CHANTILLY, Va. – In February 2023, the Commission on Professional Credentialing® (CPC®) surpassed 3,000 credentialed professionals. At 3,063 designations, this is the highest number of credentialed professionals CPC has ever awarded. Formed in 2000 to award designation to fire and emergency service professionals worldwide, today CPC, along with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International® (CFAI®) operate within the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE).
“This tremendous achievement is the direct result of the dedication of CPC designees, commissioners, and volunteers,” commented CPSE Board President Mary Cameli, CFO, Fire Chief, Mesa Fire and Medical, Arizona. “Being a CPC designee myself, I appreciate how thorough and rewarding the process is. It’s an honor to be among such dedicated professionals as we celebrate this historic milestone.”
From its inception, CPSE has valued having a diversity of stakeholder involvement, including company and chief officers, labor, city/county management, standard development organizations, insurance, and the federal government on our board and commissions.
The mission of CPSE to lead the fire and emergency services to excellence through the continuous quality improvement process of accreditation, credentialing, and education is carried out in large part by a multitude of dedicated volunteers. Thousands of individuals over the last 23 years have contributed to this milestone achievement by establishing the CPC designation process, developing six designations, and serving as CPC commissioners, peer reviewers, and mentors.
“To reach 3,000 designees is a momentous occasion for the CPC. If it were not for the individuals believing in the process to become designated and the dedicated volunteer peer reviewers this historic achievement would not have been accomplished. This significant goal could not have been reached without the immeasurable hours put in by the volunteer peer reviewers and mentors” shared CPC Chair Toni Washington, CFO, Fire Chief of the Decatur (GA) Fire Department. “The individuals that make up the volunteer cadre are instrumental in making the CPC process successful. I would like to offer my heartfelt thank you to all who volunteer to ensure continuous quality improvement for those individuals who support the CPC process.”
CPC Credentialing is a professional designation model that recognizes career excellence and offers strategies for continuous personal improvement. The Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC) offers six distinct designations covering the various levels and specialties of individuals. CPC provides an application process that individuals use to develop their portfolio, training and support while developing their portfolio, and access to experienced peer reviewers.
“Individuals that engage in continuous improvement efforts like seeking a professional credential are to be commended for approaching their work in an introspective and progressive manner”, highlighted CPSE Chief Executive Officer Preet Bassi. “Individuals that remain designated and commit to continual growth and enjoy a full and successful career.”
In 2000, the Commission on Chief Fire Officer Designation (CFOD) was established to credential fire and emergency service officers and in 2006, as part of an organizational restructure, CFOD was renamed the Commission on Professional Credentialing. Between 2008 and 2012, CPC would add four additional designations: Chief Emergency Medical Services Officer (CEMSO), Chief Training Officer (CTO), Fire Marshal (FM), Fire Officer (FO). In 2022, CPC launched the Public Information Officer (PIO) designation. Also in 2022, CPC updated the technical competencies for all designations and added three new critical areas exceeding the requirements of other industry standards. Data and Analysis, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Mental and Behavioral Health are essential competencies for today’s fire service professional.
CPC designees work in many arenas such as (fire and EMS, law enforcement, emergency management, private sector, local, state, federal, and tribal governments, universities) and throughout the world with designees residing in the United States, Canada, Germany, Guam Italy, Japan, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, and United Kingdom.
“One thing that all of these designees have in common is the satisfaction of self-improvement and moving the needle of excellence forward,” commented CPC Program Manager Mike Higgins, CFO, CTO and CEMSO. “These individuals have proven that continuous improvement for professional credentialing can be accomplished with hard work and dedication.”
About CPSE
The Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) is a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) corporation. CPSE helps high-performing fire departments and emergency services professionals in their efforts to continuously improve. We do that in three main ways: Fire department accreditation, a process in which departments undergo a thorough self-assessment focused on identifying strengths and areas for improvement, Credentialing fire and emergency services professionals,
instilling the principles of life-long learning and self-accountability and helping them grow and plan for a successful career and Education programs offering individuals and departments the information they need to expand their knowledge and capabilities, and stay on the forefront of the profession. Learn more at www.cpse.org.
