NATIONAL WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION ASSOCIATION

Process for becoming an instructor for the National Wildfire Suppression Association

The Training Coordinator and/or the Assistant Training Coordinator will do the evaluation of new instructors and the upgrading of current instructors.

It is the responsibility of the individual applying for instructor certification to provide documentation that is complete and accurate. The Training Coordinator is not responsible

for gathering documentation on an individual. If you do not have the required documents and training certificates, please do not apply until you have a complete package.

Lead instructors must have sufficient experience in 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. They must be positioned qualified at the next level.

Unit instructors must be experienced in the lessons they are teaching. They must be positioned qualified at the job level to which the course is targeted.

1. In order to apply for instructor certification you need to be a member of NWSA.

Membership application, dues, certification fee and other information can be found on the NWSA web site: www.nwsa.us. If you are an employee of a member company have the company owner submit a letter verifying your employment.

2. You are required by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) to meet Currency Requirements. A qualified instructor means the instructor meets the position currency requirements as described in the Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide, PMS 310-1 and the Field Managers Course Guide (FMCG), PMS

901-1. This document can be accessed at http://www.nwcg.gov

3. Submit a copy of your most recent Incident Qualification Card and any Incident Performance Ratings you received in the last 5 years.

4. Submit copies of certificates for NWCG courses you have taken and other

certificates that relate to specific related subjects such as a manufactories course

in pump repair or your chain saw certification level.

5. Lead instructors must have 5 years of documented performance as an instructor.

Unit instructors must have documentation of their instructor capabilities. Submit evaluations from Lead Instructors, student evaluation forms, letters of reference

from people in a position to evaluate your skills such as teachers or immediate supervisors.

6. Review the FMCG, PMS 901-1 for each course you plan to teach and provide documentation that meets the instructor requirements for that course.

This document can be accessed at: http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/pubs.htm

7. Complete the Instructors Information Sheet and the Code of Ethics for

Instructors.

8. All Lead Instructors are required to have the 32 hours Facilitative Instructor

Course: M410 or equivalent. Equivalency courses are classes that have been

determined by evaluators to be equivalent to courses identified in the NWCG

approved curriculum. NFPA Fire Instructor 1 course, a State Teaching

certificate, or a Bachelor Degree in Education would be considered equivalent.

9. Copies of other useful documents that may be required include: Position Task Books, Wildfire History or Summary Record, Incident Qualification System Persons Master Record.

10. A resume of your qualifications, which should include:

a. Personal Data

Full legal name, present address and phone number.

b. Education

High School:______________ Graduated? Yes__ No__ Location:______

College/Univ.:_____________ Graduated? Yes__ No__ Degree (s):_____

Other (specify type)_________Graduated? Yes__ No __ Certificate (s):__

_________ Graduated? Yes__ No__ Certificate (s):__

c. Work Experience

List below all present and previous employment, starting with the most recent.

Company name:___________From (mo/yr):____Type of work_________

Address:_________________To (mo/yr):____Name of Supervisor______

_________________Reason you left:______________________

Follow same format for all employment.

May we contact the employers above? Yes __ No __ If yes list any

Employers you do not wish us to contact.

d. Other Organizations

List only organizations that pertain to fire fighting or resource management such as a Rural Fire Department volunteer, Society of American Foresters, County Search & Rescue, etc

11. In your cover letter please add the following statement: I certify that all

documents sent are true and complete, and all training courses have been

NWCG certified. NWCG certified courses must meet the guidelines established

in the FMCG.

12. If you are joining as a new member, complete the application and mail with a check, for the membership fee to Debbie Miley, NWSA Executive Secretary.

13. Submit a complete training package with a check for the one time $150.00 certification fee made out to NWSA to Stan Kunzman, NWSA Training Coordinator.

14. There will be an Annual $200 Renewal fee charged on every January 1 to retain your Certification through NWSA. You may opt to become a voting member of NWSA by paying the $200 Voting Membership in addition to the renewal fee but it is not required.

Stan Kunzman

NWSA Training Coordinator

Bend, OR 97701

541-389-3526

kunzmansw@aol.com 

1 March 2006

NWSA-Instructor-Code of Ethics

Instructor Information Sheet