{"id":1317,"date":"2019-09-11T15:50:38","date_gmt":"2019-09-11T15:50:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.cnr.ncsu.edu\/southeast-fire-update\/?page_id=1317"},"modified":"2026-04-17T16:16:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T16:16:29","slug":"education-and-training","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.cnr.ncsu.edu\/southeast-fire-update\/education-and-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Education and Training"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n<p>It can be difficult for those conducting prescribed fire, particularly private landowners, to get the education and training they need to burn safely and effectively. The training and education resources on this page, along with events such as <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.cnr.ncsu.edu\/southeast-fire-update\/learn-burn-workshops\/\">learn and burn workshops<\/a> can help address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>State Training Opportunities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some states in the South provide prescribed fire training opportunities for non-agency personnel. These opportunities are often connected to the state certified burner program, if one is available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.forestry.alabama.gov\/Pages\/Fire\/BurnManager.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alabama Forestry Commission<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/agriculture.arkansas.gov\/forests\/fire\/prescribed-fire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Arkansas Forestry Division<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fdacs.gov\/Forest-Wildfire\/Wildland-Fire\/Prescribed-Fire\/Certified-Prescribed-Fire-Acreage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Florida Forest Service<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gatrees.org\/fire-prevention-suppression\/prescribed-burn-certification\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Georgia Forestry Commission<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mfc.ms.gov\/programs\/educational-workshops\/ms-certified-burn-manager-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mississippi Forestry Commission<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncagr.gov\/divisions\/nc-forest-service\/fire-control-and-prevention\/how-become-north-carolina-certified-burner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">North Carolina Forest Service<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scfc.gov\/protection\/prescribed-burning\/certified-prescribed-fire-manager-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">South Carolina Forestry Commission<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tfsweb.tamu.edu\/forest-land\/prescribed-fire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Texas A&amp;M Forest Service<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/texasagriculture.gov\/Home\/Production-Agriculture\/Prescribed-Burn-Program\/Prescribed-Burning-Training\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Texas Department of Agriculture<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Other Training Opportunities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/campus.extension.org\/course\/search.php?search=prescribed+fire\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Basic Prescribed Fire Training Online Course<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservationgateway.org\/collections\/land\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Nature Conservancy&#8217;s Conservation Gateway<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wildlandfirelearningportal.net\/login\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wildland Fire Learning Portal<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fireinthefield.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fire in the Field Online Wildland Firefighter Training<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/efire.cnr.ncsu.edu\/efire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">eFIRE Interactive Online Course<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.cnr.ncsu.edu\/southeast-fire-update\/driptorch-digest\/\">The Driptorch Digest Newsletter<\/a> (lists individual upcoming training opportunities)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Webinars<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.firescience.gov\/ords\/prd\/jf_jfsp\/r\/jfspublic\/jfsp-exchanges?session=10201683239701\" target=\"_blank\">Fire Science Exchange Network<\/a> members\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/southernfireexchange.org\/calendars\/category\/webinars\/\">Southern Fire Exchange (upcoming)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLg38mXDqkgvPMSsmHwCEqfxyCIGp4boe_\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Southern Fire Exchange (archive)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.appalachianfire.org\/upcoming-events\">Consortium of Appalachian Fire Managers and Scientists (upcoming)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.appalachianfire.org\/videos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Consortium of Appalachian Fire Managers and Scientists (archive)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/oakfirescience.com\/events\/\" target=\"_blank\">Oak Woodlands and Forest Fire Consortium (upcoming)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/oakfirescience.com\/videos_categories\/webinars\/\" target=\"_blank\">Oak Woodlands and Forest Fire Consortium (archive)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.forestrywebinars.net\/\" target=\"_blank\">Forestry Webinar Portal<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>University and and College Online Education&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those seeking to begin or advance a career in wildland fire may need at least some formal education. Online education opportunities are often preferred, particularly for those already working in the field. Below is a list of universities and colleges that either offer individual online fire courses or entirely online fire programs. Please note that some of these programs offer only certain courses in an online format. In addition, some programs are focused on courses related to structural firefighting, however those programs still include courses which may be useful to wildland fire professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This list is organized by state and includes the name of the university or college, the program area, and a link to the program website. An expanded version of this list, including specific courses offered online, prerequisites, and a link to information on tuition and fees, is available <a href=\"mailto:wildlandfire@ncsu.