Fire and Rescue Management Institute, Professional Certificate

Program Overview

Boost Your Leadership Skills With Your Fire and Rescue Management Institute Professional Certificate

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Fire and Rescue Management Institute offers a professional development certificate program designed for company officers, chief officers and future leaders within the fire service. Those in managerial and supervisory roles are expected to be team leaders and must possess the ability to guide their staff in achieving department, division and unit goals.

Our fire and rescue training management program helps professionals seeking to increase their management mastery and advance in their careers hone their leadership skills. Our professional certificate program tackles today’s complex challenges — from leading diverse teams to fire and rescue training and more — through a curriculum crafted by current fire and rescue management leaders.

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  • Delivery
    In Person
  • Duration
    80 Contact Hours
  • Runs
    October to February

“I am taking away a new perspective on leadership in the fire service. I cannot wait to see some of these ideas implemented.”

– Kurt Boyles, ’11, Fire and Rescue Management Institute Professional Certificate
Firefighter/EMT, Lincolnton Fire Department

What Participants Will Learn

Fire and Rescue Management Certificate Details and Coursework

UNC Charlotte’s Fire and Rescue Management Professional Certificate program helps you develop the knowledge and skills necessary to become a more effective and competent leader and manager. Program participants are required to have a high school diploma and two years of fire and rescue services experience (volunteer or paid service) to enroll.

Our professional certificate program will provide you with valuable knowledge, skills and insights that are directly applicable to fire and rescue services agencies. The program curriculum uses a modular approach that offers practical knowledge in bite-sized chunks.

The fire and rescue training modules consist of:

  1. Leadership and team-building
  2. Management skills and personnel management
  3. Strategic planning
  4. Communication skills
What Can You Do With Your Fire and Rescue Management Certificate?

UNC Charlotte’s Fire and Rescue Management Institute Certificate program graduates work in various fire and rescue services organizations throughout the country. Agencies that have participated in the institute include:

  • Center Hill Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department
  • Chapel Hill Fire Department
  • Charlotte Fire Department
  • Climax Fire Department
  • Currituck County Department of Fire and EMS
  • Denver Fire Department
  • Denver Volunteer Fire Department
  • East Lincoln Fire Department
  • Town of Edenton Fire Department
  • Elizabeth City Fire Department
  • Fountain Inn Fire Department
  • Fuquay-Varina Fire Department
  • Guil-Rand Fire Department
  • Guilford County Fire Marshal’s Office
  • Harrisburg NC Fire Department
  • Hickory Fire Department
  • Kannapolis Fire Department – Official
  • City of King, NC
  • Knightdale Fire Department
  • Lincolnton Fire Department
  • Town of Long View Fire Department
  • Monroe Fire Department
  • Mooresville Fire – Rescue
  • Orange Rural Fire Department
  • Pinecroft Sedgefield Fire Department
  • Pleasant Garden Fire Department
  • Southern Pines Fire & Rescue
  • Spencer Fire Department
  • Washington (NC) Fire Department
  • Town of Weaverville Fire Department
  • City of Winston-Salem Fire Department

Our professional certificate graduates hold job titles such as:

  • Firefighter
  • Emergency management coordinator
  • Crew chief
  • Deputy fire chief
  • Assistant fire chief
  • Fire captain

Strong salary expectations

Fire and rescue services managers enjoy strong earning power. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the mean annual wage for first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers is $84,810.

Why UNC Charlotte?

Why Earn Your Fire and Rescue Management Certificate From UNC Charlotte?

By choosing UNC Charlotte’s professional certificate program, you will enjoy a number of advantages, including:

Earn your professional certificate in just five months. Our flexible certificate program allows you to continue working as you complete the certificate courses. Our program consists of 17 classroom sessions held over at the UNC Charlotte Uptown Charlotte or Main campuses. The institute is held October through February. Our program’s unique format enables and encourages participants to attend from various areas of the Southeast, as our classes are offered in three- to four-day clusters.

Take advantage of our cohort model. Students enter the program as a cohort, experiencing everything from day one to the final course together. You’ll learn, discuss issues and network face to face. Your cohort will enjoy bonding through classroom experiences and valuable networking among fire and rescue services personnel from diverse backgrounds and regions.

Learn from faculty experts. Our program faculty consists of:

  • Experienced fire and rescue management administrators
  • Fire and rescue services consultants
  • Fire and rescue training professionals
  • UNC Charlotte professors from disciplines including public administration, communication studies, organizational psychology, business administration, leadership and management
Program Cost

Fire & Rescue Management Institute: $1,330

Financial Options:

Meet Program Director Krystle Kunnathur

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