Fire Service Certification Program
The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) is the only accredited entity in the State of Washington authorized to issue certifications by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) and the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board).
The SFMO was initially accredited by IFSAC in 1995 and by Pro Board in 2024. We offer certification in 21 different levels of firefighter professional qualifications. Fire service personnel may become certified by successfully passing written and practical examinations in various disciplines. Certification exams for competency are facilitated by written Proctors and practical Test Control Officers approved by the SFMO at fire organizations, professional associations, or institutions throughout the state. The SFMO will undergo the reaccreditation process through both IFSAC and Pro Board in 2029.
Below is a list of all certifications offered through the SFMO. Candidates must score 70.00% on the written examination. Practical skills are graded on a pass/fail basis. For information regarding the certification process, reciprocity, equivalency, or obtaining copies of your previously issued certificates, please contact FirefighterTesting@wsp.wa.gov or call (360) 596-3945.
Recommended Training
• NFPA 470, Chapter 5
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Hazardous Materials for First Responders, 6th edition
• DOT North American Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG), 2020 or 2024 edition
Skill Sheets
• Skill Sheets Hazardous Materials Awareness
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Prerequisites
• Hazardous Materials Awareness (must be tested prior to, or in conjunction with, Hazardous Materials Operations)
Corequisites
• None
Recommended Training
• NFPA 470, Chapter 7, Chapters 9.2, 9.6
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Hazardous Materials for First Responders, 6th edition
• DOT North American Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG), 2020 or 2024 edition
Skill Sheets
• Skill Sheets Hazardous Materials Operations
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Prerequisites
• Hazardous Materials Awareness
• Hazardous Materials Operations
Corequisites
• None
Recommended Training
• NFPA 470, Chapter 11
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Hazardous Materials for First Responders, 6th edition
• IFSTA Hazardous Materials Technician, 3rd edition
• DOT North American Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG), 2020 or 2024 edition
Skill Sheets
• Skill Sheets Hazardous Materials Technician
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Prerequisites
• None
Corequisites
• Hazardous Materials Awareness
• Hazardous Materials Operations
Recommended Training
• NFPA 1001
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Essentials of Fire Fighting, 8th Edition
Skill Sheets
• Skill Sheets Firefighter I
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Prerequisites
• Hazardous Materials Awareness
• Hazardous Materials Operations
• Firefighter I
Corequisites
• None
Recommended Training
• NFPA 1001
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Essentials of Fire Fighting, 8th Edition
Skill Sheets
• Skill Sheets Firefighter II
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Prerequisites
• Hazardous Materials Awareness
• Hazardous Materials Operations
• Firefighter I
• Firefighter II
Corequisites
• Fire Instructor I
Recommended Training
• NFPA 1021
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer 6th Edition
Skill Sheets
• Skill Sheets Fire Officer I
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Prerequisites
• Hazardous Materials Awareness
• Hazardous Materials Operations
• Firefighter I
• Firefighter II
• Fire Instructor I
• Fire Officer I
Corequisites
• None
Recommended Training
• NFPA 1021
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer, 6th Edition
Skill Sheets
• Skill Sheets Fire Officer II
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Prerequisites
• Hazardous Materials Awareness
• Hazardous Materials Operations
• Firefighter I
• Firefighter II
• Fire Services Instructor I
• Fire Officer I
• Fire Officer II
Recommended Training
• NFPA 1021, Chapter 6
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Chief Officer, 4th Edition
• IFSTA Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer, 6th Edition
Skill Sheets
• Skills Sheet Fire Officer III
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Prerequisites
• Hazardous Materials Awareness
• Hazardous Materials Operations
• Firefighter I
• Firefighter II
• Fire Instructor I
• Fire Officer I
• Fire Officer II
• Fire Officer III
Recommended Training
• NFPA 1021, Chapter 7
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Chief Officer, 4th Edition
• IFSTA Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer, 6th Edition
Skill Sheets
• Skill Sheets Fire Officer IV
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Prerequisites
• None
Corequisites
• None
Recommended Training
• NFPA 1041
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Fire and Emergency Services Instructor, 9th Edition
Skills Sheets
• Skill Sheets Fire Instructor I
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Prerequisites
• Instructor I
Corequisites
• None
Recommended Training
• NFPA 1041
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Fire and Emergency Services Instructor, 9th Edition
Skills Sheets
• Skill Sheet Fire Instructor II
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Prerequisites
• Hazardous Materials Awareness
Corequisites
• None
Recommended Training
• NFPA 1031
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Fire Inspection and Code Enforcement, 8th Edition
Skill Sheets
• Skill Sheet Fire Inspector I
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Prerequisites
• Currently active as a fire investigator or have investigation duties assigned
• Proof of successful completion of a tested Basic or Fundamentals of Fire Investigation class. The class must have been forty (40) hours or more in length.
