Alternative Pathways to NWCG Qualification
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.
| Title | Position Code | Endorsed? | Endorsement Approved | Link to 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 |
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 |
DOCL Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022Required Additional Training
Required Additional Experience
Physical Fitness Level: None Required | Documentation Unit Leader | DOCL | Yes | 2022-04-20 | DOCL Recommendations |
FACL Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022Required Additional Training
Required Additional Experience
Physical Fitness Level: None Required | Facilities Unit Leader | FACL | Yes | 2022-04-20 | FACL 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 |
GSUL Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022Required Additional Training
Required Additional Experience
Physical Fitness Level: None Required | Ground Support Unit Leader | GSUL | Yes | 2022-04-20 | GSUL 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 |
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, 2022Required Additional TrainingRequired Additional Experience
Physical Fitness Level: None Required | Logistics Section Chief Type 2 | LSC2 | Yes | 2022-04-20 | LSC2 Recommendations |
LSC3 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022Required Additional Training
Required Additional Experience
Physical Fitness Level: None Required | Logistics Section Chief Type 3 | LSC3 | Yes | 2022-04-20 | LSC3 Recommendations |
MEDL Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022Required Additional TrainingRequired Additional Experience
Physical Fitness Level: None Required | Medical Unit Leader | MEDL | Yes | 2022-04-20 | MEDL 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, 2022Required Additional TrainingRequired Additional Experience
Physical Fitness Level: None Required | 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 |
PIOF Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022Required Additional Training
Required Additional Experience
Physical Fitness Level: None Required | Public Information Officer | PIOF | Yes | 2022-01-19 | PIOF Recommendations |
PIO1 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022Required Additional TrainingRequired Additional Experience
Physical Fitness Level: None Required | Public Information Officer Type 1 | PIO1 | Yes | 2022-01-19 | PIO1 Recommendations |
PIO2 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022Required Additional TrainingRequired Additional Experience
Physical Fitness Level: None Required | Public Information Officer Type 2 | PIO2 | Yes | 2022-01-19 | PIO2 Recommendations |
RESL Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022Required Additional Training
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, 2022Required Additional TrainingRequired 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, 2022Required Additional Training
Required Additional Experience
Physical Fitness Level: None Required | Supply Unit Leader | SPUL | Yes | 2022-04-20 | SPUL Recommendations |
SUBD Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022Required Additional TrainingRequired Additional Experience
Physical Fitness Level: None Required | Support Branch Director | SUBD | Yes | 2022-04-20 | SUBD 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.
- G-131, Wildland Training (FFT1) for Structural Firefighters (designed for those meeting NFPA 1001 for Firefighter 2, or equivalent)
- G-231, Wildland Training (ENGB) for Structural Firefighters (designed for those meeting NFPA 1021 for Fire Officer 1, or equivalent)
- G-331, Wildland Training (STEN) for Structural Firefighters (designed for those meeting NFPA 1021 for Fire Officer 2, or equivalent)