National Fire Academy Criteria for Contract Instructor Selection

Course: Fire Inspection Principles 2: Inspection of Structures and Systems (R/N0391)

Curriculum: Fire Prevention: Technical

This foundational-level, 6-day course introduces the student to the fundamental methodology for 

application of the requirements for fire protection systems including detection, notification, fire 

control and extinguishment, and mitigation of fire-related hazards, with special emphasis on fire 

alarm and fire suppression systems. Although it contains many of the basic principles of code 

enforcement, more experienced code inspectors and officials might find it useful as a review of 

essential methodologies and an update to current code enforcement applications. It is not the 

intent of this course to present specific code requirements; it focuses more on the methodology 

of the use of these requirements.

Criteria for Contract Instructor Selection

All new contract instructors or those wishing to expand their teaching portfolio must be 

instructionally dedicated to the Fire Prevention: Technical curriculum and cannot cross 

boundaries teaching in other National Fire Academy (NFA) curricula. Interest with other 

curricula will signal a voluntary withdrawal of teaching privileges from the Fire Prevention: 

Technical courses.

This curriculum teaches finely detailed and meticulously specific content concerning 

construction and maintenance codes, standards, guides, recommended practices, testing criteria, 

and manufacturers’ specifications for the built environment. Instructors must be national subject 

matter experts, as compared to a local, fundamentally strong code enforcer, since the country has 

a geographically diverse array of students and code requirements.

A major characteristic necessary to serve in this instructional capacity is the willingness to coach 

the student cadre to success. The philosophy of the instructor is to mentor less knowledgeable 

individuals by transferring highly detailed information, using verbal skills coupled with visual 

graphics, to propel them to excellence. This curriculum does not support self-absorbed 

instructors appeasing their own interests but is squarely focused on the student-centered learning 

outcome.

All new contract instructors shall be evaluated in 3 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. 
1. Academic Requirement

a. Bachelor’s degree from an institution that is accredited in fire protection 

technology, fire administration, fire science or similar program. Candidates are 

encouraged to have successfully completed this course in the last 3 years and/or 

served as an adjunct instructor (in training) in the course. 

b. Candidates with an associate degree from an institution that is accredited in fire 

protection technology, fire administration, fire science or similar program will be 

entertained on a case-by-case basis. Additional formal education consisting of 1 

semester each of college-level algebra, fire protection hydraulics and physics 

must have been successfully completed. Candidates are encouraged to have 

successfully completed this course in the last 3 years and/or served as an adjunct 

instructor (in training) in the course. 

2. Documented Technical Knowledge and Relevant Experience

a. The candidate must have extensive experience as a fire inspector of fire protection 

systems for a local, state or national entity that is legally responsible for the 

enforcement of building and/or fire codes. Provide specific, quantifiable and 

qualifiable (simplistic to complex) examples of work performed and the codes 

and standards (editions) utilized. Experience as a tradesperson working in the 

industry with the process of installation, inspecting, testing and maintenance is an 

acceptable alternative. List the examples in a tabular format such as:

Project name Value, square footage or 

description

Codes and 

editions Year

Acme Hotel 7-story high-rise hotel 

including swimming pool, 

restaurant and integrated 

parking garage, $50 million

2018 IFC, 2016

NFPA 13, 2016 

NFPA 72, NFPA 

96

2020

ACME Hardware 

and Warehouse 

500,000-square-foot 

mercantile store and 

warehouse

2021 IBC, 2019

NFPA 13 

Current

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

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

with relevant national code and/or standard committees, such as National Fire 

Protection Association (NFPA) and International Code Council (ICC) committees 

or state committees for adoption of building and fire codes, is highly 

recommended. List the examples in a tabular format such as:

Committees Year(s)

NFPA 1, Building Systems and Special Occupancies 

subcommittee (alternate)

2016-present

Maryland State Fire Prevention Committee – Code Update 2018
c. The candidate should have the necessary education and 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. Verifiable examples of professional 

licensure such as Professional Engineer can be provided. Professional certificates 

such as National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) 

