Fire Investigator
- Basic Fire Investigator
- Intermediate Fire Investigator
- Advanced Fire Investigator
- Master Fire Investigator
BEFORE APPLYING
Your FIDO account will only display eligibility for certification once you have met ALL requirements for a specific discipline/level.
If you have ever tested with the commission or held certification, please do not create a new FIDO account if you are unable to log in. Contact the commission at 512-936-3838 for assistance.
Log into your FIDO account to check your current eligibility or to create an account.
REQUIREMENTS
To become certified in Basic Fire Investigator you must:
- Complete a commission approved Fire Investigator training program
- Qualify for and pass the Investigator exam; you must have an unexpired exam score on file to qualify for certification
- Complete the fingerprint-based background check by following the instructions found on Fast Pass. (if this is your first certification with TCFP)
- Apply and pay for certification. The quickest option is to pay with a credit card.
You may be exempt from the exam requirement if you have never been certified and hold an IFSAC seal or TEEX Proboard certificate.
IFSAC SEALS
If you hold an Investigator IFSAC seal from another jurisdiction, you do not have to take the commission's investigator exam.
Add this seal to your FIDO account by uploading a copy of each to the Submissions page, Register IFSAC Seal button.
TRAINING
Complete a commission-approved Investigator training program as outlined in Chapter 5 of the commission's Certification Curriculum Manual or document completion of the required college courses listed in 431.3(C).
View Chapter 5 (PDF) .
TESTING
Online Test Site Schedule
Check online testing sitesarrow_right_altRegional Testing Site Schedule
Check regional testing schedulearrow_right_altView Academy Examination Procedures here (PDF).
If your exam scores have expired, retesting is required to be eligible for certification (in addition to any other prerequisites). Contact the training and testing division of the commission at 512-936-3811 or testing@tcfp.texas.gov for more information.
If you have valid exam scores in FIDO, please continue to the next step.
BACKGROUND CHECK
All first-time applicants must make an appointment to be fingerprinted at an IdentoGo office. You must do this for TCFP, even if you have already completed this for another agency.
Complete the fingerprint-based background check by following the instructions found on FAST-Pass (PDF).
If you currently hold active certification with the commission, you are exempt from this requirement.
APPLY FOR CERTIFICATION
Step 1: Log into FIDO.
Step 2: Click on the Applications on the left menu.
Step 3: Click on the green Apply button (if it is not green, you are not eligible).
Step 3: Follow the instructions to create an invoice.
Step 4: Click on Invoices on the left menu
Step 5: Click the green Pay link on the far right of the screen.
Step 6: Follow the instructions on Texas.gov to enter credit card information for payment to have certificate issued immediately.
VIEW AND PRINT CERTIFICATE
Step 1: Log into FIDO
Step 2: Click Records on the left menu
Step 3: Click Certifications within the green bar
Step 4: Click Print next to the name of the certificate. This will open a PDF that can be downloaded and saved or printed. The commission does not mail hard copies of certificates.
APPLY FOR IFSAC SEALS
An IFSAC Seal is available in this discipline. Steps to apply are found here.
BEFORE APPLYING
Your FIDO account will only display eligibility for certification once you have met ALL requirements for a specific discipline/level.
If you have ever tested with the commission or held certification, please do not create a new FIDO account if you are unable to log in. Contact the commission at 512-936-3838 for assistance.
Log into your FIDO account to check your current eligibility or to create an account.
REQUIREMENTS
To become certified in Intermediate Fire Investigator you must:
- Hold Basic Investigator certification
- Have four (4) years of experience in fire protection
- Document completion of required professional development
- Apply and pay for certification. The quickest option is to pay with a credit card.
PREREQUISITES
Hold basic investigator certification.
Have four years of experience: Your FIDO account must display a minimum four (4) years of experience in your Service Time clock. Service time is defined as time employed while holding certification.
If you have time that is not documented in your account, you may submit TCFP form 16: Affidavit. This form and ALL required supporting documentation should be uploaded to FIDO on the Submissions page, Service Time Affidavits button.
TRAINING
Professional Development: You must document training completed from the commission approved A-list and B-list of courses or college credits in fire science to be eligible for upgrade.
• Option 1: Six college credits of fire science or fire technology (includes Fire Service, Emergency Medicine, Emergency Management, or Public Administration)
o Submit a scanned copy of an official transcript(s) documenting these credits through the Submissions page, Professional Development button in FIDO.
• Option 2: Two A-List courses or eight B-List courses; or one A-List course and four B-List courses
o Submit training through the Submissions page, Professional Development button in FIDO. You must submit one course at a time as you must identify the course exactly as it matches your completion certificate and is listed on the A or B list.
• Option 3: Three college credits meeting the requirements of Option 1, AND either one A-List course or four B-List courses.
Note: Training used for this certification level must be in addition to any training used previously. You cannot repeat a course or use a course of similar content towards this level, ex. you cannot use components of basic SFF (FFI, FFII, AWS, OPS) to upgrade SFF certification.
View A-list and B-list (PDF).
APPLY FOR CERTIFICATION
Step 1: Log into FIDO.
Step 2: Click on the Applications on the left menu.
Step 3: Click on the green Apply button (if it is not green, you are not eligible).
Step 3: Follow the instructions to create an invoice.
Step 4: Click on Invoices on the left menu
Step 5: Click the green Pay link on the far right of the screen.
