In September 2024, the Faculty introduced a NEW and revamped set of certificates and NEW diploma offerings for our learners. Click on each of the images below to get information on the requirements for each of our certificates and diplomas.
Today’s fire service needs leaders equipped to meet challenges and inspire change.
Offered 100% online, our courses areÌýstackableÌýso you canÌýaccelerateÌýyour learning. GetÌýin-demandÌýskills that meet your professional certification requirements.
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Certificate in Fire Service Leadership
provides fire service officers with opportunities to expand their knowledge of the fire service and add management education to their technical training. It consists of three courses:
(12 weeks)
(12 weeks)
(12 weeks)
Certificate in General Fire Leadership Administration
The is designed to help fire service officers develop their administrative and managerial skills.
Required Courses:
(12 weeks)
(12 weeks)
(6 weeks)
Electives (choose one):
(6 weeks)
(6 weeks)
Specialized Certificates in Fire ServiceÌý
These certificates are beneficial to those seeking further training in a specialized area.
Advanced Fire Service Administration
The is designed to help fire service officers further develop their administrative and managerial skills, while allowing the flexibility to choose courses that will be relevant to their own departments.
Required Course:
Electives (minimum requirement of 68 hours):
Fire Service Human Resource Management
The will identify human resource challenges faced by public organizations, discuss the importance of evaluating recruitment and other HR processes, and explain key features and benefits of mentoring and succession planning. It consists of these four courses:
Operational Planning
The focuses on resources required for the effective management of a fire department, community emergency planning, and structured decision making. It consists of these four courses:
Emergency Management
The focuses on incident command and disaster management systems in the fire service. It consists of these three courses:
First Responder Health and Wellness
The is designed to help leaders in the fire service learn about occupational stress and trauma so they can address the mental health needs of emergency services personnel.
Required Courses:
Wildfire and Climate Change Adaptation Management
The focuses on wildfire and climate change planning and prevention in the fire service. It consists of these four courses:
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, & Accessibility in the Fire Service
The will help participants gain an increased understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion, identify barriers to effective inclusive communications, and recognize ways to optimize diverse teams in their departments.
Required Courses:
Training Officer Education
The is intended for any individuals that will be training, facilitating, coaching, and/or mentoring those in the fire service. It consists of these five courses:
Diplomas in Fire Leadership
Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s Diplomas in Fire Leadership are designed to give Fire Service Officers the knowledge and skills to become leaders and managers within their fire departments.
Diploma in General Fire Leadership
Completion of three certificates (the , the , and one fire specialization certificate) is required for the . Graduates of the Diploma in General Fire Leadership who have also obtained their Fire Officer II certification will meet the criteria for Fire Officer III.
Diploma in Executive Fire Leadership
Successful completion of at least 144 hours of coursework is required for the . The prerequisite for the Diploma in Executive Fire Leadership is the Diploma in General Fire Leadership. Graduates of the Diploma in Executive Fire Leadership who have also obtained their Fire Officer III certification will meet the criteria for Fire Officer IV.
Certification
If you have obtained your Fire Officer II certification, you may apply for Fire Officer III certification upon successful completion of the aboveÌýcourses and by submitting the application. In order to qualify for Fire Officer III certification, students must receive at least 70% on each of the courses. Program staff will then check your application for completeness. If gaps are found, you will be notified by Â鶹´«Ã½ staff.ÌýOnce your application has been approved, your request will be submitted to the Nova Scotia Firefighters School.ÌýAfter all requirements have been verified, you will receive Fire Officer III certification.
Courses:
This four-course certificate will track completion of the following Â鶹´«Ã½ Faculty of Open Learning & Career Development courses (or their equivalent),Ìýat least oneÌýof which must have been takenÌýin the fall 2013 term or later. All must have receivedÌýaÌýgrade of 70%Ìýor higher.
Required Courses:
Important information for current students enrolled in certificates
If you have started the previous versions of the Certificate in Fire Service Leadership, the Certificate in Fire Service Administration (CFSA) or any of the CFSA concentration certificates, the Certificate in Incident Command, or Fire Officer III, you will receive credit for any courses you have completed. For guidance in selecting courses to complete your certificate, please contact openlearning@dal.ca.
Are you a student completing a previous version of a certificate? Please click here to see the list of certificates with hyperlinks. Each certificate page will provide the course requirements