Nova Scotia Firefighter Certification
Making our community a safer place
The Evaluation and Certification program gives firefighters a clear way to measure their knowledge and hands-on skills against internationally recognized benchmarks. Many departments also lean on certification when they’re making promotion calls, and when they’re screening and hiring new members.
Certification is built on standards from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). NFPA standards are developed through a consensus process, led by technical committees and shaped by input from the people who use them and other stakeholders.
If you’re working toward certification, you’re considered a candidate. You pick the NFPA standard (or standards) you want to complete, then follow the steps tied to that specific credential. Most certifications include confirmed prerequisites, a written evaluation, and a practical skills evaluation. The exact requirements depend on the standard—what you need before you start, what theory you’ll be tested on, and which skills you have to demonstrate.
In Nova Scotia, Fire Service certification isn’t required by a provincial agency. It’s voluntary, whether you pursue it on your own or your department completes it together. Certification is issued exclusively by the NSFSPQB.
Who accredits us?
In North America, fire service certifications are recognized through two accrediting bodies: the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board) and the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC).
The NSFSPQB first earned accreditation from IFSAC in 2001 and from the Pro Board in 2004. To keep those accreditations active, we follow each organization’s requirements, including a recertification audit every five years.
Who are we?
In 1996, representatives from Office of the Fire Marshal, Fire Services Association of Nova Scotia, Halifax Regional Municipality, Cape Breton Regional Municipality, and the Nova Scotia Firefighters School came together with a clear goal: start the accreditation process.
That first meeting led to many more. By 1997, the work had a formal home—the Nova Scotia Fire Service Professional Qualifications Board—officially formed and registered with the Joint Registry of Joint Stock Companies. From there, the next step was straightforward: move ahead with getting the board accredited.
