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Alternative Pathways NWCG Qualification

Group of wildland firefighters walking through low hanging smoke. The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, establishes minimum NWCG position qualification standards for training, experience, physical fitness, and currency for national mobilization to wildland fire incidents. Position qualification requirements are located on the individual position pages of the NWCG Position Catalog.

Recognition of prior learning (RPL), NWCG position endorsements, and the National Fire Academy (NFA) Structural Fire Skills Crosswalk are methods for attaining NWCG PMS  310-1 positions outside of the qualifications pathway through formal processes and recognized programs. Use of these processes and programs are determined by each agency independently and only apply to positions identified in the NWCG PMS 310-1. The use of these alternate pathways ensures the critical knowledge and skills needed to perform on wildland fire incidents is attained while increasing response capacity through a shortened path to qualification.

USWDS Paragraphs

The NWCG Standards for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), PMS 309, establishes the use of a formal competency-based qualification process that allows any credentialing authority to recognize and account for competence acquired through life-long learning and experience. RPL is a process that evaluates an individual’s formal and non-formal learning to determine the extent to which that individual has achieved the required competencies to perform effectively in a specific emergency management or responder position. It is widely recognized that a standardized NWCG RPL process will reduce redundant training, support efforts to increase speed and time to competency, and support efforts to boost national resource surge capacity.

The NWCG Executive Board has developed NWCG position endorsements for the 45 common positions shared with National Incident Management System (NIMS) National Qualification System (NQS). A position endorsement is defined as “Documentation validating specific knowledge, skills, and abilities that an [Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)] establishes beyond the minimum qualifications for a given position.” Endorsements allow utilizing NQS all-hazards qualified resources on wildland fire incidents. This process is not designed to review specific NWCG positions for use in all-hazards incidents.

Position analysis is underway. See analysis process for additional information regarding the process used during the analysis.

NWCG Position Catalog 

Please Provide Endorsements Feedback 

Details Title Position Code Endorsed? Endorsement Approved Link to Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position. All-hazards Air Operations Branch Director need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements. Rationale for not endorsing is based on prerequisite experience (e.g., strategic operations, complex air space coordination, complex frequency management, planning strategy and tactics for retardant operations, managing risk).

 Air Operations Branch Director AOBD No AOBD Recommendations

ASGS Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • None Required

Required Additional Experience

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Air Support Group Supervisor ASGS Yes ASGS Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position. All-hazards Air Tactical Group Supervisors need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements. Rationale for not endorsing is based on prerequisite experience (e.g., complex airspace coordination with incident aircraft, DIVS prerequisite qualification).

 Air Tactical Group Supervisor ATGS No ATGS Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position and has no endorsement. All-hazards Communication Unit Leaders will need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements.

 Communications Unit Leader COML No COML Recommendations

COMP Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • None required, but both S-260, Incident Business Management and e-ISuite training are recommended for anyone without wildland fire incident business experience.

Required Additional Experience

  • Successful completion and certification of position-specific tasks (#31-40) in the NWCG Compensation Unit Leader Position Task Book, PMS 311-47, on a wildland fire incident.

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Compensation/Claims Unit Leader COMP Yes COMP Recommendations

COST Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • None required, but both S-260, Incident Business Management and e-ISuite training are recommended for anyone without wildland fire incident business experience.

Required Additional Experience

  • Successful completion and certification of position-specific tasks (#16, 22, 23, 26) in the NWCG Cost Unit Leader Position Task Book, PMS 311-48, on a wildland fire incident.

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Cost Unit Leader COST Yes COST Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position and has no endorsement. Demobilization Unit Leader will need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements.

 Demobilization Unit Leader DMOB No DMOB Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position. All-hazards Division Group Supervisors need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements. Rationale for not endorsing is based on prerequisite experience (e.g., fire behavior, strategic operations, burn planning).

 Division/Group Supervisor DIVS No DIVS Recommendations

DOCL Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

Required Additional Experience

  • Successful performance as a DOCL trainee on a wildland fire incident (no position task book required).

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Documentation Unit Leader DOCL Yes DOCL Recommendations

FACL Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • None Required

Required Additional Experience

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Facilities Unit Leader FACL Yes FACL Recommendations

FSC1 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • S-520, Advanced Incident Management or Complex Incident Management Course (CIMC)

Required Additional Experience

  • Successful completion and certification of NWCG Finance Section Chief Type 1 (FSC1) Position Task Book, PMS 311-46, on a wildland fire incident.

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Finance/Administration Section Chief Type 1 FSC1 Yes FSC1 Recommendations

FSC2 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

The position for this endorsement is currently being evaluated to the new standards for Complex Incident Management, for current information regarding this change, please contact your NIMSIC representative.

