Interagency Fire Program Management 

Qualifications Standards and Guide

http://www.nifc.gov/training_quals/IFPM/ifpm.htm

Decision Paper #2

January 20, 2005

Subject: National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Qualifications and Additional 

Required Training

Effective Date: This decision is effective from January 20, 2005 to October 1, 2009.

Background:

The IFPM Standard defines minimum qualification standards for each of the 14 key 

positions. These standards include: Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification 

Standard Requirements; Specialized Experience Requirements; NWCG Incident 

Management Qualifications; and Additional Required Training.

With the implementation of the IFPM Standard, incumbents have until October 1, 2009 to 

meet the minimum qualification standards for their position. The IFPM Implementation Plan 

states that applicants are required to meet the minimum qualification standards when they are 

hired. At this time it is unclear how these IFPM requirements may affect recruitment and 

hiring into key fire management positions. There is growing concern from fire managers that 

these requirements will hinder their efforts to fill vacant key fire management positions.

Decision:

Applicants will have until October 1, 2009 to meet the NWCG qualifications and 

additional required training for their position as outlined in the IFPM Standard. All 

OPM requirements must be met at the time of hire.

For multi-grade announcements the NWCG qualifications and additional required training 

will be the full performance level (FPL) qualifications as outlined in the IFPM Standard. For 

those positions announced as multi-grade, the hiring official has the option to hire either at 

FPL or less. If an applicant is hired at less than FPL, they will be placed into the lower grade 

under an existing position description (PD) and can be promoted when OPM requirements 

are met. However, this individual must meet the NWCG qualifications and additional 

required training for their IFPM position by October 1, 2009.

Scope:

This decision is specific to the NWCG qualifications and additional required training and 

applies to all employees hired into the 14 key fire management positions identified in the 

IFPM Standard and collateral duty employees.

Monitoring:

Each agency will collect data on an annual basis (minimum) to monitor employee progress 

toward meeting the NWCG qualification and additional required training.
Interagency Fire Program Management 

Qualifications Standards and Guide

http://www.nifc.gov/training_quals/IFPM/ifpm.htm

 Decision Paper #2

 January 20, 2005

s/Lyle Carlile s/Timothy M. Murphy

_________________________ ____________________________

Lyle Carlile Timothy M. Murphy

BIA Fire Director BLM Fire and Aviation

Deputy Director

s/Phil Street s/Sue Vap, Acting

_________________________ ____________________________

Phil Street Edy Williams-Rhodes

USFWS Fire Director NPS Chief, Division of Fire and Aviation

Management

s/Neal Hitchcock for s/Sue Vap for

__________________________ ____________________________

Tom Harbor Don Artley

USDA-FS Director of Fire and NASF Fire Director

Aviation Management