Virginia Fire Marshal Academy

VFMA School Schedule 2026

To register for any of the courses below, please find the course in Cornerstone OnDemand. Please be sure to review the course details when registering as there may be additional requirements beyond registering in Cornerstone OnDemand.

• This 80-hour course provides basic instruction in the minimum knowledge and skills required to conduct fire inspections, as defined by NFPA 1030, Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Inspector and Plan Examiner, Code of Virginia, and the Virginia Administrative Code.
  This course meets the Job Performance Requirements (JPRs) of the NFPA 1030 standard for Fire Inspector Levels I and II. This course meets the training requirements specified in Code of Virginia § 27-34.2 and the Virginia Certification Standards as specified in the Statewide Fire Prevention Code. The course meets over two consecutive weeks (Monday – Friday).
  Certification Requirements: Students must complete written and practical skills testing, homework assignments and participate in all practical exercises/activities.
  
  
  Prerequisites: None, but a priority system is in place. Those individuals in the public sector with the statutory charge of fire inspections are given priority.
  Text: 2021 Virginia Statewide Construction Code, 2021 Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code, and Fire Prevention Inspection and Code Enforcement, 5th Edition, by David Diamantes and A. Maurice Jones, Jr.
  
  
  Hours: 80 hours
  
  
  2026 Offerings:
  
  • January 26 - February 6 (Division 5 - City of Suffolk)
  • June 8 - June 19 (Division 3 - City of Lynchburg)
  • August 17 - August 28 (Division 1 - VA Public Safety Training Center)
  • November 30 - December 11 (Division 7 - Prince William County)
• This 120-hour course consists of lecture, practical, and web-based on demand training and provides instruction in the minimum knowledge and skills required to conduct fire origin and cause investigations, as defined by NFPA 1033, Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator, Code of Virginia, and the Virginia Administrative Code.
  
  Upon completion of this course, students will be able to conduct simple fire investigations and assist in more complex scene investigations. The course meets over three consecutive weeks (Monday – Friday).  
  Testing: Students must successfully complete written and practical skills testing. Details of the testing process will be provided on the first day of class.  
   
  Texts: NFPA 921 (2024 ed), NFPA 1033 (2022 ed), and Jones and Bartlett Fire Investigator: Principals and Practices (6th ed)  
   
  Required Equipment: A full list of required equipment will be provided in your registration letter.
   
  Hours: 120 hours 
   
  2026 Offerings: 
  • March 9 - March 27 (Division 6 - City of Roanoke)
  • April 27 - May 15 (Division 3 - City of Charlottesville)
  • September 14 - October 2 (Division 7 - Fairfax County)
  • October 26 - November 13 (Division 5 - TBD)
• The Virginia Fire Marshal Academy Basic Law Enforcement School is a 14-week, 560-hour, Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services compliant basic law enforcement academy.  
  
  
  The course curriculum covers all mandatory minimum compulsory training outcomes for law enforcement officers listed in the DCJS training manual. The program consists of classroom instruction, field training exercises, practical skills evaluations, weekly quizzes, written tests and a comprehensive final written examination.  
  
  Topics covered include, but are not limited to: Ethics, Conflict Resolution and Situational De-escalation, Domestic Violence, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Basic and Tactical Firearms, Defensive Tactics and Control Techniques, Emergency Vehicle Operation, Active Shooter Response, Interview and Interrogation, and many others. 
  
  Upon completion of the basic law enforcement school and field training, the law enforcement fire marshal will be fully prepared to embark on their new careers as fully sworn, law enforcement fire marshal investigators.  
  
  Prerequisites: NFPA 1033 Fire Investigator 1033 
  
  Equipment: A detailed list of equipment will be provided to confirmed students. 
  
  Hours: Approx. 560 hours 
  
  Not offered in 2026. Sites are being evaluated for the next offering, which will be February 15, 2027 – May 21, 2027.

Continuing Education Requirements

The information below outlines and provides direction on the continuing education requirements and submittal process for the listed certifications.

Please refer to this information when determining the continuing education requirements for the specific certificate(s} you hold. Pay particular attention to the records management and/or submittal process for each certificate as they may differ from each other.

• Compliance

  VDFP, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), has the authority to design, establish and maintain the required courses of instruction.

  Maintenance

  Continuing education requirements shall be tracked, documented, and maintained by the individual and the AHJ. Furthermore, documented compliance with the continuing education requirements should be uploaded within the Cornerstone OnDemand for individual record retention, which is available for viewing through each user profile. A minimum of 16 hours of continuing education shall be obtained every 24 months.

