Qualifications Management
We provide records management, certification, and training officer support for non-agency organizations that need their people’s wildland fire qualifications recognized for cooperative burning and career growth.
Who This is For
Most people burning on private land in California do not need qualifications management or National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) certifications. You do not need an incident qualification card (i.e. “Red Card”) to burn on your own land, to burn with your neighbors through a Prescribed Burn Association, or to be useful on a burn.
If you DO need to earn a wildland fire qualification, it takes two stages:
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Coursework, task books, documented experience, fitness, and annual currency.
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a certifying official, a record in a recognized system, annual re-issue, and acceptance by the agencies you would deploy with.
That’s where we can help.
Non-agency practitioners routinely earn their half but don’t have an institution to supply the second half.
Your organization may have a need for qualifications management through the Watershed Research and Training Center if one of the following apply:
Your staff hold or are working toward NWCG positions and your organization has no certifying official
Your Tribe or organization burns on Tribal trust lands, federal or state land, or wants to
Your Tribe or organization is being asked to ensure that your staff meet NWCG positions, but your organization doesn’t have the capacity or expertise to manage
Your Tribe or organization is being asked for red cards you cannot produce
Your staff take courses, attend TREXs, or initiate task books without gaining new qualifications
Your staff have limited advancement opportunities because their certifications, trainings, or qualifications are not being recognized by other employers
Note: CAL FIRE’s Office of the State Fire Marshal manages qualifications for the State Certified Prescribed Fire Burn Boss (CARX) certification. A burn must use a CARX to take advantage of California’s Prescribed Fire Liability Claims fund. The CARX position is not otherwise related to NWCG qualifications.What We Do
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Individualized training records in a recognized system of record
We maintain participating organizations’ qualification records in the Incident Qualification System (IQS), an accepted system of record developed by the National Association of State Foresters and adopted by the International Association of Fire Chiefs. (double check this). Records are audit-ready and transferable to other organizations using IQS and/or IQCS (a similar federal-based system).
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Technical authority through a review committee
A Fire Qualifications Review Committee (FQRC) composed of qualified practitioners from multiple organizations reviews certifications and sets policy and guidelines for reviewing task books, evaluating experience, and making certification recommendations to the certifying official.
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Training officer support
We share training officer capacity across the network of participating organizations so organizations have access to training pathways, records management, and individualized staff or organization guidance.
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Annual currency and re-issue
We ensure that incident qualification card currency is tracked, that holders are notified of pending lapse, and that cards are promptly re-issued upon receiving proof of currency.
Sign Up/Express Interest
Applications are open on a rolling basis. The form linked below takes about five minutes to complete.
In this phase we are prioritizing organizations over unaffiliated individuals, specifically organizations that need qualifications managed for all of their fire-focused staff. Tribes and Tribally/Indigenous-led organizations are a priority within that group. Our initial service will be limited to California but we expect to expand beyond the state over time.
Our capacity is limited, and we may not be able to accept every organization or individual who expresses interest in the short term.
Qualifications Management System FAQ
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Thanks to funding support through the State of California, the USDA Forest Service, and the Resources Legacy Fund, the Qualifications Management System will be provided at no cost to participants through - at a minimum - December 31, 2028. We are seeking additional grant funding to extend no-cost participation beyond that date. WRTC may offer fee-for-service participation in the future if grant funding is not available for all participants.
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At this time, we are only accepting participants based in California or those who participate in burning within California. Depending on availability of funds we anticipate offering qualifications management outside of California in the future. If you are with an organization outside of California and interested in tracking our work or partnering with us, please contact us at firetraining@thewatershedcenter.com
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Yes, individuals may express interest using the Qualifications Management Form. However, be aware that we are prioritizing organizations with multiple staff needing qualifications management, and individuals without organizational affiliation will be accepted into the system as capacity allows.
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Yes. Please see the Statewide Fire Programs page for more information on available courses and Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges.
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You own your data. If you choose to no longer host qualifications in the system, or if you/your employee transitions to another organization, the records will be provided to you as an exported package, or in native IQS format. We can also directly upload the IQS records we maintain into the IQCS system if you or an employee begins working for the federal government.
Partners and Funding
The Qualifications Management System is funded by the California Department of Conservation’s Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program, the USDA Forest Service Community Navigator Initiative, and generous philanthropic support through the Resources Legacy Fund.
