OFFICIAL SCHOLARSHIP GUIDELINES | PLEASE READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION

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This scholarship will pay for the entire fee of an initial application for selected candidates with priority given to those whose department policy does not already pay for designations.

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The 2025 application season is open until November 30, 2025 and winners will be announced at Mid-Winter 2026.

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Applications will be completed online. Links to Applications are below.

 

Three scholarships will be awarded each year for the Fire Officer, Chief Fire Officer, Chief Training Officer, and Fire Marshal designations with a focus of providing one scholarship for each designation in each of the three regions (Western, Piedmont, Eastern).  The Fire Officer and Chief Fire Officer designation scholarship is funded by the North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs.  The Chief Training Officer designation is funded by the North Carolina Society of Fire Rescue Instructors.  The Fire Marshal designation is funded by the North Carolina Fire Marshals’ Association. 

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The Fire Officer (FO) designation scholarship is open to all Company Officer level who have supervisory responsibility and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs.  An applicant seeking the FO designation scholarship must be an active member of a fire/EMS organization. 

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The Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation scholarship is open to all Chief Officers, Battalion Chief and above, who are members of the North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs.  

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The Chief Training Officer (CTO) designation scholarship is open to administrators of training programs who are members of either the North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs and the North Carolina Society of Fire Rescue Instructors. 

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The Fire Marshal (FM) designation scholarship is open to fire marshals or fire prevention officers with management responsibilities who are members of the North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs and the North Carolina Fire Marshals’ Association. 
 

Designations must be completed and awarded within six months of the scholarship award in order to receive reimbursement for the designation fees.
 

Eligibility Requirements

 

• Candidate must have a minimum of 150 points (100 points for Fire Officer) in education and experience.

• Member of the association identified in the introduction

• Complete the four (4) components of the application outlined below

 

Component 1: Personal & Employment Information

• Personal information

• Employment information

  • Complete for current position only

  • Attach a current resume 

    • Resume should include employment for the last 10 years and training classes, professional memberships/affiliations, and community involvement for the last 5 years

  • Attach a copy of your college transcripts

  • Attach a copy of your certification certificates

  • Attach a detailed organizational chart verifying position within department

  • Attach a position description for current position.

• Demographic information - complete for current position only

 

Component 2: Personal Statement

• As an applicant for this designation, you must show that you will continue to grow personally and professionally.  In paragraph format, indicate your intended participation in courses, workshops, professional memberships/affiliations, and community involvement.  Also include how you would implement or address the Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives outlined below.

  • Fire Officer 

    • 1 - Define and advocate the need for a cultural change within the fire service related to safety

    • 2 - Enhance the personal and organizational accountability for health and safety throughout the fire service

    • 4 - All firefighters must be empowered to stop unsafe practices

  • Chief Fire Officer

    • 1 - Define and advocate the need for a cultural change within the fire service related to safety

    • 3 - Focus greater attention of the integration of risk management with incident management at all levels, including strategy, tactical, and planning responsibilities

    • 13 - Firefighters and their families must have access to counseling and psychological support

  • Chief Training Officer

    • 1 - Define and advocate the need for a cultural change within the fire service related to safety

    • 2 - Enhance the personal and organizational accountability for health and safety throughout the fire service

    • 5 - Develop and implement national standards for training, qualifications, and certification (including regular recertification) that are equally applicable to all firefighters based on the duties they are expected to perform

  • Fire Marshal

    • 1 - Define and advocate the need for a cultural change within the fire service related to safety

    • 14 - Public education must receive more resources and be championed as a critical fire and life safety program

    • 15 - Advocacy must be strengthened for the endorsement of code and the installation of home fire sprinklers

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Component 3: Statements

 

• Fire Chief Attestation Statement

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I, ___________________________________________ (applicant’s Fire Chief) do attest that the above information is true and complete to the best of my knowledge and I provide my statement of support for the applicant’s designation efforts. I certify that the department does/does not (circle one) pay for individual designations.

 

Fire Chief Signature:

Date:

 

• Certification Statement

 

 

I, ___________________________________________________  (Applicant) hereby certify that all statements made on this application are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that any false statements or documentation may subject me to disqualification or denial.

 

Applicant’s Signature:      

Date:      

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SELECT THE APPROPRIATE ICON BELOW TO COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION. 

For Questions, please contact Executive Director, Scott Burnette, at sburnette@ncafc.com.