National Wildfire Coordinating Group

Alternative Pathways to NWCG Qualification

Group of wildland firefighters walking through low hanging smoke. The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, establishes minimum NWCG position qualification standards for training, experience, physical fitness, and currency for national mobilization to wildland fire incidents. Position qualification requirements are located on the individual position pages of the NWCG Position Catalog.

Recognition of prior learning (RPL), NWCG position endorsements, and the National Fire Academy (NFA) Structural Fire Skills Crosswalk are methods for attaining NWCG PMS  310-1 positions outside of the qualifications pathway through formal processes and recognized programs. Use of these processes and programs are determined by each agency independently and only apply to positions identified in the NWCG PMS 310-1. The use of these alternate pathways ensures the critical knowledge and skills needed to perform on wildland fire incidents is attained while increasing response capacity through a shortened path to qualification.

 

The NWCG Standards for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), PMS 309, establishes the use of a formal competency-based qualification process that allows any credentialing authority to recognize and account for competence acquired through life-long learning and experience. RPL is a process that evaluates an individual’s formal and non-formal learning to determine the extent to which that individual has achieved the required competencies to perform effectively in a specific emergency management or responder position. It is widely recognized that a standardized NWCG RPL process will reduce redundant training, support efforts to increase speed and time to competency, and support efforts to boost national resource surge capacity.

The NWCG Executive Board is developing NWCG position endorsements for the 45 common positions shared with National Incident Management System (NIMS) National Qualification System (NQS). A position endorsement is defined as “Documentation validating specific knowledge, skills, and abilities that an [Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)] establishes beyond the minimum qualifications for a given position.” Endorsements allow utilizing NQS all-hazards qualified resources on wildland fire incidents. This process is not designed to review specific NWCG positions for use in all-hazards incidents.

Position analysis is underway. See analysis process for additional information. As recommendations are approved, they will be posted below. Target completion for analysis of all 45 positions is June 2022. 

NWCG Position Catalog 

Please Provide Endorsements Feedback 

Title Position Code Endorsed? Endorsement Approved Link to Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position. All-hazards Air Operations Branch Director need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements. Rationale for not endorsing is based on prerequisite experience (e.g., strategic operations, complex air space coordination, complex frequency management, planning strategy and tactics for retardant operations, managing risk).

 Air Operations Branch Director AOBD No 2022-05-18 AOBD Recommendations

ASGS Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • None Required

Required Additional Experience

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Air Support Group Supervisor ASGS Yes 2022-05-18 ASGS Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position. All-hazards Air Tactical Group Supervisors need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements. Rationale for not endorsing is based on prerequisite experience (e.g., complex airspace coordination with incident aircraft, DIVS prerequisite qualification).

 Air Tactical Group Supervisor ATGS No 2022-05-18 ATGS Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position and has no endorsement. All-hazards Communication Unit Leaders will need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements.

 Communications Unit Leader COML No 2022-04-20 COML Recommendations

COMP Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • None required, but both S-260, Incident Business Management and e-ISuite training are recommended for anyone without wildland fire incident business experience.

Required Additional Experience

  • Successful completion and certification of position-specific tasks (#31-40) in the NWCG Compensation Unit Leader Position Task Book, PMS 311-47, on a wildland fire incident.

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Compensation/Claims Unit Leader COMP Yes 2022-07-20 COMP Recommendations

COST Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • None required, but both S-260, Incident Business Management and e-ISuite training are recommended for anyone without wildland fire incident business experience.

Required Additional Experience

  • Successful completion and certification of position-specific tasks (#16, 22, 23, 26) in the NWCG Cost Unit Leader Position Task Book, PMS 311-48, on a wildland fire incident.

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Cost Unit Leader COST Yes 2022-07-20 COST Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position and has no endorsement. Demobilization Unit Leader will need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements.

 Demobilization Unit Leader DMOB No 2022-04-20 DMOB Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position. All-hazards Division Group Supervisors need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements. Rationale for not endorsing is based on prerequisite experience (e.g., fire behavior, strategic operations, burn planning).

 Division/Group Supervisor DIVS No 2022-05-18 DIVS Recommendations

DOCL Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • Review NWCG Standards for Electronic File Documentation, PMS 277, prior to assignment [note: publication nearing finalization].

Required Additional Experience

  • Successful performance as a DOCL trainee on a wildland fire incident (no position task book required).

