A Guide to Federal Qualification Standards for Managing Prescribed Fire

Have you ever wondered what it takes to manage prescribed burns for a federal agency?

Becoming a federal agency burner requires a specific combination of training, education and experience.

In 2015, the document “Federal Prescribed Fire Programs White Paper: A Guide to Federal Qualification Standards for Managing Prescribed Fire” (Diaz and Evans, 2015) was developed to help navigate through this potentially complex process.

Based on a national survey, capacity was reported to be a primary impediment to increased prescribed burning based on the lack of qualified prescribed fire managers and associated training opportunities (Melvin, 2012). In order to overcome this barrier, more qualified burners are needed. It is important that anyone interested in becoming a federal prescribed fire manager understand the required qualifications and training, and get started as soon as possible!

*Please note that these standards may change at any time, so it is important to follow up with the Agency in which you would like to apply.

By Jennifer Evans, NCSU Extension Associate