 Finance/Administration Section Chief Type 2 FSC2 Yes FSC2 Recommendations

FSC3 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • None Required

Required Additional Experience

  • Successful completion and certification of NWCG Time Unit Leader (TIME) Position Task Book, PMS 311-47, or Cost Unit Leader (COST) Position Task Book, PMS 311-48, on a wildland fire incident.

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Finance/Administration Section Chief Type 3 FSC3 Yes FSC3 Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position and has no endorsement. All-hazards Food Unit Leaders will need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements.

 Food Unit Leader FDUL No FDUL Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position. All-hazards Geographic Information System Specialists need to meet the wildland fire position qualification requirements. Rationale for not endorsing is based on the specialized wildland fire workflow requirements.

 Geographic Information System Specialist GISS No GISS Recommendations

GSUL Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • None required (NQS and NWCG are identical)

Required Additional Experience

  • None required (NQS and NWCG are identical)

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Ground Support Unit Leader GSUL Yes GSUL Recommendations

ICT1 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

Required Additional Experience

  • Successful performance as a ICT1 trainee on a wildland fire incident (no PTB required). Use NWCG Incident Commander Type 1 (ICT1) Position Task Book, PMS 311-01, as a guide for the trainee assignment. Document performance on a PTB Evaluation Record.

Physical Fitness Level: None Required

 Incident Commander Type 1 ICT1 Yes ICT1 Recommendations

ICT2 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

The position for this endorsement is currently being evaluated to the new standards for Complex Incident Management, for current information regarding this change, please contact your NIMSIC representative.

 Incident Commander Type 2 ICT2 Yes ICT2 Recommendations

This is an inherently wildland fire position. All-hazards Incident Commander Type 3s will need to meet the wildland fire endorsement for Incident Commander Type 4 before moving up to Incident Commander Type 3. Rationale for not endorsing is based on the complexity of the wildland fire ICT3 position. Wildland fire has Extended Attack incidents as well as Type 3 Incident Management Teams (IMTS); each requires variable skills from the ICT3 in command. With the implementation of Complex Incident Management, the path forward on the wildland fire side is still unclear.

 Incident Commander Type 3 ICT3 No ICT3 Recommendations

ICT4 Position Endorsement Requirements, 2022

Required Additional Training

  • S-130, Firefighter Training
  • S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
  • S-131, Firefighter Type 1 Training
  • S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior
  • S-200, Initial Attack Incident Commander
  • RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR)

Required Additional Experience

  • Successful completion and certification of tasks (#4, 6, 15, 21, 33, 34, 38, 39, 44) in the NWCG Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4) Position Task Book, PMS 311-03, on a wildland fire incident.

Physical Fitness Level: Arduous

 Incident Commander Type 4 ICT4 Yes ICT4 Recommendations
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Structural firefighters meeting NFPA 1001 or 1021 qualifications may utilize the Skills Crosswalk identified by the NFA to apply their existing fire suppression knowledge and skills towards qualification in three NWCG incident positions: Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1), Engine Boss, Single Resource (ENGB), and Strike Team Leader Engine (STEN).

Refer to NFA for additional information.

The Gap courses have been designed to fill the knowledge gap between structural and wildand fire. The course, along with the associated position task book are required for structural firefighters prior to obtaining qualification in each of the three NWCG positions.

Positions Highlights

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Last Modified / Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

Updated, NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

Date: March 11, 2025
Contact: Fire Use Subcommittee
Wildland Fire Module Unit

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430 standardizes procedures and expectations for Wildland Fire Modules (WFMs). These standards are to be used by staff, supervisors, specialists, and technicians for planning, administering, and conducting WFM operations. These standards will also be used as a measure of WFM qualifications, capabilities, and expected performance, for both Type 1 and Type 2 WFMs.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

NEW! NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Date: March 7, 2025
Contact: National Interagency Aviation Committee

The NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating airtankers on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508, and any applicable agency plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Incident Position Standards and Next Gen Position Task Books Now Available for Dispatch Incident Positions

Date: March 5, 2025
Contact: National Coordination System Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all six Dispatch positions:

  • Aircraft Dispatcher
  • Expanded Dispatch Coordinator
  • Expanded Dispatch Recorder
  • Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher
  • Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher
  • Initial Attack Dispatcher

The Performance Support Packages for these positions, including the Expanded Dispatch Job Aid, J-601 and the Initial Attack and Aircraft Dispatcher Job Aid, J-602, were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Aircraft Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Coordinator Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Recorder Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Initial Attack Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Job Aids 

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for DMOB, DOCL, and RESL

Date: February 28, 2025
Contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Demobilization Unit Leader (DMOB), Documentation Unit Leader (DOCL), and Resources Unit Leader (RESL).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions, including a job aid for RESL, were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Demobilization Unit Leader Position Page 

NWCG Documentation Unit Leader Position Page 

NWCG Resources Unit Leader Position Page