CFPSExam Blueprint
CFPSExam Blueprint
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©2023 NFPA
Certified Fire Protection Specialist
ii. Requisite Skills – The ability to work in a committee environment, technical writing,
and interpersonal and communication skills
D. Ensure all fire protection, life safety, and building systems are properly integrated within the
built environment, given building and system drawings, building use, sequence of
operations, system performance, guidelines, and regulations, so that system-interfacing
requirements are achieved.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Jurisdictional building and fire codes, applicable codes and
standards, local AHJ amendments, types of building construction, fire suppression
systems, fire detection and smoke control systems, hazard and water supply analysis,
hazardous material classifications, systematic best practices, and technical knowledge
ii. Requisite Skills – System design, collaboration, and interpersonal and communication
skills
E. Evaluate the performance of fire protection, fire detection, and life safety systems
conditions through code compliance, life safety and fire hazards analysis surveys for new
and existing buildings, given access to spaces, documentation of building features and
systems, complete as-built plan sets, water supply analysis, and fire and life safety system
inspection and testing reports, so that the evaluation is comprehensive, accurate, and
provides valuable insights for enhancing the safety and compliance of the assessed facilities,
and systems perform as intended and designed in a manner that completes and achieves
their performance objectives.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Jurisdictional building and fire codes, applicable codes and
standards, local AHJ amendments, types of building construction and plans, fire
suppression systems and their design principle, fire detection and smoke control
systems, hazard and water supply analysis, hazardous material classifications,
installation requirements, and maintenance procedures
ii. Requisite Skills – The ability to read and interpret building plans, conduct site survey,
interpret system performance reports, analytical and problem solving, attention to
detail, and interpersonal and communication skills
F. Identify the key components that must be integrated to minimize risk and loss to prevent
injuries and death from fire, electrical, and other hazards, given facility access,
documentation of building features and systems, complete plan sets, applicable codes and
standards, and safety guidelines, so that the facility meets or exceeds fire code and life
safety requirements and ensures occupants are informed of safety guidelines.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Fire protection principles, fire and electrical safety, applicable
codes and standards, and hazard identification
ii. Requisite Skills – The ability to read and interpret building plans, analytical and
problem-solving skills, and interpersonal and communication skills
G. Provide recommendations, progress oversight, coordinate, and prioritize work as it relates
to other areas of construction for resolution of issues encountered during implementation
of fire protection and life safety system designs, given complete construction design
documents, project schedules, team members and contact information, and job site access,
so that systems are coordinated successfully.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Applicable codes and standards, building features, systems
criteria design and layout, site conditions and phase, construction processes, best
practices, fire protection and life safety systems
ii. Requisite Skills – The ability to read and interpret building plans, analytical and
problem-solving skills, and interpersonal and communication skills
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©2023 NFPA
Certified Fire Protection Specialist
II. Information and Analysis for Fire Protection and Fire Science 9%
A. Perform fire loss investigations, given AHJ requirements, organizational policies and
procedures, source of origin, building plans if needed, historical and current fire data, fire
dynamics, and fire load, so that the damage caused by the fire is determined.
i. Requisite Knowledge – AHJ requirements, fire analysis, scientific methodology, fire
dynamics, building construction, investigative methods best practices
ii. Requisite Skills – The ability to read and interpret building plans and data, determine
fire load, documentation, recordkeeping, and interpersonal and communication skills
B. Perform fire analysis to determine the proper size design fire and the fire’s impact on
occupants within the building, given AHJ requirements, building plans if needed, fire load,
organizational policies and procedures, fire incident data and statistics, so that the cause of
the fire is determined and recorded for historical purpose or the expected outcome is
predicted, and the building is safe during evacuation.
i. Requisite Knowledge – AHJ requirements, organizational policies and procedure, fire
analysis best practices, heat transfer, building construction, current trends in fire
hazards, communication strategies, and other building-related life safety protocols,
design and code analyses, heat release rate, flame spread, and smoke development
ii. Requisite Skills – The ability to read and interpret building plans and data, determine
fire load, perform calculations, recordkeeping skills, and interpersonal and
communication skills
C. Perform fire protection calculations, given AHJ requirements, building plans, hazard
classification, water source data, occupant load, and egress capacities, so that a safe
environment is created to protect occupants and property.
