National Fire Academy Criteria for Contract Instructor Selection

Course: Wildland Urban Interface: Fire-Adapted Communities (R0614)

Curriculum: Fire Prevention: Technical

This is a six-day course (comprised of three, two-day modules) for people who have

organizational responsibility for Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) risk-reduction operations in

their agency or jurisdiction. The course will enable the student with the ability to create and

sustain a fire-adapted community located within a WUI.

Course outcomes will include:

• Develop a local community coalition to address the WUI and create fire-adapted

communities.

• Create a community wildfire protection plan.

• Facilitate partnerships, improve networking, and enhance resource allocation abilities that

address WUI fire risks/issues.

• Prefire communication and planning between government agencies, local jurisdictions,

and the community at large is essential in creating a fire-adapted community.

• Improve quality of life and vitality within the local community.

Criteria for Contract Instructor Selection

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

accordance with the National Fire Academy’s (NFA’s) Contract Instructor Evaluation program.

Existing contract instructors are subject to evaluation in accordance with this program.

1. Academic Requirement

The candidate should possess an associate degree from an institution that is accredited.

Consideration will also be given to those candidates who have completed one year of

college or equivalent experience from an institution that is accredited. Candidates are

encouraged to successfully complete this course and/or serve as an adjunct instructor in

the course.

2. Documented Knowledge and Experience

a. Accepted formal instructional training, such as:

- state fire training certificate;

- college teacher’s credential;

- college education courses;

- facilitative instructor ((M-410) National Wildfire Coordinating Group

course, etc.); or

- thirty-two hours of documented, successful fire/emergency services

instruction.
b. The candidate should be experienced, proficient and knowledgeable of current

issues in the field of expertise for the content of this course.

c. The candidate should have the necessary experience to be capable of presenting

all units of the course. It is recognized that exceptions may occur where courses

are of such a technical nature that no one person may be technically competent to

instruct all units.

3. Continuing Practice or Education

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

a. teaching a similar course at a training academy, college or university;

b. taking a similar course within the last five years;

c. developing a similar course within the last five years;

d. teaching the course at the NFA or in the field within the last two years; or

e. 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

years.

Failure to provide approved documentation of ongoing training or instruction may result

in revocation of the contract instructor status.

4. 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