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Documentation Unit Leader DOCL Yes 2022-04-20 DOCL Recommendations

FACL Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • None Required

Required Additional Experience

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Facilities Unit Leader FACL Yes 2022-04-20 FACL Recommendations

FSC1 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • S-520, Advanced Incident Management or Complex Incident Management Course (CIMC)

Required Additional Experience

  • Successful completion and certification of NWCG Finance Section Chief Type 1 (FSC1) Position Task Book, PMS 311-46, on a wildland fire incident.

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Finance/Administration Section Chief Type 1 FSC1 Yes 2022-07-20 FSC1 Recommendations

FSC2 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

The position for this endorsement is currently being evaluated to the new standards for Complex Incident Management, for current information regarding this change, please contact your NIMSIC representative.

 Finance/Administration Section Chief Type 2 FSC2 Yes 2022-07-20 FSC2 Recommendations

FSC3 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • None Required

Required Additional Experience

  • Successful completion and certification of NWCG Time Unit Leader (TIME) Position Task Book, PMS 311-47, or Cost Unit Leader (COST) Position Task Book, PMS 311-48, on a wildland fire incident.

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Finance/Administration Section Chief Type 3 FSC3 Yes 2022-07-20 FSC3 Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position and has no endorsement. All-hazards Food Unit Leaders will need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements.

 Food Unit Leader FDUL No 2022-04-20 FDUL Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position. All-hazards Geographic Information System Specialists need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements. Rationale for not endorsing is based on the specialized wildland fire workflow requirements.

 Geographic Information System Specialist GISS No 2022-05-18 GISS Recommendations

GSUL Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • None required (NQS and NWCG are identical)

Required Additional Experience

  • None required (NQS and NWCG are identical)

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Ground Support Unit Leader GSUL Yes 2022-04-20 GSUL Recommendations

ICT1 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

Required Additional Experience

  • Successful performance as a ICT1 trainee on a wildland fire incident (no PTB required). Use NWCG Incident Commander Type 1 (ICT1) Position Task Book, PMS 311-01, as a guide for the trainee assignment. Document performance on a PTB Evaluation Record.

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Incident Commander Type 1 ICT1 Yes 2022-07-20 ICT1 Recommendations

ICT2 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

The position for this endorsement is currently being evaluated to the new standards for Complex Incident Management, for current information regarding this change, please contact your NIMSIC representative.

 Incident Commander Type 2 ICT2 Yes 2022-07-20 ICT2 Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position. All-hazards Incident Commander Type 3s will need to meet the wildland fire endorsement for Incident Commander Type 4 before moving up to Incident Commander Type 3. Rationale for not endorsing is based on the complexity of the wildland fire ICT3 position. Wildland fire has Extended Attack incidents as well as Type 3 Incident Management Teams (IMTS); each requires variable skills from the ICT3 in command. With the implementation of Complex Incident Management, the path forward on the wildland fire side is still unclear.

 Incident Commander Type 3 ICT3 No 2022-07-20 ICT3 Recommendations

ICT4 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • S-130, Firefighter Training
  • S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
  • S-131, Firefighter Type 1 Training
  • S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior
  • S-200, Initial Attack Incident Commander
  • RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR)

Required Additional Experience

  • Successful completion and certification of tasks (#4, 6, 15, 21, 33, 34, 38, 39, 44) in the NWCG Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4) Position Task Book, PMS 311-03, on a wildland fire incident.

Physical Fitness Level: Arduous

 Incident Commander Type 4 ICT4 Yes 2022-07-20 ICT4 Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position and has no endorsement. All-hazards Incident Communications Technician will need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements.

 Incident Communications Technician COMT No 2022-04-20 COMT Recommendations

LOFR Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • None

Required Additional Experience

  • Successful performance as a LOFR trainee on a wildland fire incident (no PTB required). Use NWCG Liaison Officer (LOFR) Position Task Book, PMS 311-05, as a guide for the trainee assignment. Document performance on a PTB Evaluation Record.

Physical Fitness Level: Arduous

 Liaison Officer LOFR Yes 2022-07-20 LOFR Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position and has no endorsement. All-hazards Logistics Section Chiefs Type 1 will need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements.

 Logistics Section Chief Type 1 LSC1 No 2022-04-20 LSC1 Recommendations

LSC2 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

The position for this endorsement is currently being evaluated to the new standards for Complex Incident Management, for current information regarding this change, please contact your NIMSIC representative.

