The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Incident Management System’s Integration Center has released initial minimum criteria for fire and hazmat personnel to be deployed using a national credentialing system. The purpose of the release is to solicit comments and constructive feedback.

The U.S. Fire Administration’s Credentialing Working Group has identified 17 positions anticipated to be most commonly requested during an interstate mutual aid response. A list of the positions and the criteria for each can be found online at the NIMS Integration Center Web site in PDF or text format.

For each position, the group identified “requisite” and “recommended” baseline criteria for education, training, experience, physical/medical fitness, certification and licensing. These criteria are intended to complement and support existing credentialing systems. Where national standards do not exist under “requisite” criteria, “recommended” criteria are listed for current and/or future consideration.

The NIMS Integration Center invites NIMS stakeholders to review these initial criteria and provide comments. The Working Group will review all responses submitted and, as appropriate, make any needed revisions with a final NIMS release of the criteria for credentialing fire and hazmat personnel.

Comments can be directed to NIMS-credentialing@L-3com.com.