• Written verification from the candidate’s agency or employer that the candidate has met the agency or employer’s requirements following a thorough background investigation of the candidate’s character
• Hazardous Materials Awareness training to NFPA 470
Corequisites
• None
Recommended Training
• NFPA 1033
• NFPA 921
• NFPA 470
Reference Materials
• Jones and Bartlett, Fire Investigator Principles and Practice, 6th Edition
• NFPA 1033
• NFPA 921
Skill Sheets
• Skill Sheets Fire Investigator
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
• Must provide proof of high school diploma or equivalent
Currency
• To maintain certification, certificate holders shall submit a Currency Application every five (5) years to keep their certification current and valid. The Currency Application must include documentation of at least forty (40) hours of continuing education during the previous five years in the subjects listed as “Requisite Knowledge” for the Job Performance Requirements specified in NFPA 1033.
Prerequisites
• None
Corequisites
• None
Recommended Training
• NFPA 1030, Chapter 9
Skill Sheets
• Skill Sheets Public Fire and Life Safety Educator I
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Public Fire and Life Safety Educator, 4th Edition
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Prerequisites
• Hazardous Materials Awareness
• Hazardous Materials Operations
• Firefighter I
• Firefighter II
Corequisites
• None
Recommended Training
• NFPA 1003
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting, 6th Edition
Skill Sheets
• Skill Sheets Airport Firefighter
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Prerequisites
• Evidence of having completed of the following courses:
• EVIP/EVAP (Emergency Vehicle Incident/Accident Prevention)
• IAPD (International Academy of Professional Driving)
• VFIS (Volunteer Fireman’s Insurance Services)
Corequisites
• None
Recommended Training
• NFPA 1002, Chapter 4
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Pumping and Aerial Apparatus Driver/Operator Handbook, 3rd Edition
Skill Sheets
• Skill Sheets Driver Operator
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Prerequisites
• Firefighter 1
• Driver/Operator
• Evidence of having completed of the following courses:
• EVIP/EVAP (Emergency Vehicle Incident/Accident Prevention)
• IAPD (International Academy of Professional Driving)
• VFIS (Volunteer Fireman’s Insurance Services)
Recommended Training
• NFPA 1002, Chapter 6
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Pumping and Aerial Apparatus Driver/Operator Handbook, 3rd Edition
Skill Sheets
• Skill Sheets Driver/Operator Aerial
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Prerequisites
• Firefighter I
• Driver Operator
• Driver/Operator Aerial
• Evidence of having completed of the following courses:
• EVIP/EVAP (Emergency Vehicle Incident/Accident Prevention)
• IAPD (International Academy of Professional Driving)
• VFIS (Volunteer Fireman’s Insurance Services)
Recommended Training
• NFPA 1002, Chapters 6, 7
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Pumping and Aerial Apparatus Driver/Operator Handbook, 3rd Edition
Skill Sheets
• Skill Sheets Driver Operator Tiller
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Prerequisites
• Hazardous Materials Awareness
• Hazardous Materials Operations
• Firefighter I
• Firefighter II
• Driver Operator
• Airport Firefighter
• Aircraft Rescue Firefighter (ARFF)
• Driver/Operator
• Evidence of having completed of the following courses:
• EVIP/EVAP (Emergency Vehicle Incident/Accident Prevention)
• IAPD (International Academy of Professional Driving)
• VFIS (Volunteer Fireman’s Insurance Services)
Recommended Training
• NFPA 1002, Chapter 9
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting, 6th Edition
• IFSTA Pumping and Aerial Apparatus Driver/Operator Handbook, 3rd Edition
Skill Sheets
• Skill Sheets Driver/Operator Aircraft Rescue
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Prerequisites
• Driver/Operator
• Evidence of having completed of the following courses:
• EVIP/EVAP (Emergency Vehicle Incident/Accident Prevention)
• IAPD (International Academy of Professional Driving)
• VFIS (Volunteer Fireman’s Insurance Services)
Recommended Training
• NFPA 1002, Chapter 10
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Pumping and Aerial Apparatus Driver/Operator Handbook, 3rd Edition
Skill Sheets
• Skill Sheets Driver/Operator Mobile Water Supply
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Prerequisites
• Driver Operator
• Evidence of having completed the following courses:
• EVIP (Emergency Vehicle Incident Prevention)
• IAPD (International Academy of Professional Driving)
• VFIS (Volunteer Fireman’s Insurance Services)
Corequisites
• None
Recommended Training
• NFPA 1002, Chapter 5
Reference Materials
• IFSTA Pumping and Aerial Apparatus Driver/Operator Handbook, 3rd Edition
Skill Sheets
• Skill Sheets Driver/Operator Pumper
Other Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age
Test Administration Personnel
The IFSAC and Pro Board accredited Firefighter Certification Program relies on the voluntary participation of fire service professionals to serve as Proctors for written exams and Evaluators, Senior Evaluators, or Test Control Officers for the practical components of the testing process. All Test Administration Personnel must be Fire Instructor I certified (NFPA 1041) and also be certified in the level in which they’re evaluating. The SFMO routinely conducts Test Administration Personnel training around the state through the delivery of two courses: Evaluator (entry level) and Senior Evaluator/Test Control Officer. Individuals interested in participating in the process should contact us at: FirefighterTesting@wsp.wa.gov.