Pro Board Fire Service Professional Qualifications System
About Pro Board
Incorporated in 1990 as the “National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications”, the organization commonly known as The Pro Board is a non-profit corporation. . A Board of Directors administers the system and currently consists of one member from the International Association of Arson Investigators, Inc. (IAAI), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the North American Fire Training Directors (NAFTD), one member At-Large and the Chair of the Pro Board Advisory Committee. The Chair of the Committee on Accreditation (COA) serves as a non-voting, ex-officio, member on the Board. The Board of Director’s primary responsibility is to set policy for the system and ensure fiscal stability for continued operation.
The Committee on Accreditation is comprised of representatives appointed by the Board of Directors and representatives elected by the accredited entities. They are charged with the task of accreditation through review of applications, site visits and implementation of policy set by the Board of Directors.
The Advisory Committee is comprised of delegates from all of the accredited entities. It serves as a conduit for policy questions and suggestions to be addressed by the Board of Directors and/or the COA.
Accreditation
The Pro Board accredits organizations that use the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA's) professional qualification standards. The accreditation process begins with the submission of an application, including a detailed self study document, by the organization seeking accreditation. The application package is then reviewed by the members of the Committee on Accreditation (COA) for completeness and compliance with the accreditation criteria of the Pro Board. Following the application review, Pro Board schedules a site visit by a team of COA members, usually three, who perform an extensive on-site review of the organization's testing and certification processes. The site visit team prepares a report and presents it to the COA. The COA decides if accreditation is granted.
The Bureau of Fire Standards and Training has been granted Pro Board Accreditation for 49 Pro Board Certifications.
Pro Board Certification Process
The Bureau of Fire Standards and Training (BFST), being accredited by the Pro Board, will provide a Pro Board Application Packet in the mail along with your Florida Fire Certification documentation. If you desire Pro Board Certification, upon returning the completed form and appropriate fee, you will be entered into the Pro Board's certification registry and receive a Pro Board Certificate, affirming that you were certified by a Pro Board accredited entity (BFST).
If you had received a Florida Fire Certification in the past and wish to apply for a Pro Board Certification, follow these steps:
Determine if your Florida Fire Service Certification meets the eligibility requirements for Pro Board Certification. Refer to the Listing of BFST Pro Board Certifications. You must have earned your Florida Fire Service Certification AFTER the Accreditation Date listed for the desired certification.
Request the Pro Board Application Packet for the desired Pro Board Certification by contacting Joseph.Landreville@MyFloridaCFO.com.