FAQ's > Qualifications

What effect does the IFPM Standard have on the GS-0301 series?

It is the intention of the Fire Directors that the GS-0301 will be replaced with the GS-0401 FIRE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST. Those positions will be reviewed by Fire Managers and HR.

When jobs are being advertised as technician series such as GS-0462 or GS-0455, is education a requirement?

No, there are no positive educational requirements for the GS-0455 or GS-0462.

Now that we can advertise positions cuncurrently under the technical and professional vacancy announcements, will you develop new position descriptions in the technician series for positions in which we only have a GS-0401 position description, traditionally?

No new technical position descriptions will be developed without direction from the Agency Fire Directors.

Under what circumstances is a key fire management position advertised concurrently as a professional and technical fire position?

The white paper allows for the advertising of vacant or newly created key fire management positions determined to be professional (GS-0401 FIRE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST) in separate announcements as both professional (GS-0401 FIRE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST) and technical (GS-0455, GS-0462). Positions should only be advertised this way when it is anticipated that it will be difficult to fill as a GS-0401 FIRE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST and was previously filled as a technician position. No new technical position descriptions will be developed when the position has been determined to be professional at the GS-11 and above.

How long does an employee have to meet the IFPM Standard, when we hired him/her as a technician under the concurrent vacancy announcement option?

Employees will have until October 1, 2009 to meet the IFPM qualifications.

Can we noncompetitively place an incumbent GS-0462 into a GS-0401 Fire Management Specialist at the same grade level if there position requires reclassification?

Yes, if the employee meets the IFPM Qualification Standard

What does the term "Highly Qualified Candidate" found in the IFPM White Paper mean?

Refer to your Agency Merit Promotion Plan

If a current GS-0401 FIRE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST series employee is due a career promotion, and they do not qualify under the IFPM Standard, do they receive their promotion on time or does it have to wait until they meet all qualification requirements under the IFPM?

As they meet the qualifications of the original appointment or vacancy, they should be promoted as long as their performance is acceptable and they meet time-in-grade. They must follow the same developmental processes as other incumbents affected by the IFPM Standard

If a position is only advertised as a GS-0401 Fire Management Specialist, can an individual be selected who does not meet the qualifications but is enrolled in courses that will meet the positive education requirement within 12-18 months?

No. The employee must meet all the OPM requirements at the time of hire, including the positive education and specialized experience.

Can personnel use a selective factor that has not been made available to the applicant?

The Operating Manual for Qualification Standard states, “It is essential that any selective factors used in filling a particular vacancy be included in the vacancy announcement”. In addition, it states that a selective factor can not be used if it were not made knows to the applicants.

If I am currently qualified as a GS-0401 Fire Management Specialist, do I have to be re-evaluated?

Qualifications of employees occupying key fire management positions will be reviewed to ensure they meet the qualification requirements outlined in the IFPM standard.

What happens if I can't meet the red card requirements for my current position?

You will not be placed into one of the identified IFPM positions if you are applying for a vacancy. If you are already in one of the positions, you will have until October 1, 2009 to obtain NWCG Incident Management Qualifications.