Faculty of Open Learning & Career Development

Fire Leadership

Make a difference in your organization and career

Today’s fire service needs leaders—professionals equipped to meet challenges and inspire change. Get what you need to step into a more advanced role through Dalhousie’s internationally recognized Fire Service Leadership Program.

Our courses build on your technical knowledge. You’ll develop administrative, leadership and critical thinking skills that will make an immediate difference to your job and career. You’ll be ready to navigate obstacles and create strategic plans to bring your organization into the future.

Expertise and Support

Dalhousie University has been a leader in fire service leadership and management development for more than 25 years. Offered 100% online, you’ll have access to leading experts and resources when and where it works best for you. Our program also offers:

• actionable learning for immediate impact on your job
• the knowledge you need to take on more senior roles
• the courses required to gain professional certification

Certificates

Built for members of modern fire services, our certificates give you the knowledge and skills to get ahead in your profession.

Fire Service Leadership (Prerequisite to the Certificate in Fire Service Administration)

The Certificate in Fire Service Leadership (CFSL) provides fire service officers with opportunities to expand their knowledge of the fire service and add management education to their technical training. The CFSL has been offered across Canada since 1996. It's a prerequisite for the Certificate in Fire Service Administration (CFSA) and includes three required courses.

Station Officer: Dealing with People
Station Officer: Dealing with New Operations
The Environment of the Fire Station

Incident Command

The first course in this two-course certificate introduces research theory that attempts to explain how the size up is conducted through recognition-primed decision making. The second course introduces the more social and political aspects of incident command research and builds on the psychological aspects developed in the first course.

Fire Service Administration

To obtain the Certificate in Fire Service Administration, students must complete nine courses (six required courses and three electives). Students are required to obtain some breadth of understanding in fire service administration.

Required Courses:
Fire Department Human Resource Management I
Municipal Finance
Municipal Law (formerly Fire Service Law)
Program Evaluation and Statistics
Fire Service Strategic Planning
Fire Suppression Management OR Fire Prevention Management

Visit the certificate webpage for a list of all courses, including electives.

Concentrations for Fire Service Administration

You can concentrate on five different areas as part of your Certificate in Fire Service Administration. The three electives you choose will determine your concentration.

Fire Service Administration: Emergency Management

The Certificate in Fire Service Administration: Emergency Management is an advanced Certificate that will focus on emergency and disaster management systems. Content includes building professional competency, a look at delivery models, and working in a Canadian context. One must complete three of the following electives in order to receive this concentration.

Electives:
Emergency Medical Service Management and the Fire Department
Disaster Management and the Fire Department
Theoretical Foundations of Incident Command: Acting
Theoretical Foundations of Incident Command: Thinking

Fire Service Administration: Human Resource Management

The Certificate in Fire Service Administration: Human Resource Management is an advanced Certificate that 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. One must complete three of these four electives in order to receive this concentration.

Electives:
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Coaching Skills for Leaders
Fire Department Human Resource Management II
Organizational Behaviour

Fire Service Administration: Operational Planning

The Certificate in Fire Service Administration: Operational Planning is an advanced Certificate that will focus on resources required for the effective management of a fire department, community engagement, and structured decision making. Content includes technical fire prevention planning, working with political leadership in a municipal context, and public relations in emergencies. One must complete two of the following three electives in order to receive this concentration.

Electives:
Disaster Management and the Fire Department
Emergency Medical Service Management and the Fire Department
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Fire Service Administration: Strategic Planning

The Certificate in Fire Service Administration: Strategic Planning is an advanced Certificate that will focus on big picture planning and issues management in a fire department context. Content includes a review of strategic planning models, identifying strengths and weakness of the internal environment, and creating applicable strategies for organizational success.

Required Courses:

Fire Service Administration: Advanced Leadership

The Certificate in Fire Service Administration: Advanced Leadership will focus on identifying the characteristics of effective and ineffective leaders, applying leadership theory and strategy to a professional context and understanding cultural approaches to conflict in diverse settings. One must complete three of the following electives in order to receive this concentration.

Electives:
Leadership Dynamics
Coaching Skills for Leaders
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Interpersonal & Intercultural Communication

After completing the Certificate in Fire Administration in one area of concentration, you can apply to the Advanced Certificate in Fire Service Administration by completing three additional courses from the options in this certificate. Email openlearning@dal.ca to request enrolment in this certificate.

Advanced Certificate in Fire Service Administration

Choose three courses from the following list:

Fire Prevention Management
Emergency Medical Service Management and the Fire Department
Theoretical Foundations of Incident Command: Thinking
Fire Department Human Resource Management II
Fire Suppression Management
Local Government
Disaster Management and the Fire Department
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication

Certification

Fire Officer lll Accreditation Track
If you have obtained your Fire Officer II accreditation, you may apply for Fire Officer III certification upon successful completion of 10 courses and by submitting the application. In order to qualify for Fire Officer III certification, students must receive at least 70% on each of the 10 courses taken for the certification. The program staff will then check your application for completeness. If gaps are found, you will be notified by Dalhousie University staff. Once your application has been approved, your request will be submitted to the Nova Scotia Fire Marshall's office. After all requirements have been verified, you will receive Fire Officer III certification.

Required Courses:
Station Officer: Dealing with People
Station Officer: Dealing with New Operations
The Environment of the Fire Station
Fire Prevention Management
Fire Department Human Resource Management l
Municipal Finance
Fire Service Strategic Planning
Organizational Behavior
Fire Suppression Management

Electives (choose 1 course):
Disaster Management and Fire Management
Theoretical Foundations of Incident Command: Thinking

Fire Officer lV Accreditation Track
This four-course certificate will track completion of the following Dalhousie University Faculty of Open Learning & Career Development courses (or their equivalent), at least one of which must have been taken in the fall 2013 term or later. All must have received a grade of 70% or higher.

Required Courses:
Local Government
Fire Department Human Resource Management II
Emergency Medical Service Management and the Fire Department
Program Evaluation and Statistics

Dalhousie University