 Logistics Section Chief Type 2 LSC2 Yes 2022-04-20 LSC2 Recommendations

LSC3 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • None Required

Required Additional Experience

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Logistics Section Chief Type 3 LSC3 Yes 2022-04-20 LSC3 Recommendations

MEDL Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

Required Additional Experience

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Medical Unit Leader MEDL Yes 2022-04-20 MEDL Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position. All-hazards Operations Section Chief Type 1 need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements. Rationale for not endorsing is based on prerequisite experience (e.g., fire behavior, strategic operations, burn planning).

 Operations Section Chief Type 1 OSC1 No 2022-05-18 OSC1 Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position. All-hazards Operations Section Chief Type 2 need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements. Rationale for not endorsing is based on prerequisite experience (e.g., fire behavior, strategic operations, burn planning).

 Operations Section Chief Type 2 OSC2 No 2022-05-18 OSC2 Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position. All-hazards Operations Section Chief Type 3 need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements. Rationale for not endorsing is based on prerequisite experience (e.g., fire behavior, strategic operations, burn planning).

 Operations Section Chief Type 3 OPS3 No 2022-05-18 OPS3 Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position and has no endorsement. All-hazards Planning Section Chief Type 1 will need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements.

 Planning Section Chief Type 1 PSC1 No 2022-04-20 PSC1 Recommendations

PSC2 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

The position for this endorsement is currently being evaluated to the new standards for Complex Incident Management, for current information regarding this change, please contact your NIMSIC representative.

 Planning Section Chief Type 2 PSC2 Yes 2022-04-20 PSC2 Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position and has no endorsement. All-hazards Planning Section Chief Type 3 will need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements.

 Planning Section Chief Type 3 PSC3 No 2022-04-20 PSC3 Recommendations

All-hazards Procurement Unit Leaders need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements. Rationale for not endorsing is based on the complexity of federal procurement regulations.

 Procurement Unit Leader PROC No 2022-07-20 PROC Recommendations

PIO1 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

Required Additional Experience

  • No additional experience required

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Public Information Officer Type 1 PIO1 Yes 2022-01-19 PIO1 Recommendations

PIO2 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

The position for this endorsement is currently being evaluated to the new standards for Complex Incident Management, for current information regarding this change, please contact your NIMSIC representative.

 Public Information Officer Type 2 PIO2 Yes 2022-01-19 PIO2 Recommendations

RESL Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • Review NWCG Standards for Electronic File Documentation, PMS 277, prior to assignment [note:  publication nearing finalization].

Required Additional Experience

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Resources Unit Leader RESL Yes 2022-04-20 RESL Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position and has no endorsement. All-hazards Safety Officers need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements.

 Safety Officer Type 1 SOF1 No 2022-01-19 SOF1 Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position and has no endorsement. All-hazards Safety Officers need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements.

 Safety Officer Type 2 SOF2 No 2022-01-19 SOF2 Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position and has no endorsement. All-hazards Safety Officers need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements.

 Safety Officer, Line SOFR No 2022-01-19 SOFR Recommendations

SVBD Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

Required Additional Experience

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Service Branch Director SVBD Yes 2022-04-20 SVBD Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position and has no endorsement. All-hazards Situation Unit Leader will need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements.

 Situation Unit Leader SITL No 2022-04-20 SITL Recommendations

SPUL Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • None Required

Required Additional Experience

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Supply Unit Leader SPUL Yes 2022-04-20 SPUL Recommendations

SUBD Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

Required Additional Experience

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Support Branch Director SUBD Yes 2022-04-20 SUBD Recommendations

TIME Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • None required, but both S-260, Incident Business Management and e-ISuite training are recommended for anyone without wildland fire incident business experience.

Required Additional Experience

  • Successful completion and certification of position-specific tasks (#50-55) in the NWCG Time Unit Leader Position Task Book, PMS 311-47, on a wildland fire incident.

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Time Unit Leader TIME Yes 2022-07-20 TIME Recommendations

 

 

Structural firefighters meeting NFPA 1001 or 1021 qualifications may utilize the Skills Crosswalk identified by the NFA to apply their existing fire suppression knowledge and skills towards qualification in three NWCG incident positions: Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1), Engine Boss, Single Resource (ENGB), and Strike Team Leader Engine (STEN).

Refer to NFA for additional information.

The Gap courses have been designed to fill the knowledge gap between structural and wildand fire. The course, along with the associated position task book are required for structural firefighters prior to obtaining qualification in each of the three NWCG positions.

 

 

          

Page Last Modified / Reviewed: 
2022-08-09