National Fire Academy Criteria for Contract Instructor Selection

Course: Building Organizational Support for Community Risk Reduction (F/W0636)

Curriculum: Fire Prevention: Public Education

Fire Prevention: Management

Fire Prevention: Technical

Building Operational Support for Community Risk Reduction is designed to help fire and

emergency services learn what community risk reduction is and how to build organizational

support for it so it becomes an organizational priority. This course will address the challenges

fire departments face in balancing prevention and response. In many departments community

risk reduction is still considered a low priority. This course will show you how community risk

reduction can become a core value for your department that is displayed by every member

playing a role in its success. This course will show you how your department can become more of 

a community player in times of decreased budgets.

There are three units of instruction:

Unit 1: Components of Strategic Community Risk Reduction.

Unit 2: Building Organizational Support for Community Risk Reduction.

Unit 3: Community Risk Reduction as a Service Priority.

At the end of the course, learners will be evaluated through a 25 question multiple choice

examination. A final grade will be provided to each student. The minimum score needed to pass is 

70.

All new contract instructors shall be evaluated in three consecutive course deliveries in

accordance with the NFA’s Contract Instructor Evaluation program. Existing contract instructors

are subject to evaluation in accordance with this program.

• Applicants not meeting the basic criteria as listed on the general requirements (found on

NFA’s web page) will not qualify.

• Applicants should submit a resume that includes at minimum: name, address, phone

numbers, employment history and references. Please not that resumes do not necessarily

provide adequate responses to each criterion.

Criteria for Contract Instructor Selection

A response that addresses each of the criteria listed below must be submitted. Candidates should

have attained a fully professional level in each item. Factors under consideration include

experience, level and extent of activity, and leadership skills. In addition to meeting the general

criteria for the instructor selection process, the potential instructor must provide information for

the following requirements:
1. Academic Requirement

A graduate level degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

Consideration will be given to those applicants who possess a bachelor’s degree from a

regionally accredited institution of higher education and who have vast experience in

community risk reduction. Academic degrees should be in a discipline closely related to

subjects covered in this course; i.e., public administration, emergency management, public 

health or other related fields.

2. Instructional Experience

Candidates must have successfully completed a recognized education methodology course

and must demonstrate successful instructional delivery to adult learns at local, regional,

state, and/or federal training academies, college, or universities. Candidates must be 

proficient in the facilitation of intensive small work groups.

3. Prevention/Community Risk Reduction Experience

The candidate must have experience with a fire/emergency services’ department or state

agency responsible for prevention/community risk reduction at a community level. This

may include experience in public education, code enforcement, plans review, fire

investigations, or a combination. The candidate must have experience in conducting a

community risk assessment, building organizational and community support, establishing

and implementing organizational or program goals and objectives, risk reduction

strategies, marketing and evaluation.

4. Continuing Practice or Education

Ability to maintain currency in the field and the specific course by:

a. teaching a similar course at a college or university level; or,

b. taking a similar course within last within last five (5) years; or,

c. writing and researching a paper or article related to the course topic for at least

one of the fire service or related disciplines’ trade journals within the last two (2)

years; or,

d. attending and/or speaking at a conference related to the field at the local, state or

national level within last three (3) years.

Failure to provide approved documentation on ongoing training or instruction may result in 

revocation of the contract instructor status.

5. How to Submit an Application 

The following documents are required with each submission:

a. A cover letter listing the courses you want to teach.

b. Your résumé.
c. Documentation that clearly addresses how you meet the instructor selection criteria 

for each course you are seeking to teach (e.g., academic requirement, instructional 

experience, knowledge and experience in the subject matter, and continuing practice 

or education). This document needs to be written in that order. Incomplete packages 

will not be processed.

d. Three references from persons who are knowledgeable about your character as well 

as your teaching ability. One reference letter should be from the department or agency 

head in your organization or certifying organization.

e. Include a current email address so we can communicate more efficiently with you.

Application package(s) must be submitted to:

National Fire Academy

fema-nfainstructorapp@fema.dhs.gov