A new agreement between the Institution of Fire Engineers and the Center for Public Safety Excellence will allow Chief Fire Officer designees to be recognized as IFE members.

CFO designees may now submit an abbreviated application form that will be reviewed by the IFE's U.S. branch membership committee and endorsed. A final review will be made by the assessment panel at IFE headquarters for the applicant to receive an IFE certificate and MIFireE grade designation.

"To gain this international recognition will be a big boost for U.S. CFOs and help them with networking, information exchange and making the fire service/engineering discipline a truly global body," said Bill Kehoe, membership chair of the IFE USA Branch.

According to the IFE USA Branch, applications have been sent to approximately 500 CFO designees. The Center for Public Safety Excellence is the certifying body for the Chief Fire Officer Designation program.