Overview
The Fire and EMS Administrative Leadership Certificate is a practical 42 hour professional development program designed for Fire and EMS personnel moving into supervisory and administrative roles. As leaders progress in their careers, they are expected to manage budgets, oversee personnel processes, navigate HR requirements, and support the business operations of their agencies. Many do not receive formal training in these administrative responsibilities before they are promoted.
This certificate provides focused, real world preparation in the two areas Fire and EMS leaders consistently identify as their biggest administrative skill gaps: budgeting and finance and human resources in public safety. Through live-online instruction, scenarios, and applied assignments, participants learn the essential administrative skills needed to confidently support their agency’s operations, personnel, and resource planning.
The program is intentionally designed to be flexible, accessible, and grounded in the real challenges that public safety leaders face every day.
Additional Details
Why Should I Choose this Program?
Fire and EMS agencies are operating in an environment where staffing pressures, resource limitations, community expectations, compliance requirements, and personnel needs are becoming increasingly complex. As officers rise through the ranks, they often find themselves responsible for budgeting, HR processes, policy application, and administrative decision-making that they were never formally trained to handle.
The Fire and EMS Administrative Leadership Certificate was developed to meet these emerging needs. It provides practical, applied administrative training designed specifically for the realities of Fire and EMS leadership. Participants learn directly from experienced Fire, EMS, and municipal professionals who have performed these responsibilities in their own agencies.
All courses are offered online and the curriculum fills a critical training gap between frontline leadership programs and executive-level offerings by focusing on the “business side” of fire and EMS leadership.
This program prepares participants to manage budgets, personnel, evaluations, HR processes, policies, and department operations with confidence — the skills leaders need to support their teams and advance in their careers.
Who Should Attend?
This certificate is ideal for Fire and EMS professionals who are taking on administrative responsibilities or preparing for promotion, including:
- Company Officers
- Lieutenants and Captains
- Battalion Chiefs
- EMS Supervisors
- Administrative Captains and Division Leaders
- Training Officers and Program Coordinators
- Personnel responsible for budgeting, HR processes, recruitment, or retention, work
- Anyone preparing to move into a mid-level administrative or chief officer role
No prior Fire or EMS administrative training is required. The program is designed to meet leaders where they are and prepare them for increased administrative responsibility. It is open to students with or without prior participation in the Fire & Rescue Management Institute (FRMI) or the EMS Management Institute.
This certificate complements, rather than replaces, those programs by focusing specifically on the administrative and managerial skills required for mid-level and higher-level leadership roles.
Prerequisites
Program participants are required to have a high school diploma and two years of Fire & Rescue (volunteer or paid service) or EMS experience to enroll.
Attendance Requirements
What is the attendance expectation?
This is a live, interactive program, and attendance at all scheduled sessions is expected.
Can I miss a class if something comes up?
Absences are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. In most instances, we are only able to accommodate up to one missed live session in the full program due to extenuating circumstances. Email Program Director, Krystle Kunnathur (krystle.kunnathur@charlotte.edu) to discuss specific situations or ask any questions.
Does being on shift or responding to a call count as an exception?
No. Being on shift or responding to an emergency call is not considered an extenuating circumstance. Participants are expected to arrange shift coverage during scheduled class times.
Can I complete the program on my own time or watch recordings instead?
No. The program is not designed to be completed asynchronously or on a flexible schedule, and missed class time cannot be fully replicated.
What if I work for a smaller or volunteer department?
We recognize that arranging coverage may not always be feasible, and we understand this may limit participation for some departments. In the future, we hope to explore more flexible program options, but the current format does not allow for that.