Step 6: Follow the instructions on Texas.gov to enter credit card information for payment to have certificate issued immediately.
VIEW AND PRINT CERTIFICATE
Step 1: Log into FIDO
Step 2: Click Records on the left menu
Step 3: Click Certifications within the green bar
Step 4: Click Print next to the name of the certificate. This will open a PDF that can be downloaded and saved or printed. The commission does not mail hard copies of certificates.
BEFORE APPLYING
Your FIDO account will only display eligibility for certification once you have met ALL requirements for a specific discipline/level.
If you have ever tested with the commission or held certification, please do not create a new FIDO account if you are unable to log in. Contact the commission at 512-936-3838 for assistance.
Log into your FIDO account to check your current eligibility or to create an account.
REQUIREMENTS
To become certified in Advanced Fire Investigator you must:
- Hold Intermediate Investigator certification
- Have a minimum eight (8) years of experience in fire protection
- Document completion of required professional development
- Apply and pay for certification. The quickest option is to pay with a credit card.
PREREQUISITES
Hold intermediate investigator certification.
Have eight years of experience: Your FIDO account must display a minimum eight (8) years of experience in your Service Time clock. Service time is defined as time employed while holding certification.
If you have time that is not documented in your account, you may submit TCFP form 16: Affidavit. This form and ALL required supporting documentation should be uploaded to FIDO on the Submissions page, Service Time Affidavits button.
TRAINING
Professional Development: You must document training completed from the commission approved A-list and B-list of courses or college credits in fire science to be eligible for upgrade.
• Option 1: Six college credits of fire science or fire technology (includes Fire Service, Emergency Medicine, Emergency Management, or Public Administration)
o Submit a scanned copy of an official transcript(s) documenting these credits through the Submissions page, Professional Development button in FIDO.
• Option 2: Two A-List courses or eight B-List courses; or one A-List course and four B-List courses
o Submit training through the Submissions page, Professional Development button in FIDO. You must submit one course at a time as you must identify the course exactly as it matches your completion certificate and is listed on the A or B list.
• Option 3: Three college credits meeting the requirements of Option 1, AND either one A-List course or four B-List courses.
Note: Training used for this certification level must be in addition to any training used previously. You cannot repeat a course or use a course of similar content towards this level, ex. you cannot use components of basic SFF (FFI, FFII, AWS, OPS) to upgrade SFF certification.
View A-list and B-list (PDF).
APPLY FOR CERTIFICATION
Step 1: Log into FIDO.
Step 2: Click on the Applications on the left menu.
Step 3: Click on the green Apply button (if it is not green, you are not eligible).
Step 3: Follow the instructions to create an invoice.
Step 4: Click on Invoices on the left menu
Step 5: Click the green Pay link on the far right of the screen.
Step 6: Follow the instructions on Texas.gov to enter credit card information for payment to have certificate issued immediately.
VIEW AND PRINT CERTIFICATE
Step 1: Log into FIDO
Step 2: Click Records on the left menu
Step 3: Click Certifications within the green bar
Step 4: Click Print next to the name of the certificate. This will open a PDF that can be downloaded and saved or printed. The commission does not mail hard copies of certificates.
BEFORE APPLYING
Your FIDO account will only display eligibility for certification once you have met ALL requirements for a specific discipline/level.
If you have ever tested with the commission or held certification, please do not create a new FIDO account if you are unable to log in. Contact the commission at 512-936-3838 for assistance.
Log into your FIDO account to check your current eligibility or to create an account.
REQUIREMENTS
To become certified in Master Fire Investigator you must:
- Hold Advanced Investigator certification
- Have a minimum twelve (12) years of experience in fire protection
- Document completion of required professional development
- Apply and pay for certification. The quickest option is to pay with a credit card.
PREREQUISITES
Hold advanced investigator certification.
Have twelve years of experience: Your FIDO account must display a minimum twelve (12) years of experience in your Service Time clock. Service time is defined as time employed while holding certification.
If you have time that is not documented in your account, you may submit TCFP form 16: Affidavit. This form and ALL required supporting documentation should be uploaded to FIDO on the Submissions page, Service Time Affidavits button.
TRAINING
Professional Development: You must document completion of an associate degree or at least 60 college credits, which includes 18 college credits in fire science or criminal justice subjects to be eligible for certification.
• Submit a copy of an official transcript(s) documenting these credits through the Submissions page, Professional Development button in FIDO.
Note: If a college has given you credit for completing your basic academy training, you can apply them towards the 18 hours of fire science requirement ONLY at the master level.
APPLY FOR CERTIFICATION
Step 1: Log into FIDO.
Step 2: Click on the Applications on the left menu.
Step 3: Click on the green Apply button (if it is not green, you are not eligible).
Step 3: Follow the instructions to create an invoice.
Step 4: Click on Invoices on the left menu
Step 5: Click the green Pay link on the far right of the screen.
Step 6: Follow the instructions on Texas.gov to enter credit card information for payment to have certificate issued immediately.
VIEW AND PRINT CERTIFICATE
Step 1: Log into FIDO
Step 2: Click Records on the left menu
Step 3: Click Certifications within the green bar
Step 4: Click Print next to the name of the certificate. This will open a PDF that can be downloaded and saved or printed. The commission does not mail hard copies of certificates.
Need Help?
Contact the certification and professional development section at their main phone number (512) 936-3820.