April 1 - 4, 2025

The CPSE Excellence Conference brings the most inquisitive and progressive minds in the fire and emergency service together for three and a-half-days to advance agency accreditation, promote professional credentialing, and encourage continuous improvement. 
 
The theme of the 2025 conference is Igniting Innovation: Fueling the Future of the Fire and Emergency Service
  
What to Expect:
  
Education – Over 75 sessions to choose from covering the following topics: Accreditation, Credentialing, Leadership and Management, Innovation Through Technology, Health and Safety, and Community Risk Reduction.
  
Exhibit Hall – Explore products and services displayed by industry-relevant companies. 
  
Networking Opportunities – Make the most of your time at the Excellence Conference by connecting with like-minded professionals to learn from their successes and experiences improving their departments and themselves.
  
CFAI Hearings – Observe agencies presenting themselves for accreditation by the Commission. You’ll have the opportunity to listen to the deliberations of the Commission and the peer team leader present the recommendations and findings of the team. Observing the hearings is a great way to help you and your department prepare for future accreditation cycles. 
  
Location:  Caribe Royale, Orlando, 8101 World Center Drive, Orlando, FL 32821. Once registered, your confirmation email will include the hotel booking link. 

Registration Rates:

Additional information can be found on the CPSE website . 
   
The registration process has changed for the 2025 Excellence Conference. Registrations will be processed in CPSE University. In CPSE University, there is not a group registration option. If you need to register a group or someone other than yourself, please email university@cpse.org and provide the following information. 

• Email address for conference app (this email must be accessible while onsite at conference)
• Job Title
• First Name
• Last Name
• City
• State
• Organization/Company Name

All information is required to process the registration(s). Once the above information has been provided, the registrations will be processed, and an invoice will be emailed to you. If the email should go to an email address other than yours, please provide the email address and contact information for the correct billing contact. All registration requests must be emailed.
 

Registration Cancellation

All registration cancellation requests must be made in writing by 5:00 pm Eastern, Monday, March 17, 2025. A refund of all fees, minus a $75.00 processing fee, will be given for cancellations received by that date. No refunds will be granted after Monday, March 17, 2025. Submit all requests via email to university@cpse.org. Telephone cancellations will NOT be accepted.

Stay connected with the CPSE Excellence Conference on Facebook , X , and LinkedIn by following #CPSE2025EC.
  
For questions, contact the CPSE office at university@cpse.org  or 703-691-4620.

The purpose of this on-demand series is to orient the agency self-assessment to ensure that the community risk assessment is in alignment with Category 2 (Assessment and Planning) of the self-assessment model. The series is broken into four components which are congruent with the four criteria:

• Documentation of Area Characteristics
• Risk Assessment Methodology
• Current Deployment and Performance
• Plan for Maintaining and Improving Response Capabilities

You will have 14 days to complete the four-video series. Your 14-day access will start when you open the first video. 

Cancellation Policy: You may cancel prior to opening the first video, with a $25 processing fee. No substitutions are permitted.

In this webinar, CPSE Chief Executive Officer, Preet Bassi, CAE, will provide an overview of the importance fire and local government associations are placing on data and technology, how data informs department innovations, and recommended data and technology practices for fire departments.

In this webinar, Chief Amy Valdez, CFO, will provide an overview of Defining Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, Psychological Safety, Understanding Bias, Acts of Exclusion, Strategies for Inclusive Organizations, Inclusive Behaviors, and Inclusive Leadership. 

This on-demand course is designed to prepare students for becoming effective mentors in diverse settings. It covers the principles and practices of mentoring, the benefits and challenges of mentoring relationships, and the skills and strategies for fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in mentoring. Students will learn how to identify their own strengths and areas for improvement as mentors, how to establish rapport and trust with mentees, how to provide constructive feedback and support, and how to address issues of bias, discrimination, and conflict in mentoring. The course will also explore the ethical and professional responsibilities of mentors, as well as the best practices for evaluating and sustaining mentoring outcomes. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to apply their mentoring skills in various contexts, such as academic, professional, personal, and community settings. The course also provides an introduction to CPSE’s Credentialing Program.

You will have 60 days to complete the four-video series. Your 60-day access will start when you open the first video. 
 

Cancellation Policy: You may cancel prior to opening the first video, with a $25 processing fee. No substitutions are permitted.

Quality Improvement for the Fire and Emergency Services Workshop

Bernalillo County Fire & Rescue, Albuquerque, NM

March 10 – 12, 2025

This course features three full days of instruction to help agencies prepare for accreditation under the 10th edition of the CFAI® model. It covers the development of the three key documents, the Community Risk Assessment/Standards of Cover, Strategic Plan, and Self-Assessment Manual.

WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE:

• The Quality Improvement for the Fire and Emergency Services Publication & student workbook.
• 24 hours of instruction from experienced accreditation instructors.
• In-class exercises to reinforce key points of instruction.
• Introduction to online resources that will support your department’s accreditation efforts.
• Multiple opportunities to engage and network with your peers.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:

• The steps in the self-assessment process, from building a team to becoming an accredited agency.
• The key elements of the accreditation process:
  1. Creating planning zones for your response area.
  2. Establishing a risk assessment process.
  3. Applying the risk assessment process to your response area.
  4. Developing a critical tasking process.
  5. Determine needed resources for fire and non-fire risks.
  6. Assess current deployment practices and establish target performance goals.
  7. Develop response performance data.
  8. Key elements of a Strategic Plan.
  9. How to create a self-assessment manual.

COST:

Early Registration: $650 – ends February 10

Regular Registration: $675

Registration closes: February 28, or until full, whichever occurs first.

*Onsite registration is not permitted*

To register, you must have a CPSE Portal account. Go here to create an account.

To register a group, contact university@cpse.org.

WORKSHOP TIME: 0800-1700 Daily

ATTIRE: Business Casual

WORKSHOP LOCATION: 

Bernalillo County Public Safety Training Academy 

3801 Broadway Blvd SE 

Albuquerque, NM 87105

AIRPORT LOCATION:

Albuquerque International Sunport

HOST RECOMMENDED HOTEL INFORMATION:  

Hyatt Place Albuquerque Airport

1400 Sunport Place SE

Albuquerque, NM 87106

Website: Click here

Hampton Inn & Suites Albuquerque Airport

1300 Woodward Rd SE

Albuquerque, NM 87106

Website: Click here

HOST AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION:

Bernalillo County Fire & Rescue

(O) 505-468-7239

PRIMARY CONTACT:

Rochelle Ortolano, Captain

(O) 505-468-7995

rortolano@bernco.gov 

SECONDARY CONTACT:

Ezekiel Padilla, Division Chief

(O) 505-468-1346

epadilla@bernco.gov 

All registration cancellation and refund requests must be submitted via email to university@cpse.org no later than two weeks prior to the start of the class. A refund request is subject to a $25 processing fee. Telephone cancellations will not be accepted. 

A substitution of your full registration is permitted up to three days prior to the start of the class. After this time, NO substitutions are allowed. Requests for substitution must be submitted via email to university@cpse.org. 

CPSE regrets that refunds will not be given for no-shows.

For questions, contact the CPSE office at university@cpse.org or 703-691-4620.

Quality Improvement for the Fire and Emergency Services Workshop

Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services, Holly Springs, GA

January 22 – 24, 2025

This course features three full days of instruction to help agencies prepare for accreditation under the 10th edition of the CFAI® model. It covers the development of the three key documents, the Community Risk Assessment/Standards of Cover, Strategic Plan, and Self-Assessment Manual.

WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE:

• The Quality Improvement for the Fire and Emergency Services Publication & student workbook.
• 24 hours of instruction from experienced accreditation instructors.
• In-class exercises to reinforce key points of instruction.
• Introduction to online resources that will support your department’s accreditation efforts.
• Multiple opportunities to engage and network with your peers.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:

• The steps in the self-assessment process, from building a team to becoming an accredited agency.
• The key elements of the accreditation process:
  1. Creating planning zones for your response area.
  2. Establishing a risk assessment process.
  3. Applying the risk assessment process to your response area.
  4. Developing a critical tasking process.
  5. Determine needed resources for fire and non-fire risks.
  6. Assess current deployment practices and establish target performance goals.
  7. Develop response performance data.
  8. Key elements of a Strategic Plan.
  9. How to create a self-assessment manual.

COST:

Early Registration: $650 – ends December 25

Regular Registration: $675

Registration closes: January 10, or until full, whichever occurs first.

*Onsite registration is not permitted*

To register, you must have a CPSE Portal account. Go here to create an account.

To register a group, contact university@cpse.org.

