Interagency Fire Program Management

IFPM Decision Paper #7 1 of 3

Selective Placement Factors for IFPM Positions 12 March 2019

Position 

Mnemonic Position Name Position Complexity

Selective Placement Factors Currency 

Required for 

NWCG 

Qualifications

Primary Core 

Requirement(s)

Secondary Core 

Requirement Required Training

NFPM

National Fire Program 

Manager

TFLD

ICT3 or T2 C&G or 

RXB2

M-581 or M-5821 No

GFPM Geographic Area Fire 

Program Manager

TFLD

ICT3 or T2 C&G or 

RXB2

M-581 or M-5821 No

UFPM Unit Fire Program Manager

High pathway #1 DIVS ICT3 or RXB2 M-5812

(See note 

below) No

High Pathway #2 ASGS ICT3 M-5812

(See note 

below) No

Moderate Pathway # 1 TFLD ICT3 or RXB2 M-5812

(See note 

below) No

Moderate Pathway # 2 HEBM3ICT3

M-5812(See note 

below) No

Low

ENGB or CRWB or 

HMGB ICT4 or RXB2 Yes

WFOS

Wildland Fire Operations 

Specialist

High Pathway #1 DIVS ICT3 or RXB2 Yes

High Pathway #2 ASGS ICT3 Yes

Moderate Pathway # 1 TFLD ICT3 or RXB2 Yes

Moderate Pathway # 2 HEBM3ICT3 Yes

Low

ENGB or CRWB or 

HMGB ICT4 Yes
 

Interagency Fire Program Management

IFPM Qualifications Matrix 2 of 3

Position 

Mnemonic Position Name Position Complexity

Selective Placement Factors Currency 

Required for 

NWCG 

Qualifications

Primary Core 

Requirement(s)

Secondary Core 

Requirement Required Training

PFFS Prescribed Fire and Fuels 

Specialist

High RXB2

ICT3 or TFLD or 

HEBM3

Yes

Moderate RXB2

ENGB or CRWB or 

HMGB

Yes

Low

ENGB or CRWB or 

FIRB or HMGB ICT4 Yes

SEOP Supervisory Fire Engine 

Operator

Supervising 3 Or Fewer 

Crewmembers ENGB ICT5 S-211 Yes

EMLS Engine Module Supervisor Supervising 4 Or More 

Crewmembers ENGB ICT4 Yes

IHCS

Interagency Hotshot Crew 

Superintendent TFLD and ICT4 and 

FIRB

Yes

HEMG Helicopter Manager HEBM3ICT4 Yes

SFF Senior Firefighter FFT1 S-290 Yes

CMGR Center Manager

High

EDSD 90 days of wildland 

firefighting experience S-491

No

Moderate No

ACMG

Initial Attack Lead 

Dispatcher/Assistant Center 

Manager

EDSD 90 days of wildland 

firefighting experience No
 

Interagency Fire Program Management

IFPM Qualifications Matrix 3 of 3

NOTE: For IFPM positions with multiple NWCG qualification pathways, qualifications cannot be exchanged between pathways. For 

Example: In order to qualify for a moderate complexity Unit Fire Program Manager position, applicants with only HEBM and RXB2 would not 

meet the requirements. Applicants who have HEBM and ICT3 would meet the minimum NWCG selective placement factors under qualification 

pathway # 2. 

1. The National Fire Management Leadership (NFML) course will be assigned the M-582 course number and retitled: Fire Program 

Management – Leading Complex Programs. NFML and M-582 both meet the training requirement for these positions. 

2. Local Fire Management Leadership (LFML) and M-581, Fire Program Management courses have been combined and will be 

delivered as M-581, Fire Program Management – An Overview. Completion of LFML, M-581, Fire Program Management, or M581, Fire Program Management – An Overview meet the training requirement for this position.

The DOI Bureaus will administer the M-581 training requirement for Unit Fire Program Managers as a condition of employment 

required to be completed within one year of entry on duty. The USDA Forest Service will administer M-581 required as a 

condition of hire for all applicants.

3. Helibase Type 1 (HEB1) and Helibase Type 2 (HEB2) positions have been combined to Helibase Manager (HEBM) position. 

Incident qualification records in all systems have been updated to reflect this change.