescribed burn training in North Carolina and Florida.

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry - Applied Forest & Fire Ecology Lab offering M.S. and Ph.D. programs researching northeastern forest fire ecology.

University of Florida Fire Ecology Certificate - Undergraduate Certificate in Fire Ecology and Management (15 credits) and Graduate Certificate in Ecological Restoration with fire emphasis.

Clemson University Fire Tigers - "Fire Tigers" program partnering with Forest Service for prescribed burns on Sumter National Forest.

Auburn University Fire Ecology - M.S. research positions in southeastern pine and oak fire ecology.

NC State University Forestry and Environmental Resources - Online graduate-level wildland fire courses through College of Natural Resources, covering southeastern fire ecology and prescribed fire planning.

Columbia Southern University Fire Administration - Online B.S. in Fire Administration with Wildland Fire Concentration, partnered with NWCG.

University of Wisconsin Stevens Point - Comprehensive forestry program with fire science emphasis.

Minnesota North College Natural Resources - Eight NWCG courses with partnerships across federal and state agencies, one of the strongest community college programs in the Midwest.

Lake Superior College Wildland Firefighting - One-year Wildland Firefighting Certificate.

Lake Superior State University Fire Science - B.S. Fire Science combined with both Firefighter I/II and Red Card certification.

Wisconsin Technical College System Forest Management - Forest Management Specialist Certificate with prescribed fire components.

Central Arizona College Fire Science

Coconino Community College Fire Science

Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Wildland Fire Science

Northern Arizona University Fire Ecology and Management, Undergraduate Certificate

NAU Ecological Restoration Institute

Northland Pioneer College Fire Science

Pima Community College

Southwestern Oklahoma State University Wildland Fire Management - B.S. in Wildland Fire Management with hands-on controlled burn training, the only program of its kind in the region.

Texas A&M-San Antonio Fire and Emergency Services - Online B.A.A.S. in Fire and Emergency Services Administration.

New Mexico State University Doña Ana CC Fire Science - IFSAC-accredited Fire Science Technology A.A.S. with wildland pathways.

Central New Mexico Community College Fire Science - Wildland Firefighter Type 1 Certificates.

New Mexico Highlands University Forestry - B.S. in Forestry with Wildland Fire concentration, SAF accredited.

Oregon State University Fire Ecology

University of Idaho Fire Ecology - B.S. Fire Ecology plus online Certificate in Fire Ecology, Management and Technology (feeds into Master of Natural Resources).

University of Montana Fire Sciences Management - Sends students to Southeast each January for 2 weeks prescribed fire with TNC in longleaf pine.

Washington State University Wildland Fire Ecology - Wildland Fire Ecology and Management course launched 2021 where students earn entry-level firefighter certification.

University of Washington School of Environmental and Forest Sciences - Graduate fire research in wet temperate forest ecosystems.

Clackamas Community College Fire Science - Four certificate pathways certified by PNWCG and NWCG, instructors with 15-30 years experience, includes EMT certification.

Lane Community College Fire Science - Includes Pacific Northwest Indigenous traditional cultural burning practices alongside standard training.

Cal Poly SLO Forest & Fire Science

Cal Poly Humboldt

Shasta College

UC Berkeley Rausser College of Natural Resources - B.S. and Master of Forestry with fire science emphasis, including 8-week Sierra Nevada Forestry Field Camp.

CSU San Marcos Wildfire Science - California's only online B.S. in Wildfire Science and Wildland-Urban Interface. Degree completion program accepting credit for prior fire certifications.

Colorado State University Fire Science

University of Idaho Fire Ecology - B.S. Fire Ecology plus online Certificate in Fire Ecology, Management and Technology covering fire science writing, fuels management, GIS applications, smoke and air quality, and fire policy.

University of Montana Fire Sciences - Also sends students to Southeast each January for 2 weeks prescribed fire with TNC in longleaf pine forests.

Steven F. Austin University Fire Science (Texas)

Unity College Wildland Fire Science

UBC Okanagan Wildland Fire Ecology (Canada) - Micro-credential in Wildland Fire Ecology combining Indigenous and Western perspectives, 30 hours per course, offered January and September.

Association for Fire Ecology provides professional certifications at multiple levels.

AFE Academic Program Certification for colleges and universities offering fire science degree programs.

Alabama - 32-hour course, $50 fee, 5-year certification.

California (CA-RX) Burn Boss - Burn Boss certification with 40-hour classroom training plus task book. 55 active certified as of December 2025.

Florida Certified Prescribed Burn Manager - 24-hour course ($175), approximately 1,800 certified practitioners statewide.

Georgia Certified Prescribed Burn Manager - Written exam requiring 70% or higher, 2 years experience, 5 prescribed burns led.

Mississippi Certified Prescribed Burn Manager - 1-day or 3-day options with 80% pass requirement.

Missouri Certified Burner - Online course ($25) through Missouri Department of Conservation, leads to Certified Burner status.