i. Requisite Knowledge – AHJ requirements, building construction, hydraulics and
hazards analysis, and human factors during fire
ii. Requisite Skills – The ability to read and interpret building plans, perform calculations,
and interpersonal and communication skills
D. Estimate conditions during the pre-flashover fire growth phase of a compartment fire, given
AHJ requirements, building plans, fire load, fire loss data, and fire dynamics, so that the
occupants may safely exit the building prior to a flashover occurring.
i. Requisite Knowledge – AHJ requirements, fire analysis best practices, heat transfer,
egress calculations, human behavior, and building construction
ii. Requisite Skills – The ability to read and interpret building plans and fire loss data,
perform calculations, and interpersonal and communication skills
E. Conduct job safety analyses for jobs/tasks within various industry settings as they relate to
fire hazards, given AHJ requirements, industrial processes, job/task descriptions,
organizational policies and procedures, and fire behavior associated with industrial
processes, so that all proper procedures are known and followed by company personnel.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Fire protection and life safety best practice, AHJ requirements,
industrial processes, and fire behavior
ii. Requisite Skills – The ability to perform safety analysis and calculations, and
interpersonal and communication skills
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©2023 NFPA
Certified Fire Protection Specialist
ii. Requisite Skills – Research and analytical skills, and interpersonal and communication
skills
B. Conduct organizational training needs assessment and provide training on fire hazards to
address skills and/or knowledge gaps, given the applicable codes and standards, so that a
well-trained workforce is established within the organization.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Life safety code consulting, fire protection design, fire alarm,
mass notification and smoke control design, hazardous materials consulting, system
commissioning services, performance-based solution development, health, safety, fire
prevention, loss control, environmental protection, and applicable codes and
standards
ii. Requisite Skills – Research and analytical skills, training program development, and
interpersonal and communication skills
C. Resolve problems by performing field investigations, research, detailed design work, and/or
detailed review of design computations done by others, given the applicable codes and
standards, so that design problems with fire protection systems can be rectified and systems
can perform as intended.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Various fire protection systems, applicable policies, procedures,
and codes and standards
ii. Requisite Skills – Research, investigative, inspection and observational skills, fire
protection design, and interpersonal and communication skills
D. Perform fire protection and life safety program audits to continuously check and improve
fire safety and environmental performance, working cross-functionally with the appropriate
and affected teams, given applicable policies, procedures, codes, and standards, as-built
plans, and program records, so that proper mitigation of fire risk is achieved.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Fire protection and life safety programs, and applicable policies,
procedures, codes, and standards
ii. Requisite Skills – Access, input, and retrieve data contained in the computer system,
research and analytical skills, read and interpret plan documents, and interpersonal
and communication skills
E. Inform management of current fire safety and environmental performance, potential
hazards, serious loss incidents, regulatory inquiries and changes to guidelines affecting
safety and/or environmental policies and procedures, given the incident reports, applicable
codes and standards, safety and environmental policies and procedures, so that the
management remains informed in order to remain in compliance.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Applicable policies, procedures, codes, and standards, safety
and environmental policies and procedures, incident reports, and potential hazards
ii. Requisite Skills – Research and analytical skills, and interpersonal and communication
skills
F. Test, research, and recommend new tools, systems, and equipment, and ensure compliance
with technical specifications as it relates to fire and life safety hazards, given applicable
policies, procedures, and fire and life safety standards, and instructional and operational
manuals, so that new tools, systems, and equipment can be properly vetted prior to being
adopted by the organization.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Applicable policies, procedures, codes, and standards, tools,
systems, and equipment, testing methodology, intended outcome of new tool usage,
and organizational purchasing policies and procedures
ii. Requisite Skills – The ability to use tools, systems, or equipment, manage organization