Inspection and Testing of Fire Alarm Systems, Level II; NICET Inspection and 

Testing of Water-Based Systems, Level II or III; NICET Special Hazards 

Systems, Level II, III or IV; NFPA Certified Water-Based Fire Protection System 

Inspection, Testing and Maintenance; Certified Fire Protection Specialist; 

Certified Building Official; Certified Fire Marshal; and ICC or NFPA Fire 

Inspector can be submitted. State fire inspector certificates have differing 

requirements which may or may not be recognized nationally. Only national 

certificates will be recognized. List the information in a tabular format such as: 

Licenses Regulatory 

body Dates

Professional Engineer Maryland 1994-current

NICET Water-Based Level IV NICET 2005-2015

Certifications Organization Dates

Certified Building Official ICC 2000-current

Certified Fire Protection Specialist NFPA 2001-current

d. Current expertise with fire alarm systems including main control panels, booster 

or notification appliance circuit panels, initiating devices, notification devices, 

signal line circuits, wiring requirements, monitoring arrangements, auxiliary 

functions, and intersystem operability. Provide a narrative to support your 

knowledge and experience. 

e. Extensive knowledge for the inspection, testing and maintenance of water-based 

fire protection systems and components including, but not limited to, automatic 

fire sprinkler systems, standpipe systems, fire pumps, water supply systems 

including fire hydrants, and water mist systems. Provide a narrative to support 

your knowledge and experience. 

f. Knowledge of the design parameters, physical arrangement, installation and 

operation of smoke management systems. Provide a narrative to support your 

knowledge and experience. 

g. Experience with the installation, acceptance testing and maintenance of dry and 

wet chemical extinguishing systems including commercial kitchen exhaust hood 

designs and operation. Provide a narrative to support your knowledge and 

experience. 
h. Expert-level knowledge of special agent fire protection systems including clean 

agents, halogenated systems, hybrid water and inert gas systems, and carbon 

dioxide systems. Provide a narrative to support your knowledge and experience. 

3. Documented Educational Instruction and Experience

Accepted formal instructional training, such as:

a. State fire training certificate and courses taught with frequency/history. List the 

information in a tabular format such as: 

Certificates Year Completed

Fire Instructor I (PA) 2015

Fire Instructor II (MD) 2016

IFSAC Fire Service Instructor I 2015

Pro Board Fire Instructor II 2017

b. College instructor/professor’s credential with courses designed/instructed. List the 

information in a tabular format such as: 

Institution Credential Courses

University of Maryland Lecturer Fire Protection Hydraulics

Oklahoma State University Adjunct Faculty Building Construction 

Components

c. College education instruction courses with a transcript supplied. List the 

information in a tabular format such as:

Institution Course 

number Course name

University of Maryland TLPL 101 Inquiry Approach to Teaching 

STEM

University of Maryland 

Global Campus EDTP 600 Foundations of Teaching for Learning

d. A minimum of 48 hours of detailed, documented and successful fire/emergency 

services instruction listing each course and dates of delivery. List the information 

in a tabular format such as: 

Courses Frequency/history

Firefighter I (120 hours) Once/January 2015-May 2015

Fire Inspector 1 (40 hours) October 2016, April 2017, August 2017, January

2018
e. Speaking engagements and/or presentations at national/state conferences for the 

fire service or other relevant professional organizations with a listing of topics and 

dates.

Conference Topic Year

NFPA Annual Conference NFPA 25 Proposed Changes 2020

ICC Expo and Code Hearings Marijuana Code Concerns 2019

4. 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 5 years. 

c. Developing a similar course within the last 5 years. 

d. Teaching the course at the NFA or in the field within the last 2 years. 

e. Writing and researching a paper or article related to the course topic for at least 1 

of the fire service or related disciplines’ trade journals within the last 2 years. 

f. Attending and/or speaking at a conference related to the field at the local, state, 

tribal or national level within the last 3 years. 

g. Active participation with local/state/national building/fire code(s) or standard(s) 

committee(s).

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

in revocation of the contract instructor status. 

5. How To Submit a Portfolio

Follow the instructions located on the website: 

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/training/nfa/instructors_officials/criteria.html. 

A portfolio addressing all of the previous items must be submitted to: femanfainstructorapp@fema.dhs.gov.