About CFAI Hearings
Commission on Fire Accreditation International® (CFAI®) Hearings will be held August 18-20, 2026, at the Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont, Illinois. The current schedule (as of 7/14/2026) and list of agencies can also be found here.
CFAI holds public hearings twice annually. Hearings are held in the Spring and Summer. Agencies seeking initial accreditation or re-accreditation (every five years), come before CFAI following a peer team visit. The peer team leader presents the recommendations and findings of the peer team during the hearing. Following comments from agency representatives and questions from the 13-member Commission, a vote is taken on the agency’s status. The Commission can choose to accredit, defer, or deny any agency. Observing CFAI hearings is a great way to learn about the accreditation process and how agencies worldwide are using the CFAI model to continuously improve their outcomes.