test groups, research and analytical skills, and interpersonal and communication skills
G. Identify the fire hazards and hazard mitigation principles associated with the various
processes given process procedures, organizational safety and procedure policies, and
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©2023 NFPA
Certified Fire Protection Specialist
governing laws, codes, or standards, so that the appropriate hazard mitigation methods can
be employed.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Process and response procedures, organizational safety and
procedure policies, governing laws, applicable codes and standards, fire and hazard
mitigation standards, and industry best practices
ii. Requisite Skills – The ability to read and interpret the safety data sheet (SDS), research
and analytical skills, and interpersonal and communication skills
H. Ensure best practices associated with material storage, handling, and housekeeping
principles are followed, given applicable codes and standards governing material storage,
handling, and housekeeping practices, so that materials are stored safely and in compliance
to mitigate hazards associated with storage.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Process and response procedures, applicable codes and
standards, organizational safety and procedure policies, governing laws, fire and
hazard mitigation standards, industry best practice, and storage and handling of hazard
materials
ii. Requisite Skills – The ability to read and interpret the safety data sheet (SDS), research,
observational, and analytical skills, ability to identify flammable, explosive, or other
high hazard materials, and interpersonal and communication skills
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©2023 NFPA
Certified Fire Protection Specialist
requirements, so that structured and compliant pre-emergency plans for applicable public
and private enterprises are available.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Pre-emergency planning specifications and standards,
jurisdictional policies and procedures, fire pattern analysis, fire dynamics, building
construction, and AHJ requirements
ii. Requisite Skills – The ability to review and enhance pre-emergency plans, read and
interpret plan sets, analytical skills, and interpersonal and communication skills
B. Develop, implement, and operate an Incident Command System (ICS), given accepted
structures for incident command and AHJ requirements so that the ICS is effective and
compliant.
i. Requisite Knowledge – ICS standards, AHJ requirements, and a comprehensive
understanding of public and private fire brigades
ii. Requisite Skills – The ability to review and enhance ICSs, analytical skills, training
program development, command capabilities, and interpersonal and communication
skills
C. Enforce fire prevention operations and applicable fire codes, given applicable fire codes,
standards, and best practice, so that there is a reduction in loss from fire.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Fire prevention best practice, applicable fire codes, AHJ
requirements, and enforcement protocols and best practice
ii. Requisite Skills – Analytical skills and interpersonal and communication skills
D. Review and implement an effective fire and emergency service training methodology, given
any existing training system, applicable training standards, best practice, and AHJ
requirements, so that all departmental personnel are able to meet the job performance
requirements outlined in the codes and standards for their given position.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Emergency services training methods, AHJ requirements, and
best practice
ii. Requisite Skills – Training program development, analytical skills, and interpersonal
and communication skills
E. Ensure agencies providing fire and emergency services meet applicable AHJ codes and
standards requirements, given best-practice organizational structures and AHJ
requirements, so that the optimized coordination of emergency response agencies is in
accordance with AHJ requirements and recognized best practice.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Applicable organizational structures, agencies, legal
frameworks, and AHJ requirements
ii. Requisite Skills – Research and analytical skills, and interpersonal and communication
skills
F. Explain and demonstrate the use and function of fire and emergency services protective
clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE), given usage requirements and applicable
standards, so that PPE implementation is in accordance with AHJ requirements and best
practice.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Types and functions of relevant PPE, PPE standards, AHJ
requirements, PPE best practice, and AHJ requirements
ii. Requisite Skills – Training program development, analytical skills, and interpersonal
and communication skills
G. Evaluate fire department resources and their placement, given existing resource
specifications and locations, applicable codes and standards, and AHJ requirements, so that
departments meet the applicable codes and standards required, and the needs of the
community being served.
