National Fire Academy Criteria for Contract Instructor Selection

Course: Commissioning New Occupancies (F/W0215)

Curriculum: Fire Prevention: Technical

This two-day course will enable the student to develop strategic approaches to solve the

management challenge of getting a building or occupancy commissioned so the code official is

confident all the life safety and fire protection systems and features are working together

properly and the structure is ready for human use.

Course content will include the code official’s and owner’s legal obligations and liabilities

during commissioning, the challenge of commissioning buildings of different sizes and

complexity with limited staff, an overview of what systems/features constitute “fire and life

safety features,” commissioning and testing alternatives, and documentation and recordkeeping.

Criteria for Contract Instructor Selection

Only current instructors on the “Fire Inspection Principles” course list are eligible to teach this

course. 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 a bachelor’s degree from an institution that is accredited in

fire protection technology, fire administration, fire science, or similar program. 

Consideration will also be given to those candidates with an associate degree from an

institution that is accredited in fire protection technology, fire administration, fire science

or similar program. Candidates are encouraged to successfully complete this course in the

last three years and/or serve as an adjunct instructor (in training) 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; 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;

d. 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; or

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

tribal or national level within the last three 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