Commission on Professional Credentialing Technical Competencies Update Project

In March 2021, the Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC) kicked off a yearlong review and update of the technical competencies for each of its five designations. The goal of this effort was to ensure the technical competencies matched the current and future expectations for fire and emergency service leaders.  

The project is now complete with updated candidate guidelines and applications encompassing the new technical competencies available for download. First time applicants that have downloaded the prior version may submit the prior version until May 31, 2022. The renewal applications remain the same.  

WHAT WAS THE REVIEW PROCESS LIKE? WHO WAS INVOLVED?  

The highly collaborative process for reviewing the technical competencies involved numerous opportunities for input and feedback. The initiative began in March 2021, with the establishment of a three-member CPC subcommittee. The subcommittee worked with CPSE staff to develop a project plan that allowed for robust review and input and deliberate approvals.  

In June 2021, 22 experts representing 17 organizations met to provide industry insights for the CPC Technical Competencies Update Project. In reflecting on what matters today, the experts noted a set of current professional challenges. When asked to identify what matters tomorrow, the experts shared that tomorrow’s company and chief officers must be adaptive strategic thinkers, team players, communicators, technologists, and analysts.  

Beginning in July 2021, 29 CPC peer reviewers worked in five working groups to review and update the technical competencies and the associated learning content and references. Through the work of a correlating committee, similar updates were identified for all designations.  

The volunteers used the Stakeholder Meeting Report and survey feedback from 979 current designees on the relevance of the current technical competencies to their jobs to ensure their proposed updates were inclusive of the widest audience.  

The following figures quantify the reach of the industry-wide effort: 

• 17 organizations represented during the stakeholder meeting 
• 29 fire and emergency services volunteers recruited  
• 979 survey responses received  

WHAT ARE THE UPDATES TO THE TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES? 

The following is a summary of the updates: 

• The technical competencies for each of the five designations’ applications have been rewritten. The changes include additions, deletions, and consolidations.   
• The first ten technical competencies for CFO, CEMSO, CTO, and FM are now identical. 
• Three new technical competencies have been added to all applications: Data and Technology; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Wellness and Behavioral Health.  

TIMELINE OF THE TECHNCIAL COMPETENCIES UPDATE PROJECT