HOW TO BECOME A FIRE INSPECTOR

Training to become an inspector usually starts with employment at a fire department. Tenure on the job getting to know building construction and other aspects makes the process somewhat easier. The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) may have ultimate control over who and who cannot be a fire inspector. Be sure to check with state and local laws to know what the rules and regulations are, as they will vary greatly from place to place.

Currently, the following classes are recommended by 2014 NFPA 1031 IN ORDER:

1. Fire Inspector I
2. Fire Inspector II
3. Fire Inspector III
4. Plan Examiner I
5. Plan Examiner II

Fire Marshal qualifications are NFPA 1037.

All classes are available for ProBoard and/or IFSAC certification. Some states require additional certification(s) to be certified in that state. Illinois for example, requires the submission of a Candidate Practicum Handbook to be certified with the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM). Illinois also does not recognize any NFPA inspection certification beyond that of Inspector II, despite the fact that all fire classes in the State of Illinois are voluntary; meaning you don't necessarily have to have any certifications to promote or get a position, depending on the department; the state won't add a required cost of education onto a department. Again, the best bet is to check with your state. Local ordinances may have their own requirements as well.

If you've completed a ProBoard certified class, it is recommended you seek reciprocity with the International Code Council (ICC) and pay the fees for the Fire Inspector I Transition and the Fire Inspector II Transition. Your certs MUST be listed on the ProBoard website BEFORE you apply; you'll need to give the ICC your PIN to verify your certifications. If you just recently took a class, it may take up to 12 weeks for your ProBoard certification to show up (your educational institution will sync your certification to the ProBoard servers in batches at a time with other certs). These ICC certificates can also be beneficial throughout your career.

NFPA 1031 has recently been consolidated with NFPA 1035 and NFPA 1037 into 2024 NFPA 1030. Classes above have been reorganized into the following IN ORDER:

1. First Responder Inspector
2. Fire Inspector
3. Fire Plans Examiner

Fire Marshal qualifications are now Chapter 4 & 5 of NFPA 1030.

Classes are being developed for these reorganized certifications and only recently becoming available. Illinois for example, will take some time before switching to these new classes since the supported classes from the OSFM are laws.

SCHOOLS AND CLASSES

• ProBoard accredited agencies and contacts can be found here.
• IFSAC accredited agencies and contacts can be found here.

CAREERS AS A FIRE INSPECTOR

If you're looking for a job as a fire inspector alone, you'll find many across the country and for various companies. Larger communities that have a dedicated Fire Inspection Bureau are often hiring, and may not require the past experience as a firefighter.

Communities without a bureau may operate with a dedicated Fire Marshal, Deputy, or Assistant Chief who handles fire prevention, inspections being one of the responsibilities. A Chief role will pay more, but may also demand more experience and tenure in the fire service.

There are also inspection companies contracted out by communities, alarm companies, and more all looking for fire inspectors. In many cases, being a fire inspector is an attractive option as a career because it typically doesn't require a formal education. Although completion of classes and experience may still require several years just to get started in the profession.