IAAI-CI® (Certified Instructor)

The International Association of Arson Investigators Certified Instructor program (IAAI-CI®) verifies an applicant’s level of fundamental knowledge as measured against various core job performance requirements (JPRs) of established professional qualifications standards related to Fire Service Instructors.

The following professional qualifications standards core JPRs were considered when developing this professional designation:

NFPA 1041, Standard for Fire and Emergency Services Instructor Professional Qualifications, 2019 Edition

Chapter 1 - Administration
Chapter 2 - Referenced Publications
Chapter 3 - Definitions
Chapter 4 - Fire and Emergency Services Instructor I

IAAI-CI Study Reference List:

Recommended Reference Sources for IAAI Certified Instructor Exam:

International Fire Service Training Association (2006), Fire and Emergency Service Instructor, 7th Edition; Stillwater, OK: Fire Protection Publications, Oklahoma State University.

Additional Useful Reference Sources:

Clark, D. R. (2004), Instructional System Design Concept Map

The IAAI-CI certification must be renewed every five years.

Please contact certifications@firearson.com with any questions.

Questions?

Why earn the IAAI-CI® certification?

Designation as an IAAI-CI has many advantages, including:

Acknowledgement by an independent body that the instructor has demonstrated competence on the applicable professional qualification standards for Fire Service Instructor.
Recognition by an independent body that the instructor possesses a minimum level of education, work experience, training, and practical teaching/facilitation experience.
Verification that the instructor possesses a minimum level of fire investigation knowledge as measured by a standardized, comprehensive examination.
Demonstration, through the recertification process, that the individual is keeping current with their training and professional knowledge development.
Measurement of these achievements using a standardized mechanism, as set by the IAAI-CI Committee.

How do I become an IAAI-CI®?

The only method of certification by the IAAI is Certification by Application, Evaluation and Examination.

To become an IAAI-CI^®, the applicant must meet the minimum program requirements. The specific requirements are as follows:

- Education and Experience:
  - Minimum of a high school diploma, GED, or the equivalent, and provide documentation of all education claimed
  - 6 years’ experience in fire investigation or related industry
- Training (150 hours, 10% can be untested):
  - IAAI Certified Instructor Training Course (minimum of 24 contact hours)
    - Approved substitute/alternative courses listed here.
  - CFITrainer.Net® – "Ethics and the Fire Investigator" Module (3 hours)
  - CFITrainer.Net® – "The Scientific Method for Fire and Explosion Investigation" Module (3 hours)
- Practical Teaching Experience (44 hours):
  - Minimum of 44 instructional, coordination, and facilitation hours, including a minimum of 16 hours of actual instructional time
- Achieve a passing score of 70% on the comprehensive examination as established by the IAAI.

Click here to apply to begin the IAAI-Certified Instructor application process. Please review the Online Application FAQs before you begin.

To obtain the Member discount rate, please login to your www.firearson.com account. A non-Member may choose to join IAAI prior to filing the IAAI-CI® application. Membership is not required to apply for the IAAI-CI® professional designation.

Once you have submitted the application, it will be reviewed by the IAAI-CI® Committee. If the application is approved, you will then be provided with instructions on how to take the examination.

If the application is not approved, you will be notified about the areas of deficiency and given an opportunity to make corrections.

For detailed information on the full process of the IAAI-CI® program, please read the 2025 IAAI Certifications Manual.

I already hold the IAAI-CI® designation and need to renew. What do I do?

Investigators who hold the IAAI-CI® certification are required to re-certify every five years by completing a Recertification Application. It is the holder’s
responsibility to remember their expiration date and to submit the required documentation in a timely fashion.

Requirements for IAAI-CI Recertification:

Continued work experience, as supported by a Letter of Employment Verification.
80 hours of training, up to 10% may be untested
40 hours of practical teaching experience
Renewal applicants are not required to retake the exam if they submit their applications prior to the expiration date.

Purchase the IAAI-CI® Recertification Application. You will receive two emails: an invoice/receipt, and second email with a payment number and the link to the online application to upload your documentation.

If you are not an IAAI member, you may obtain the member rate for recertification by joining IAAI prior to returning the Recertification Application.

Recertification Applications should be submitted at least 30 days, but no more than 6 months prior to your IAAI-CFI® certification expiration date. Application fee is non-refundable.

Please refer to the IAAI Certifications Manual for a comprehensive list of Recertification requirements.

Please contact certifications@firearson.com if you have any questions.