Center for Public Safety Excellence Launches New Fire and Emergency Services Analyst Professional Credential

RESTON, VA – The Commission on Professional Credentialing® (CPC®) has launched the Fire and Emergency Services Analyst (FESA) credential. FESA is the seventh designation offered by CPC and the second new designation added in the last two years. This new professional credential is based on NFPA 1022: Standard for Fire and Emergency Services Analyst Professional Qualifications and recognizes the critical and growing role analysts play in the modern and evolving fire and emergency services.

“This tremendous achievement is the direct result of the dedication of CPC designees, commissioners, and volunteers,” commented CPSE Board President Mary Cameli, CFO, Fire Chief, Mesa (AZ) Fire and Medical. “Being a CPC designee myself, I appreciate how thorough and rewarding the process is. It’s an honor to be among such dedicated professionals as we celebrate this historic milestone.”

CPSE® has taken numerous steps to elevate the role of analysts beginning with the hosting of an Analyst Incubator workshop in partnership with NFPA at the 2018 CPSE Excellence Conference, through the submittal of a new project request to NFPA to create NFPA 1022, through chairing the NFPA 1022 technical committee, and through co-chairing the USFA Data and Technology National Strategy Workgroup. The launch of the FESA credential this month showcases CPSE continued commitment to elevating analysis in the fire and emergency services.

Reflecting on these efforts, Preet Bassi, CAE, CPSE’s Chief Executive Officer, who also chairs NFPA 1022 and co-chairs the USFA Data and Technology National Strategy Workgroup, said “CPSE has always been a big tent organization for the industry and has benefited greatly from the contributions of those that conduct analysis work in fire departments. I appreciate the advocacy of individuals like Jodie Ramirez, Broward Sheriff’s Office, Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services, who have pushed for formal recognition of analysts, and who are now among the first group to be recommended for FESA designation”.

The CPC model recognizes career excellence and offers strategies for continuous personal improvement. Following just five months of focused development and beta testing, CPC will begin offering the FESA credential effective November 2022. The credential is available to individuals serving in a role as outlined in NFPA 1022 within a public safety or fire and emergency services organization. CPC accepts applications via an online platform that enables individuals to start and track their own application through the credentialing process.

Recognizing the tremendous effort put into developing this new designation, Toni Washington, CFO, CPC Chair and Fire Chief of the City of Decatur (GA) Fire Rescue, said “the Fire and Emergency Services Analyst credential represents a significant advancement in the field of data, GIS, and business analysis. This new credential highlights the critical role that skilled analysis plays in enhancing public safety and acknowledges the vital role of analysts in data-informed decision-making that leads to strategic enhancements in fire and emergency services. Thank you to the CPSE Board, CPC commissioners, CPSE staff, and many volunteers for their hard work and dedication to this process.”

With the release of the new credential, the fire and emergency services community can look forward to a more structured and recognized path for analysts. Mike Higgins, CPC Program Manager, CFO, CTO, and CEMSO shared that, “This advancement not only enhances the credibility of the professional analysts but also fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement. This milestone represents a commitment to excellence and innovation within the analytics field being able to tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow”

WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS?

A cross functional team worked behind the scenes to bring the new credential to fruition. Members of the team included CPSE staff, CPC commissioners, existing volunteers serving as peer reviewers, and a dedicated 19-member technical working group. The group consisted of analysts and fire service professionals from throughout the United States and was divided into three subcommittees: eligibility, technical competencies, and beta testers and reviewers. The team was eager to meet the established project timelines, and successfully, met or exceeded each milestone making the FESA credential a reality.

TIMELINE OF THE FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICE ANALYST CREDENTIAL PROCESS

• March 2018 – CPSE-NPFA Analyst Incubator workshop held at the 2018 CPSE Excellence Conference
• August 2018 – Process to create NFPA 1022: Standard for Fire and Emergency Services Analyst Professional Qualifications begins with CPSE submitting new project request to NFPA
• April 2024 – NFPA 1022 is released
• May 2024 – Fire and Emergency Services Analyst (FESA) technical working group selected
• August 2024 – First draft of FESA application, including eligibility requirements and technical competencies, created
• August 2024 – Beta testers selected and FESA peer reviewers selected
• September 2024 – First set of beta test applications received
• October 2024 – First set of beta test applicants reviewed and recommended for designation
• November 2024 – Official rollout of the FESA designation

The application is now available at the CPSE website and outlines the full eligibility requirements, including the cost and process for applying. Anyone interested in learning more about the FESA designation can join the FESA Information Session webinar December 6, 2024 at 1:00pm Eastern Time.

About CPC
In 2000, the Commission on Chief Fire Officer Designation (CFOD) was established to credential fire and emergency service officers. In 2006, as part of an organizational restructuring, CFOD was renamed the Commission on Professional Credentialing. Between 2008 and 2012, CPC would add four additional designations: Chief Emergency Medical Services Officer (CEMSO), Chief Training Officer (CTO), Fire Marshal (FM), Fire Officer (FO). In 2022, CPC launched the Public Information Officer (PIO) designation. In 2024, CPC launched the Fire and Emergency Services Analyst (FESA) designation as its seventh designation.

About CPSE
The Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) is an international technical organization committed to leading the fire and emergency service industry to excellence through the continuous quality improvement process of accreditation, credentialing, and education. A not-for-profit 501(c) (3) corporation, CPSE offers programs and solutions to assist departments and personnel with the tools necessary to excel in the delivery of fire and emergency services. Learn more at cpse.org.