The North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal is providing important information regarding upcoming certification deadlines, required instructor upgrades, and changes to several Fire & Rescue Commission certification programs beginning January 1, 2027.
Required 2026 Qualified Instructor Upgrade
All currently qualified North Carolina Fire & Rescue Commission instructors, regardless of discipline, are required to complete the 2026 Qualified Instructor Upgrade by December 31, 2026. This three-hour, in-person upgrade addresses significant statewide changes affecting instructors, proctors, certification programs, OSFM 24, and training and testing procedures.
Completion of this single upgrade satisfies the applicable upgrade requirements for Fire Instructor, Fire Officer, Driver/Operator (excluding Emergency Vehicle Driver), and Proctor.
Instructors who do not complete the required upgrade will not be eligible to complete their next applicable requalification and will be required to complete the new 2027 Instructor Indoctrination course.
Additional program-specific upgrades are planned for spring 2027, including Firefighter, Emergency Vehicle Driver/TIMS, Live Fire, Rapid Intervention Crew, Marine Firefighter, and Airport Firefighter. These future upgrades do not replace the required 2026 Qualified Instructor Upgrade.
OSFM has scheduled more than 140 upgrade opportunities statewide between October and December 2026.
Additional information and available sessions: Instructor Upgrades
Fire Officer I Certification — December 31 Deadline
Individuals who have previously completed Fire Officer I but do not currently hold Fire Instructor I certification must complete Fire Instructor I by December 31, 2026, to obtain Fire Officer I certification under the current program.
Beginning January 1, 2027, the updated Fire Officer I program will require Fire Instructor I to be completed before Fire Officer I for individuals seeking North Carolina Fire Officer I certification.
Individuals who have completed Fire Officer I under the current program but have not satisfied the certification requirements before the transition will be required to complete the new Fire Instructor I program and repeat Fire Officer I under the new standard.
ISO 580C Training Credit
This change does not affect previously earned ISO 580C training credit.
Individuals who successfully completed Fire Officer I for ISO 580C purposes will retain that training credit, even if they do not meet the requirements to receive the North Carolina Fire Officer I certification.
However, completion of Fire Officer I for ISO training credit is not the same as obtaining Fire Officer I certification.
Individuals affected by this change are strongly encouraged to review their certification records and complete any outstanding requirements before the deadline.
Driver/Operator Pumps Certification — December 31 Deadline
The updated Driver/Operator certification program will take effect January 1, 2027, introducing changes to the Pumps certification curriculum.
Individuals currently working toward Driver/Operator Pumps certification under the existing program are encouraged to complete all remaining requirements by December 31, 2026.
Current Pumps Program
Under the current program, Pumps certification consists of three separate courses:
- Pumps Intro / Basic Operations
- Pumps Hydraulics / Water Supply
- Pumps Sprinklers, Standpipes, Maintenance & Testing
New Pumps Program Beginning January 1, 2027
The three existing courses will be combined into a single Pumps Apparatus Series course.
The updated program will reduce the total instructional hours from 110 to 88 hours, a reduction of 22 hours.
Important December 31 Deadline: Individuals who complete Driver/Operator Pumps certification by December 31, 2026, will receive both Pumps and Mobile Water Supply (MWS) certification credit under the current program. Beginning January 1, 2027, completion of the new Pumps Apparatus Series course will no longer provide MWS certification credit. The standalone Mobile Water Supply program will remain at 30 instructional hours.
Driver/Operator Aerials
The updated Driver/Operator Aerials program will reduce instructional hours from 60 to 40.
Driver/Operator General — New Certification Beginning July 1, 2027
The updated Driver/Operator program introduces a new Driver/Operator General certification beginning July 1, 2027.
Driver/Operator General will cover the material previously included in the existing Emergency Vehicle Driver program, including vehicle inspections, documentation of inspection checks, basic driving skills, and operation of fixed equipment.
Driver/Operator General will be an accredited certification and will serve as the prerequisite for D/O Pumps, D/O Aerials, and D/O Mobile Water Supply.
Instructors currently qualified to teach Emergency Vehicle Driver will be eligible to teach the new Driver/Operator General program after attending an upgrade in the Spring.
The existing Emergency Vehicle Driver course (FIP3600) will remain active through June 30, 2027.
January 2027 Certification Program Updates
Several Fire & Rescue Commission certification programs will transition to updated NFPA standards and revised instructional materials beginning in January.
Programs Effective January 1, 2027
- Fire Instructor — NFPA 1020, 2024 Edition
- Fire Officer — NFPA 1020, 2024 Edition
- Driver/Operator — NFPA 1010, 2024 Edition
These programs will receive updated reference materials, revised lesson plans, and changes to applicable certification requirements.
Updated Reference Materials
- Fire Instructor: Jones & Bartlett, Fire and Emergency Services Instructor, 4th Edition
- Fire Officer I and II: Jones & Bartlett, Fire Officer, 5th Edition
- Fire Officer III and IV: Jones & Bartlett, Chief Officer, 4th Edition
- Driver/Operator: Jones & Bartlett, Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator, 4th Edition
- Driver/Operator: IFSTA Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting, 7th Edition
Updated instructor materials and lesson plans are scheduled to become available for download through OSFM 24 beginning December 1, 2026. Instructors and Delivery Agencies should obtain and review the revised materials before delivering courses under the new programs beginning January 1.
Additional Certification Program Updates in 2027
The following programs are scheduled to transition to updated standards beginning July 1, 2027:
- Firefighter
- Live Fire
- Marine Firefighter
- Airport Firefighter
- Driver/Operator EVD
- Driver/Operator General
Additional program-specific instructor upgrades and implementation information will be provided during the first half of 2027.
Staying Informed
OSFM will continue to provide updates regarding certification program transitions, qualification requirements, and instructor training as additional information becomes available.
Instructors, certification candidates, School Directors, and Delivery Agencies are encouraged to review their certification records, monitor upcoming deadlines, and ensure they are prepared for the changes taking effect in 2027.
For questions regarding certification requirements or program transitions, please contact your assigned OSFM Certification Specialist.