Oklahoma Prescribed Fire - Oklahoma State University Extension self-paced course, 9 modules covering prescribed fire fundamentals.

Oregon Certified Burn Manager - Two certification levels (pile burning; pile and broadcast burning), provides civil liability protection under state law.

Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas - Various state-specific requirements and durations.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Prescribed Burn Manager - Certified and Insured Prescribed Burn Manager preparation program.

Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN) - Requires S-490, S-491, and completed task book. Provides fire behavior analysis and forecasting on incidents.

Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN) - Requires satisfactory FBAN performance plus S-590. Provides extended fire behavior forecasting for complex incidents.

NRCS Technical Service Provider - Prescribed Burning (Code 338) certification enables recommending burns as a conservation planning alternative for agricultural producers.

IAAI-CFI (International Association of Arson Investigators Certified Fire Investigator) - Requires 5+ years experience, 400 hours documented training, Pro Board and FSAB accredited.

NAFI-CFEI (National Association of Fire Investigators Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator) - Oldest and most widely held fire investigation certification, based solely on NFPA 921.

CCAI-CFI (California Conference of Arson Investigators Certified Fire Investigator) - Three levels (Technician, CFI, Master), requires 75 fires for origin determination and 75 for cause investigations.

NFPA Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist - Demonstrates professional competence in wildfire hazard mitigation and WUI protection.

IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home - Free online learning with three designation levels (Base, Plus, Plus with Ventilation) available in California, Oregon, Nevada, and New Mexico.

International Code Council IWUIC Training - International Wildland-Urban Interface Code training, adopted statewide in California, Utah, Montana, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

Coalition of Prescribed Fire Councils - Umbrella organization supporting state and regional councils nationwide.

Florida Prescribed Fire Councils - The oldest in the nation, with North Florida council established 1989. Multiple regional councils statewide.

Georgia, Texas, Washington, Illinois, Michigan, Idaho, Missouri, Oklahoma - All have active councils providing landowner workshops, Learn and Burn events, and certification support.

Councils provide networking, technical assistance, liability coverage information, and hands-on training opportunities for private landowners.

Oklahoma State University Extension Prescribed Fire - Self-paced Introduction to Prescribed Fire with 9 modules covering planning, implementation, and safety.

Missouri Department of Conservation Prescribed Burning - Online Prescribed Burning for Land Managers course ($25), leads to Certified Burner status for landowners.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Certified and Insured Prescribed Burn Manager preparation supporting Texas landowners.

Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever - Employs Prescribed Burn Coordinators in Minnesota, North Dakota, Illinois, and Texas who conduct landowner workshops and support Prescribed Burn Association formation.

National Wild Turkey Federation - Provides fire webinars, equipment grants for Prescribed Burn Associations, and NRCS partnership programs.

Audubon Canyon Ranch Fire Forward (California) - 11-month paid Prescribed Fire Apprentice position and Fire Forward Fellowship supporting cultural and ecological burning.

Indigenous Peoples Burning Network - Founded 2015, administered by The Nature Conservancy. Supports 26+ tribes in revitalizing cultural fire practices through:

• Community-based burning programs
• Indigenous-led TREX events (including Yurok TREX)
• Cultural Burning Program Builders Working Group
• Annual network workshops connecting elders with youth
• Support for Indigenous fire governance and traditional knowledge

Intertribal Timber Council - Fire Subcommittee coordinates tribal fire workforce development and training.

Biennial Tribal Forestry and Wildland Fire Student Summit - Brings together tribal students pursuing fire careers.

Truman D. Picard Scholarships - Financial support for Native American and Alaska Native students in natural resources.

2023-2028 Workforce Development Strategic Plan - Addresses tribal fire capacity building and career pathways.

Wildland Fire First Aid Program - Medical Incident Technician and Medical Incident Leadership training levels. Over 740 students from 50+ Indian Country fire crews, representing ~60% of permanent tribal fire workforce.

Pathways Internship Program - Connects Native American and Alaska Native college students to paid fire management internships across BIA and tribal programs.

Lane Community College Fire Science - Includes Pacific Northwest Indigenous traditional cultural burning practices alongside standard NWCG training.

UBC Okanagan Wildland Fire Ecology - Micro-credential in Wildland Fire Ecology combining Indigenous and Western fire science perspectives.

US NPS Overview of TEK - National Park Service introduction to Traditional Ecological Knowledge in land management.

Yale Environment 360 - Overview - What ecologists are learning from Indigenous people about fire and land stewardship.

Global Indigenous Data Alliance - CARE principles for Indigenous Data Governance (Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility, Ethics).

University of Alaska Fairbanks Remote Sensing of Wildfires on edX - 4-week self-paced course covering satellite imagery analysis, QGIS, and Google Earth Engine for fire detection. Free to audit with verified certificate available, includes 1-year ArcGIS Pro license.

University of Idaho Fire Ecology Certificate - Online Certificate in Fire Ecology, Management and Technology covering fire science writing, fuels management, GIS applications, smoke and air quality, and fire policy. Feeds into Master of Natural Resources degree.