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©2023 NFPA
Certified Fire Protection Specialist
i. Requisite Knowledge – Existing resource specifications and locations, applicable codes
and standards, research of fire department resource, geographic information systems,
and AHJ requirements
ii. Requisite Skills – The ability to use geographic information systems, research and
analytical skills, and interpersonal and communication skills
H. Research, develop, manage, and present fire and life safety education for the public, given
applicable standards and AHJ requirements, so that implementation of community programs
is effective.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Fire and life safety education, disaster preparedness, fall and
fire prevention education, ongoing public and private school education programs (fire
safe house and Fire Prevention WeekTM), fire extinguisher classes, general fire safety,
evacuation plans, fire drills, and AHJ requirements
ii. Requisite Skills – Training program development, research and analytical skills, and
interpersonal and communication skills
I. Review and make recommendations to fire departments on response tactics and
procedures, given applicable standards and AHJ requirements, so that the fire department
protocols are optimized for existing scenarios and emerging hazards.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Existing response tactics, emerging hazards, industry best
practices, applicable standards, AHJ requirements, and municipality capabilities and
exposures
ii. Requisite Skills – Training program development, research and analytical skills, and
interpersonal and communication skills
J. Perform technical support for fire protection engineering services, given an understanding of
the applicable hazards, standards, and AHJ requirements, so that an effective and
compliance support for fire protection engineering is delivered.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Life safety code consulting, fire protection design, fire
alarm/mass notification design, smoke control design, hazardous materials consulting,
system commissioning services, and performance-based solution development
ii. Requisite Skills – Training program development, research and analytical skills, and
interpersonal and communication skills
K. Conduct evaluations and provide support for fire and life safety education, given applicable
standards and AHJ requirements, so that effective implementation of community programs
is sustained.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Fire and life safety education, disaster preparedness, fall and
fire prevention education for older adults, ongoing public and private school education
programs (fire safe house and Fire Prevention WeekTM), fire extinguisher classes,
general fire safety, evacuation plans, fire drills, and AHJ requirements
ii. Requisite Skills – Training program development, research and analytical skills, and
interpersonal and communication skills
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©2023 NFPA
Certified Fire Protection Specialist
ii. Requisite Skills – Training program development, and interpersonal and
communication skills
B. Apply life safety, loss prevention, and technical codes and standards as they relate to fire
alarm, detection, and notification systems, given architectural, schematic, and technical
drawings and documentation related to building systems, and AHJ requirements, so that fire
detection and alarm systems are designed, installed, and maintained to comply with all local
and best practice life safety requirements.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Mass notification systems, emergency voice alarm
communication systems, Emergency Responder Radio Coverage (ERRC) systems,
International Building and Fire Codes (IBC/IFC), NFPA codes and standards, AHJ
requirements, fire and life safety best practices, and fire detection and alarm systems
ii. Requisite Skills – The ability to read and interpret architectural, schematic, and
technical drawings and documentation, apply appropriate codes and standards,
training program development, and interpersonal and communication skills
C. Perform inspections and testing on fire alarm, detection, and notification system design,
plans, installation, troubleshooting, and restoration activities, given architectural drawings
of building proper, schematics and technical information related to building systems,
applicable codes and standards, AHJ requirements, best practices, and emerging
technologies, so that the systems in a facility are designed, installed, maintained, and
inspected according to the appropriate codes, standards, and AHJ requirements.
i. Requisite Knowledge – AHJ requirements, applicable codes and standards, best
practices, fire detection and alarm systems, and emerging technology
ii. Requisite Skills – The ability to perform inspections, testing, commissioning, and
maintenance of new and existing installed fire alarm systems, read and interpret
architectural, schematic, and technical drawings and documentation, perform
troubleshooting and restoration activities, training program development, and
interpersonal and communication skills
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©2023 NFPA
Certified Fire Protection Specialist
H. Apply knowledge of and be able to demonstrate the fundamental and operational
characteristics of automatic sprinklers, fire pumps, elevators, ventilation, and special hazard
suppression systems relating to fire protection systems design and operation, given
applicable codes and standards, so that building owners and occupants are familiar with
automatic sprinklers, special hazard extinguishing systems, fire pumps, elevators, and
ventilation systems within the facility.
i. Requisite Knowledge – Fundamental design criteria, applicable codes and standards,
emerging technology, and testing equipment related to automatic sprinklers, special
hazards, fire pumps, elevators, and ventilation systems
ii. Requisite Skills – Training program development, and interpersonal and
communication skills
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©2023 NFPA