  Courses must be approved by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) Virginia Fire Marshal Academy (VFMA) using the following process

  1. Complete the online Continuing Education Request Form.
  2. The VFMA will assign a Cornerstone on Demand Session (CSOD) Number and respond to you via email within three business days.
  3. Upon completion of the course, email the completed roster and any additional documentation to the VFMA (FMA@vdfp.virginia).

  NOTE: The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) nor the VA Building Code Academy (VBCA) collects or maintains training records required for 1031. If you do not hold a DHCD issued certification do not send your 1031 hours to DHCD.

• Compliance

  VDFP, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), has the authority to design, establish and maintain the required courses of instruction.

  Maintenance

  A minimum of 40 hours of continuing education shall be obtained every 24 months from the date of certification. Continuing education requirements shall be tracked, documented, and maintained by the individual and the AHJ. Furthermore, documented compliance with the continuing education requirements should be uploaded within the Cornerstone OnDemand for individual record retention, which is available for viewing through each user profile.

  Accordingly, NFPA 1033 mandates that the fire investigator remain current in a variety of subject areas, including, but not limited to:

  • Acts of the Virginia General Assembly/ Legal Update
  • Laws of Arrest
  • Juvenile/Domestic Relations
  • Search and Seizure
  • Evidence Collection/Storage
  • Fire Science
  • Fire Chemistry
  • Thermodynamics/Thermometry
  • Fire Dynamics/Modeling
  • Explosion Dynamics
  • Fire Investigation Methodology
  • Fire Analysis
  • Hazardous Materials

  Additional topics are available to localities to meet or exceed the minimum requirements. Courses must be approved by the VDFP VFMA using the following process:

  1. Complete the online Continuing Education Request Form.
  2. The VFMA will assign a Cornerstone on Demand Session (CSOD) Number and respond to you via email within three business days.
  3. Upon completion of the course, email the completed roster and any additional documentation to the VFMA (FMA@vdfp.virginia.gov)

  Reciprocity

  The VDFP will continue to assist agencies with obtaining reciprocity for individuals that have PROBOARD or IFSAC Fire Inspector and/or Fire Investigator certifications. Refer to the VDFP reciprocity policy.

• Compliance & Maintenance

  Firearms qualification and requalification requirements shall be established by the AHJ and, after qualification through the VFMA, requalification should be consistent with DCJS requirements. A minimum of 40 hours of continuing education shall be obtained every 24 months from the date of certification that meets or exceeds the 6VAC20-30-30 compulsory in-service training standards.

  Reciprocity

  The AHJ has the authority to determine reciprocity requirements and standards.

  Reference Legislation

  27-34.2. Power to arrest, to procure and serve warrants and to issue summons; limitation authority.

  27-34.2.1: Police powers of fire marshals.

• Compliance

  The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) requires continuing education (CE) as a component of maintaining compliance with state regulations and VA Certification Standard relative for all DHCD issued certifications including the DHCD issued Fire Prevention Inspector certification. All regulatory requirements, compliance, and verification are conducted by the Jack A. Proctor Virginia Building Code Academy (VBCA).

  Maintenance

  Compliance for adhering to continuing education requirements shall be tracked, documented, and maintained by the individual. Furthermore, documented compliance with the continuing education requirements must be submitted, per the DHCD Continuing Education Policy, through the VBCA Online Registration System which houses all training and certification records relative to DHCD certifications only.

  A minimum of 16 hours of continuing education shall be obtained every two years, in accordance with DHCD Continuing Education Policy. Refer to the "Acceptable Programs, Courses, and Activities" section for further guidance.

  NOTE: The DHCD continuing education requirement is separate from the 1031 continuing education and ONLY applies if you hold the DHCD issued certificate.

  NOTE: Neither the DHCD or VBCA tracks or maintains continuing education records specifically required for 1031. The only cross over is that the DHCD certificate holder may use training hours collected for 1031 compliance towards the DHCD requirement as well.

  
  1. Log into the VBCA Online Registration System user profile to access the electronic CE application.

  2. Complete the DHCD Continuing Education Application for Certified Code Officials and Technical Assistants form and follow submission instructions.

  3. All training hours are due May 1 of either the even or odd year based on certificate holder's last name. Refer to the DHCD Continuing Education Policy for additional information.

  For questions or assistance with submitting continuing education hours required for the DHCD issued Fire Prevention Inspector certification contact the VBCA office at vbca@dhcd.virginia.gov.