NC State Forestry and Environmental Resources - Online graduate courses covering southeastern fire ecology and prescribed fire planning through College of Natural Resources.

UBC Okanagan Wildland Fire Ecology Micro-credential - Micro-credential in Wildland Fire Ecology, 30 hours per course, offered January and September.

FireRescue1 Academy (Lexipol Training) - 350+ fire courses with subscription-based access for departments. Covers structural and wildland operations.

IAFC Academy (International Association of Fire Chiefs) - Propane emergency response, hazmat training, and leadership development.

CFITrainer.Net - Online fire investigation modules including "Wildfires 1" (burn patterns) and "Wildfires 2" (lightning investigation).

Oregon OSHA Wildfire Smoke Safety - Free online wildfire smoke safety course meeting state regulatory requirements for worker protection.

California OSHA Wildfire Smoke - Free online wildfire smoke safety course meeting Cal/OSHA requirements for employee training.

Northern Rockies Fire Science Network - Archive of 400+ recorded webinars on fire science research and management.

California Fire Science Consortium - Weekly seminar series (February-March) connecting researchers with practitioners.

International Association of Wildland Fire - Conference recordings and webinars on fire ecology, management, and policy.

Society of American Foresters - ForestEd online platform providing Continuing Forestry Education credits.

University of Colorado Boulder Mountain Research Station - 2-week Forest & Fire Ecology course (3 credits, $2,100) covering tree ring fire history reconstruction and GIS analysis.

University of Montana Prescribed Fire Training - 2-week January prescribed fire training in Southeast with The Nature Conservancy in longleaf pine ecosystems.

USFS Fire Ecology Curriculum - Southwestern Region ecological foundations.

The Open University: Fire Ecology Course (free) - Open access fire ecology fundamentals.

National Volunteer Fire Council WFAP - Volunteer home assessment training (4 online modules plus hands-on components).

UL Fire Safety Research Institute WUI Training - Free Structure Triage Considerations for WUI Firefighting, incorporating analysis from Maui wildfire.

CSU San Marcos - Online B.S. in Wildfire Science and Wildland-Urban Interface (see University Programs section).

International Code Council IWUIC Training - International Wildland-Urban Interface Code training (see Professional Certifications section).

Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program - Air Resource Advisor certification through 5-day intensive training (June 23-27, 2025 session scheduled).

Oregon OSHA and California OSHA - Free online smoke safety courses (see Online Learning section).

WFM RD&A Mentee Program - Skills development with FSPro, FlamMap, FARSITE, FireFamilyPlus, and WFDSS decision support tools through mentorship and detail assignments.

Note: No formal FARSITE/FlamMap courses exist; training typically occurs through local unit channels and peer mentorship.

FI-210 Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination (NWCG) - Taught at Northern California Training Center in Redding and other locations.

CFITrainer.Net - Online modules for wildfire investigation (see Online Learning section).

Professional certifications available through IAAI, NAFI, and CCAI (see Professional Certifications section).

USFS Smokejumper Rookie Training - 5-week intensive program at bases in Missoula, McCall, Redding, and seven other locations.

Prerequisites: 3-4 years fire experience (hotshot preferred), 7 pull-ups, 45 sit-ups, 25 push-ups, 1.5-mile run under 11 minutes, 110-lb pack test.

BLM Idaho Boise Helitack - Operates the only DOI Type 1 helicopter (UH-60 Blackhawk), providing specialized aviation training opportunities.

TREX (Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges) - 150+ events since 2009, 4,300+ participants, 175,000+ acres treated. Provides NWCG taskbook training for Squad Boss, Engine Boss, Burn Boss, Public Information Officer, and Fire Effects Monitor positions.

Fire Learning Network - 47 landscapes nationwide since 2002 in cooperation with federal agencies, promoting landscape-scale prescribed fire.

Indigenous Peoples Burning Network - Founded 2015, supports 26+ tribes (see Tribal & Indigenous Fire Programs section).

Tall Timbers Fire Training - NWCG-sanctioned courses including S-131 (Firefighter Type 1) and RX-300 (Introduction to Prescribed Fire).

Department of Defense civilian fire training programs.

National Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center (since 2021) - Housed at Tall Timbers, providing multi-agency prescribed fire training.

Southern Fire Exchange headquarters - Regional fire science translation serving 11 southeastern states.

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center - Case studies, after-action reviews, safety resources, and analysis of significant fire events.

Student Conservation Association Wildland Fire Academy - 6-month paid positions on Shasta-Trinity National Forest (see Getting Started section).

Veterans Fire Corps - Conservation Legacy/SCA/AmeriCorps programs (see Getting Started section).

California Conservation Corps - 26+ hand crews at 13 locations (see Getting Started section).

NFPA Firewise USA - Nearly 3,000 recognized community sites nationwide implementing wildfire protection measures.

NFPA Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist - Professional credential (see Professional Certifications section).

IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home - Free online learning (see Professional Certifications section).