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">upon request by contacting us<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Arizona<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Northern Arizona University &#8211; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/catalog.nau.edu\/Catalog\/details?plan=FEMCT\" target=\"_blank\">Fire Ecology and Management Certificate<\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>California<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Glendale Community College &#8211; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.glendale.edu\/academics\/degree-certificate-programs\/certificate-programs\/fire-technology\" target=\"_blank\">Fire Technology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lake Tahoe Community College &#8211; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ltcc.edu\/academics\/academic_programs\/fire\/fire_science.php\" target=\"_blank\">Fire Science<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mount San Antonio College &#8211; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mtsac.edu\/firetech\/\" target=\"_blank\">Fire Technology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allan Hancock College &#8211; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/hancockcollege.curriqunet.com\/iq\/28545\/28878\/30805\/30301\" target=\"_blank\">Wildland Fire Technology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>College of the Desert &#8211; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/catalog.collegeofthedesert.edu\/programs\/fire-technology\/\" target=\"_blank\">Fire Technology<\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Colorado<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Colorado State University &#8211; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/online.colostate.edu\/degrees\/fire-services\/\" target=\"_blank\">Fire and Emergency Services Administration<\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hawaii<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hawai\u2018i Community College&nbsp;&#8211; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/hawaii.hawaii.edu\/firescience\" target=\"_blank\">Fire Science<\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Idaho<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>University of Idaho &#8211; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uidaho.edu\/academics\/degree-finder\/fire-ecology-mgmt-bsfireecolmgmt\" target=\"_blank\">Fire Ecology and Management<\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>North Carolina<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>North Carolina State University &#8211; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/wolfware.ncsu.edu\/courses\/search\/?sv=1&amp;college=&amp;college=15&amp;year_semester=&amp;prefix=FOR&amp;number=&amp;medium_group=3\" target=\"_blank\">Fire Ecology<\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Oregon<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Oregon State University &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.oregonstate.edu\/college-departments\/forestry\/forest-ecosystems-society\/natural-resources-bs-hbs\/wildland-fire-ecology-option\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wildland Fire Ecology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lane Community College &#8211; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/fusee.org\/fire-news-2\/announcing-a-new-program-in-wildland-fire-at-lane-community-college\" target=\"_blank\">Wildland Fire Management <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Other Resources<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>American Military University &#8211; various courses and programs related to <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/catalog.apus.edu\/undergraduate\/academic-programs\/certificates\/undergraduate-certificate-fire-science\/\" target=\"_blank\">fire<\/a> and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amu.apus.edu\/online-associate-degrees\/associate-of-science-in-fire-science\/\" target=\"_blank\">fire science<\/a> (note that AMU is a for-profit college) <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to these courses, some colleges and universities have fire crews or other hands-on training opportunities. The following schools are examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/aamunews.blogspot.com\/2011\/03\/aamu-has-nations-first-student-wildland.html\">Alabama Fire Dawgs<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/about-agency\/features\/learning-fireline-fire-tigers-clemson\" target=\"_blank\">Clemson Fire Tigers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/forestry.mgcafe.uky.edu\/UK-fire-cats\" target=\"_blank\">Kentucky Fire Cats<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of these campus-based programs exist in the Southeast Region. In 2023 the FireDawgs were featured by the&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/r08\/newsroom\/stories\/partnering-hbcus-train-next-generation-wildland-firefighters\" target=\"_blank\">Forest Service<\/a>, the&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/forest-service-hbcu-firefighting-diversity-ce5a28fe17efa4270bad5898be3cd333\" target=\"_blank\">Associated Press<\/a>, and picked up in&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/nbcblk\/us-forest-service-hbcus-unite-boost-diversity-wildland-firefighting-rcna93129\" target=\"_blank\">NBC News<\/a>&nbsp;and the Washington Post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbs17.com\/news\/ap-us-forest-service-and-historically-black-colleges-unite-to-boost-diversity-in-wildland-firefighting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">This CBS 17 News article<\/a> highlights students from historically Black colleges or universities who are participating in a fire academy as part of the 1890 Land Grant Institution Wildland Fire Consortium, a partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and a cluster of HBCUs comprised of Florida A&amp;M University, Southern University in Louisiana, Tuskegee University and Alabama A&amp;M University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/fireadaptednetwork.org\/my-unexpected-journey-into-fire-and-leadership\/\" target=\"_blank\">FAC Learning Network article<\/a> was written by a forestry student at Alabama A&amp;M University who is a member of the FireDawgs and shares his experiences entering into the world of fire, how he\u2019s developing his role as a leader in this space, and some actionable steps anyone can take to support emerging leaders and voices in fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Know of a training opportunity or education resource not listed here? Contact us at <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"mailto:wildlandfire@ncsu.edu\" target=\"_blank\">wildlandfire@ncsu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It can be difficult for those conducting prescribed fire, particularly private landowners, to get the education and training they need to burn safely and effectively. The training and education resources on this page, along with events such as learn and burn workshops can help address this issue. State Training Opportunities Some states in the South&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1317","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.cnr.ncsu.edu\/southeast-fire-update\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.cnr.ncsu.edu\/southeast-fire-update\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.cnr.ncsu.edu\/southeast-fire-update\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.cnr.ncsu.edu\/southeast-fire-update\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/96"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.cnr.ncsu.edu\/southeast-fire-update\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1317"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/sites.cnr.ncsu.edu\/southeast-fire-update\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2739,"href":"https:\/\/sites.cnr.ncsu.edu\/southeast-fire-update\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1317\/revisions\/2739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.cnr.ncsu.edu\/southeast-fire-update\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}