Beyond High School

Here's a list of programs that you should consider if you're interested in this career:

• Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician
• Fire Science/Fire-fighting
• Fire/Arson Investigation and Prevention

Education Level

Education training and experience are required at different levels for success in different occupations.

Post-secondary training, plus work experience

To enter the occupation, fire inspectors typically need at least a high school diploma or the equivalent and work experience as a firefighter or in a related occupation. Once hired, they typically receive on-the-job-training in inspection and investigation. Because of their police powers, investigators and inspectors may need to be U.S. citizens.

Insider Info

Additional Information

Many arson investigators typically have previous work experience as a firefighter or police officer, as well as attend training academies and receive on-the-job training in inspection and investigation.

Getting the job involves taking a test and being put on an eligibility list. Once you're accepted off the list and hired on as an investigator, there are numerous classes that you take to become a better arson investigator.

Classes include firearms, arson, detective school, arson tactics, bomb detection and hate crimes.

Arson investigator Don Braziel says that his fire department likes to hire people who have at least taken classes in arson investigation.

Michael Schlatman, a past board member of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), emphasizes the need to stay in school. "The way it is now, you're hardly going to get by without a bachelor's. We highly recommend a degree in fire science, fire technology or criminal justice."

The IAAI has chapters in both the U.S. and Canada. It offers specialized training courses every year to keep investigators up to date.

Extra Requirements

Requirements for licensure or certification vary by state or locality. Fire investigators may choose to pursue more certification from a nationally recognized professional association. Among these are the Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) certification from the International Association of Arson Investigators and the Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) certification from the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI). The National Fire Protection Association also offers Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist certification for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists.

For additional information, visit these websites:

• http://www.nafi.org
• http://www.nfpa.org