CFI Programme

 

The Certified Fire Investigator Programme (CFI)   

The Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) Program is a voluntary certification program administered by the International Association of Arson Investigators. The goal of the CFI program is to acknowledge demonstrated competence in the field of fire Investigation. Once successfully completed, the CFI program is a real distinction that acknowledges an individuals demonstrated competency in all phases of fire investigation through completion of a detailed application and written examination process.

The CFI Program has several benefits:

Allows the Fire Investigation Professional to be recognised as having demonstrated competency in all phases of fire investigation.
Encourages continuing education and training in the field of fire investigation.
The CFI certification program requires minimum levels of Education, Training, and Experience in the field of fire investigation. It is a program that seeks a realistic balance between those areas to insure that an applicant's experience is well rounded and not purely academic.

Today more than ever we are seeing changes in the field of fire investigation. Many things have made our job in determining fire origin and cause extremely challenging. One way of meeting that challenge and to keep pace with the many changes in our industry is to certify as a CFI.

The CFI program is a standard measure of an individual’s competence in all phases of fire investigation. The CFI program encourages an individual to be his or her best and to stay abreast of the latest changes in the fire investigation field.

 

The only method of certification by the IAAI is Certification by Application, Evaluation and Examination.

• Each candidate shall submit a completed application including:

1. Documentation of a total of 400 hours of training. Training shall include the following:

• IAAI Fundamentals of Fire Investigation class - (minimum of 40 hours)
• 28 hours of CFITrainer.net courses required  (DNA, Documenting the Event, Examination, Intro to Evidence, 1033 and Your Career, Physical Evidence at Fire Scene, Practical Application, Scientific Method, Ethics)
• 332 hours of training (points) that come from courses that meet all the criteria of the NFPA 1033 JPRs, of which 10% (33 hours) may be untested/not directly related to fire investigation (hazmat, engineering, etc.).

2. Completed copies of the IAAI JPR Check Sheets, including the signature of an IAAI-approved CFI JPR Evaluator.

3. A copy of a high school diploma or equivalent

4. Documentation of expert testimony

• The application must be approved prior to sitting for the examination.

The candidate shall achieve a passing result on the comprehensive, "closed book," proctored examination that is based on every job performance requirement in NFPA 1033: Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator.

For more information please visit IAAI-CFI® (Certified Fire Investigator).

 

For detailed information on the full process of the IAAI-CFI® program, please read the 2025 IAAI Certifications Manual for the International Association of Arson Investigators Certified Fire Investigator Program.

 

Click HERE to start the IAAI-CFI® New Application Process! Please review the Online Application FAQs before you begin. To view an Example of the IAAI-CFI Certification Application.

To obtain the Member discount rate, please login to your www.firearson.com account. A non-Member may choose to join IAAI prior to filing the IAAI-CFI® application.

Once you have submitted the application, it will be reviewed by the IAAI-CFI® Committee. If the application is approved, you will then be provided with instructions on how to take the proctored examination.

If the application is not approved, you will be notified about the areas of deficiency and given an opportunity to make corrections. 

 

Certified Fire Investigator Candidate Evaluation Requirement

Beginning in 2025, IAAI-CFI candidates will be required to be evaluated during fire scene investigations to ensure JPRs are properly executed as established by NFPA 1033. The evaluator will be responsible for overseeing the candidate(s) at fire scene investigations and documenting their performance on JPR
specific checklists created by the IAAI. Completed JPR checklists will need to be given to the candidate after they have been signed and dated by the evaluator in order for the candidate to be eligible to apply for the IAAI-CFI certification. To view the Certified Fire Investigator Candidate Evaluation

 

Recertification

 

Investigators who hold the IAAI-CFI® certification are required to re-certify every five years by completing a Recertification Application. A minimum of 100 hours of tested training, and three years of job experience, as defined by NFPA 1033 during the 5-year recertification period. The candidate shall complete a minimum of 10 CFITrainer.net® modules per renewal cycle. The renewal applicants are not required to retake the exam if they submit their applications prior to the expiration date.

Purchase the IAAI-CFI® Recertification Application. You will receive two emails: a receipt with a payment number, and a second email with a link to the online application to upload your documentation. If you are not an IAAI member, you may obtain the member rate for recertification by joining IAAI prior to returning the Recertification Application.

Recertification Applications should be submitted at least 30 days, but no more than 6 months prior to your IAAI-CFI® certification expiration date. Application fee is non-refundable.

 

The UK-AFI is here to assist you and answer any questions you may have about the CFI application process. Please contact us [email protected]