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Alternative Pathways 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.

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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 has developed 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 regarding the process used during the analysis.

NWCG Position Catalog 

Please Provide Endorsements Feedback 

Details 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 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 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 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 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

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Compensation/Claims Unit Leader COMP Yes 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

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Cost Unit Leader COST Yes 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 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 DIVS Recommendations

DOCL Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

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 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 FACL Recommendations

FSC3 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • None Required

Required Additional Experience

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Finance/Administration Section Chief Type 3 FSC3 Yes 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 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 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 GSUL 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 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

Physical Fitness Level: Arduous

 Incident Commander Type 4 ICT4 Yes 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 COMT Recommendations

LOFR Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • None

Required Additional Experience

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Liaison Officer LOFR Yes LOFR 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 LSC3 Recommendations

MEDL Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

Required Additional Experience

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Medical Unit Leader MEDL Yes MEDL Recommendations
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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 the NFA website for additional information, as well as the Skills Crosswalk guide.

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.

Positions Highlights

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NWCG Latest Announcements

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Emergency Medical Committee

The NWCG Emergency Medical Committee (EMC) announces the recipients of the 2025 Wildland Fire Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Awards. EMC annually recognizes individuals and groups who have demonstrated outstanding actions or accomplishments that are above and beyond the expectation of one’s normal mission or job duties.

Congratulations to all the awardees and nominees. Through leadership and initiative, they have made significant contributions to the safety of the wildland fire community. These awards are well deserved.

References:

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Emergency Medical Committee

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book Now Available for RAMP

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Airtanker Base Operations Unit

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Ramp Manager (RAMP).

The Performance Support Package for this position was developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for release in January 2027.

References:

NWCG Ramp Manager Position Page

National Interagency Aviation Committee

Make an Impact: Serve the Wildland Fire Community as an IPTM SME!

Date:  June 11, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG SME Specialist

Note: Positions with an * will last approximately 6 months.
Positions with ** will last 12 - 18 months.

NWCG is seeking experienced wildland firefighters and support personnel to serve as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) initiative. IPTM aims to transition NWCG’s training and qualification system to a performance-based model by updating position descriptions, Incident Position Standards, Next Generation Position Task Books (Next Gen PTBs), and training where needed.

NWCG is currently recruiting SMEs for the Fall 2026 positions listed below:

  • Equipment Manager (EQPM)*
  • Fixed Wing Parking Tender (FWPT)**
  • Mixmaster (MXMS)*
  • Public Information Officer Complex (PIOC)*
  • Retardant Crewmember (RTCM)*
  • Strike Team Leader Crew (STCR)*
  • Strike Team Leader Engine (STEN)*
  • Strike Team Leader Heavy Equipment (STEQ)*
  • Task Force Leader (TFLD)**
  • Wildland Fire Investigator (INVF)** 

Projects begin October 2026. Sign up by July 10, 2026, at the link below and review the attached document for additional details. 

References:

NWCG SME Interest Sign-up

IPTM Subject Matter Expert Duties and Expectations Document

Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM)

RMC Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters

Date:  May 28, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) has issued Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters. Research from 2016 to 2025 shows that 88 cases of rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo) were reported. Analysis of reports from eSafety, the Safety Management Information System (SMIS), and the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC) indicates that rhabdo is common during this time of year due to Work Capacity Tests and contributing factors such as weather, hydration, nutrition, and medication or supplement use.

RMC issued this safety bulletin to raise awareness in the Wildland Fire Community, and to provide research findings and educational resources that support reducing future cases of rhabdo.

References:

NWCG Alerts

RMC Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters