Fire Leadership Dalhousie University

Overview

Dalhousie University 's Fire Leadership programme equips those in the Canadian Fire Service with the most up-to-date, relevant, and important leadership skills and knowledge it takes to be the best. 

Along with meeting the high academic standards of Dalhousie University, our Fire Leadership Programme meets the standards of important organizations in the fire service. 

• The job performance requirements of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 1021) form the basis for our Fire Officer III and Fire Officer IV designations. 

• This audit occurs every five years in agreement with the Nova Scotia Firefighters School and through our board membership on the Nova Scotia Fire Service Professional Qualifications Board.

Certificates and programmes

• Certificate in Fire Service Leadership

The Certificate in Fire Service Leadership (CFSL) provides fire service officers with opportunities to expand their knowledge of the fire service and add management education to their technical training. The CFSL is the most popular accreditation at Dal Fire and gives you the foundations needed to move onto more advanced courses in the programme. 

• Certificate in General Fire Service Administration

The Certificate in General Fire Service Administration (CGFSA) is designed to help fire service officers develop their administrative and managerial skills.

Career Opportunities

• For officers in volunteer departments, it provides essential knowledge for the supervision of volunteers and knowledge to plan new activities within the department.

• For officers in composite fire departments, it provides essential knowledge for the supervision of both volunteer and career firefighters.

Recognition of Prior Learning

It may be possible to receive advanced standing in this certificate based on your prior learning from work or life experience. We provide two types of recognition of prior learning:

• Prior Certified Learning: Assessment of prior coursework or training through a provider, that is neither a university or college, for the purpose of advanced standing. Examples of certified learning may include military courses, accredited certificates, workplace training programmes, etc.

• Prior Experiential Learning: Assessment of previous work and life learning that may be equivalent to learning outcomes of university courses / programmes, for the purpose of advanced standing. Relevant prior learning may come from work or volunteer experience, participation on committees or boards, independent study, etc.

Accreditation

The programme is audited by both of North America’s fire service accrediting agencies - National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (known as the Pro Board), and the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC).