Certified Fire Investigator

Application Process

Effective July 1, 2017

Use the application below for the new CFI application process. The application is form fillable and can be saved and then emailed to CFIcertifications@ncdoi.gov . 

CFI Application

Prerequisite: NC FIT certification is a prerequisite for the NC Certified Fire Arson Investigator Certification and must be completed prior to applying for the NC Certified Fire Arson Investigator.

Reference Material:

  • Brady, Prentice Hall, Kirk’s Fire Investigation, 9th Edition
  • Jones & Bartlett , Fire Investigator, Principles and Practice, 4th edition
  • Jones & Bartlett, Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, 4th edition (Building Construction) NFPA, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, NFPA  921, 2024 Edition
  • NFPA, Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator, NFPA 1033, 2022 Edition
  • Arrest, Search, & Seizure by Robert Farb. Sixth Edition, 2021, UNC Press
  • Article 15 of the North Carolina General Statues

 
Effective January 14, 2020: There is no longer a NC FIT equivalency application process.


 

Recertification Process

All currently certified CFIs will be required to follow the new recertification requirements and will have five years from July 1, 2022 to complete the new requirements, which are as follows:

  • Mandatory topics will include Legal Updates once every five years or as prescribed by the Certified Fire Investigator Board
  • Completion of four elective courses from the approved Continuing Education (CE) course list.


CFI Recertification Policy


 

Approved Classes

Tab/Accordion Items

  • NC IAAI Advanced Investigative Approaches NC IAAI Fire Investigative Approaches
  • NC Fire Inspector I
  • NCETR Advanced Origin and Cause/Court Room Testimony
  • NCJA Interview and Interrogation
  • IAAI Expert Witness and Court Room Testimony
  • NFA R0772 Fire Investigation Essentials
  • NFA R0774 Report Writing
  • NFA R0776 Electrical Systems
  • NFA R0778 Technical Aspects
  • NFA R0780 Forensic Interviewing and Evidence
  • NFA R0790 Case Preparation and Testimony
  • NFA W0756 Fire Investigation: Fire as a Weapon
  • NFA W0770 Fire Investigation: First Responders
  • NFA RO811 Fire Investigation for Company Officers
  • NFA RO255 Fire Investigations: Electrical Systems
  • NFA RO204 Fire Investigation: Fire Dynamics and Modeling
  • NFA RO214 Fire Investigation Forensic Evidence
  • NFA RO208 Fire Investigation: Interview and Testimony
  • CFI0001 Expert Witness & Courtroom Testimony Preparation by Instructor Wayne Delancey (8 hrs)
  • CFI0002 IAAI Expert Witness & Courtroom Testimony (EWCT) by Instructor Wayne Delancey (20 hrs)
  • CFI0003 Fire Fatality Investigation by Instructor Wayne Delancey (8 hrs)
  • CFI0004 Commercial Kitchen Fire Investigations by Instructor Wayne Delancey (8 hrs)
  • CFI0005 Evidence Collection & Documentation by Instructor Wayne Delancey (20 hrs)
  • CFI0006 25th Annual Fire Investigate Approaches Training Seminar (36 hrs)
  • CFI0007 Fire/Arson Investigation & Arson Case Management by Instructor Steve Riggs (20 hrs)
  • CFI0008 Up in Smoke by Instructor Lisa Coltrain (16 hrs)
  • CFI0009 Hands-On Vehicle Fire/Arson Investigation by Instructor Steve Riggs (20 hrs)
  • CFI00010 Clandestine Drug Lab by Instructor C. Christopher Moody (4 hrs)
  • CFI00011 RV Fire Investigation by Instructor Tom Lancaster (4 hrs)
  • CFI00012 Intro to Post Blast Investigate Techniques by Instructor Brian Lovin (4 hrs)
  • CFI00013 Sovereign Citizens by Instructor William Loucks (2 hrs)
  • CFI00014 Forensic Anthropology and Burned Remains by Instructor Darren Solomon (16 hrs)
  • CFI00015 Advance Fire Dynamics by Instructor Darren Solomon (24 hrs)
  • CFI00016 Fire Scene Photography by Instructor Darren Solomon (16 hrs)
  • CFI00017 Writing a better Origin and Cause Report by Instructor Darren Solomon (2 hrs)
  • CFI00018 Electricity and ARC Mapping by Instructor Michael Jordan (4 hrs)
  • CFI00019 Fire Investigator Continuing Education by Instructor Mark Brown (40 hrs)
  • CFI00021 Fire Investigator Safety by Instructor Jeff Pauley/Alex VanDongen (4 hrs)
  • CFI00022 Strategic Suspect Interview Techniques by Instructor Dino Balos (8 hrs)
  • CFI00023 WCU Burned Remains by Instructor Dr. N. Passalacqua/Dr. R. George (3 hrs)
  • CFI00024 Li-Ni Batteries by Instructor Michael Abraham (2 hrs)
  • CFI00025 Fire Dynamics by Instructor Darren Solomon (4 hrs)
  • CFI00026 Drones (Breakout) by Instructor David McVey (4 hrs)
  • CFI00027 Safety Practical (Breakout) by Instructor Jeff Pauley (4 hrs)
  • CFI00028 Austin Bombing by Instructor Brian Lovin (3.5 hrs)
  • CFI00029 The Evolution of Energy Storage Systems by Instructor David Brannon (4 hrs)
  • CFI00030 Up In Smoke 2024 by Instructor Lisa Coltrain (16 hrs)
  • CFI00031 Advanced Vehicle Fire Investigations  by Instructor Wayne Delancey (16 hrs)
  • CFI00032 Youth Firesetting Prevention and Intervention by Instructor Maria Bostian (48 hrs)
  • CFI00033 Image Forensics and Document Analysis by Instructor Art Grady (4 hrs)
  • CFI00034 Arson - Inside the Mind by Instructor Joe Loving (4 hrs)
  • CFI00035 Report Writing by Instructor John Golder (2 hrs)
  • CFI00036 How Building Construction, Building Systems & the Fire Code effect Fire Investigations by Instructor Jon Williams (4 hrs)
  • CFI00037 Digital Twin Technology by Instructor Seth Finkle (2 hrs)
  • CFI00038 Case Study using Digital Technology by Instructor John Webster (2 hrs)
  • CFI00039 Resume and CV Preparation by Instructor Chris Elrod (2 hrs)
  • CFI00040 The Reid Technique of Investigative Interviewing and Advance Interrogations by Instructor Michael Adamec (24 hrs)
  • CFI00041 Scene Photography for Fire Investigators by Instructor Bill States (4 hrs)
  • CFI00042 Fire Investigation Prosecution 101 by Instructor Bill States (4 hrs)
  • CFI00043 Fire Protection Systems for Fire Investigators by Instructor Bill States (4 hrs)
  • CFI00044 Basic Motor Vehicle Fire Investigation by Instructor Bill States (8 hrs)
  • CFI00045 Explosive Awareness for Arson Investigators by Instructors Bill States and Jason Hunter (8 hrs)
  • CFI00046 Evidence Collection by Instructor Michael Jordan (6 hrs)
  • CFI00047 Lithium-Ion Battery Fires by Instructor George Codding (1 hr)
  • CFI00048 Behind the Caution Tape: A closer look at Fire Origin & Cause investigation by Instructor George A. Codding (2 hrs)
  • CFI00049 NCIB Resources (3 hrs)
  • CFI00050 CPSC Resources (1 hr)
  • CFI00051 MUSC (4 hrs)
  • CFI00052 Mental Health in EMS: The right tool for the right job (4 hrs)
  • CFI00053 NC Crime Lab/Trace Evidence 101 (4 hrs)
  • CFI00054 EV/Solar/LI Batteries (7 hrs)
  • CFI00055 Confirmation & Expectation Bias: How do you Un-ring the bell? (4 hrs)
  • CFI00056 Emerging Trends in Technology for Fire Investigators (4 hrs)
  • CFI00057 Understanding CSST & Lightning ATF LODD Analysis (3.5 hrs)
  • CFI00058 Vehicle Fire Investigation (16 hrs)
  • CFI00059 Courtroom Testimony for Investigators and Analysts (16 hrs)
  • CFI00060 Avenues of Challenge for the Expert Witness (2 hrs)
  • CFI00061 Introduction to Marine Fire Investigation (8 hrs)
  • CFI00062 Motor Vehicle Fire Investigation (8 hrs)
  • CFI00063 Up in Smoke 2025 (16 hrs)
  • CFI00064 Chronic Stress and PTSD (3.5 hrs)
  • CFI00065 Understanding RV Electrical Systems (4 hrs)
  • CFI00066 Utilizing Artificial Intelligence to Support your investigation (4 hrs)
  • CFI00067 Preparing for Courtroom Testimony (3.5 hrs)
  • CFI00068 NFPA 1321 Standard for Fire Investigation Units 2025 (2 hrs)
  • CFI00069 Youth Firesetting Prevention & Intervention Program Strategics (2 hrs)
  • CFI00070 Alternative Fueled Vehicle Training (8 hrs)
  • CFI00071The Forensic Process- Accident Reconstruction Analysis (4 hrs)
  • CFI00072 Foundations of Fire Origin and Cause Investigation (40 hrs)
  • CFI00073 Report Writing and Note Taking (4 hrs)
  • CFI00074 Basic Motor Vehicle Fire Investigation (8 hrs)
  • CFI00075 Medicolegal Death Investigations (1 hr)
  • CFI00076 Air Quality Metering for Fire Investigators (4 hrs)
  • CFI00077 Arson Investigation and Evidence Collection (8 hrs)
  • CFI00078 Essential Electrical Knowledge for Fire Investigators (8 hrs)
  • CFI00079 Investigating Electric Vehicle Fires (8 hrs)

  • NC Hazardous Materials Technician
  • NFA or Equivalent Chemistry of Hazardous Materials
  • NCJA Chemical Processing and Advanced Photography
  • NCJA Crime Scene Investigation
  • NCJA General Criminal Investigations
  • NCJA Recognizing Insurance Fraud  

Instructors interested in submitting a course for continuing education credit should review the CFI Continuing Education Course Submittal Policy.

 CFI Continuing Education Course Submittal Policy

Fire Arson Investigator Course Approval Form

 


 

More Information

For CFI Board Member information, agendas and minutes, click here.

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