WORKSHOP TIME: 0800-1700 Daily

ATTIRE: Business Casual

WORKSHOP LOCATION: 

CCFES Training Center

3985 Holly Springs Parkway

Holly Springs, GA 30115

AIRPORT LOCATION:

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

HOST RECOMMENDED HOTEL INFORMATION:  

Fairfield Inn & Suites Canton Riverstone Parkway

120 Reinhardt College Pkwy

Canton, GA 30114

Website: Group rate Click here

HOST AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION:

Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services

(O) 678-493-4000

PRIMARY CONTACT:

Katie Erwin, Accreditation Manager

(O) 678-493-4018

kjerwin@cherokeecountyga.gov 

SECONDARY CONTACT:

Cassidy Herrin, Administrative Assistant II

(O) 678-493-4005

cmherrin@cherokeecountyga.gov 

All registration cancellation and refund requests must be submitted via email to university@cpse.org no later than two weeks prior to the start of the class. A refund request is subject to a $25 processing fee. Telephone cancellations will not be accepted. 

A substitution of your full registration is permitted up to three days prior to the start of the class. After this time, NO substitutions are allowed. Requests for substitution must be submitted via email to university@cpse.org. 

CPSE regrets that refunds will not be given for no-shows.

For questions, contact the CPSE office at university@cpse.org or 703-691-4620.

Quality Improvement for the Fire and Emergency Services Workshop

Imperial County Fire Department, Heber, CA

February 11 – 13, 2025

This course features three full days of instruction to help agencies prepare for accreditation under the 10th edition of the CFAI® model. It covers the development of the three key documents, the Community Risk Assessment/Standards of Cover, Strategic Plan, and Self-Assessment Manual.

WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE:

• The Quality Improvement for the Fire and Emergency Services Publication & student workbook.
• 24 hours of instruction from experienced accreditation instructors.
• In-class exercises to reinforce key points of instruction.
• Introduction to online resources that will support your department’s accreditation efforts.
• Multiple opportunities to engage and network with your peers.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:

• The steps in the self-assessment process, from building a team to becoming an accredited agency.
• The key elements of the accreditation process:
  1. Creating planning zones for your response area.
  2. Establishing a risk assessment process.
  3. Applying the risk assessment process to your response area.
  4. Developing a critical tasking process.
  5. Determine needed resources for fire and non-fire risks.
  6. Assess current deployment practices and establish target performance goals.
  7. Develop response performance data.
  8. Key elements of a Strategic Plan.
  9. How to create a self-assessment manual.

COST:

Early Registration: $650 – ends January 14

Regular Registration: $675

Registration closes: February 1, or until full, whichever occurs first.

*Onsite registration is not permitted*

To register, you must have a CPSE Portal account. Go here to create an account.

To register a group, contact university@cpse.org.

WORKSHOP TIME: 0800-1700 Daily

ATTIRE: Business Casual

WORKSHOP LOCATION: 

Delfino P. Matus/Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

1078 S. Dogwood Road

Heber, CA 92249

AIRPORT LOCATION:

San Diego, CA or Yuma, AZ

HOST RECOMMENDED HOTEL INFORMATION:  

Hampton Inn El Centro

598 Wake Ave

El Centro, CA 92243

Website: Click here

Fairfield Inn & Suites El Centro

503 E Danenberg Dr

El Centro, CA 92243

Website: Click here

HOST AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION:

Imperial County Fire Department

(O) 442-265-6000

PRIMARY CONTACT:

David Lantzer, Fire Chief/OES Coordinator

(O) 442-265-6010

DavidLantzer@co.imperial.ca.us 

SECONDARY CONTACT:

Ana Zapata, Administrative Secretary

(O) 442-265-6028

AnaZapata@co.imperial.ca.us 

All registration cancellation and refund requests must be submitted via email to university@cpse.org no later than two weeks prior to the start of the class. A refund request is subject to a $25 processing fee. Telephone cancellations will not be accepted. 

A substitution of your full registration is permitted up to three days prior to the start of the class. After this time, NO substitutions are allowed. Requests for substitution must be submitted via email to university@cpse.org. 

CPSE regrets that refunds will not be given for no-shows.

For questions, contact the CPSE office at university@cpse.org or 703-691-4620.

Quality Improvement for the Fire and Emergency Services Workshop

Rockford Fire Department, Rockford, IL

March 4 – 6, 2025

This course features three full days of instruction to help agencies prepare for accreditation under the 10th edition of the CFAI® model. It covers the development of the three key documents, the Community Risk Assessment/Standards of Cover, Strategic Plan, and Self-Assessment Manual.

WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE:

• The Quality Improvement for the Fire and Emergency Services Publication & student workbook.
• 24 hours of instruction from experienced accreditation instructors.
• In-class exercises to reinforce key points of instruction.
• Introduction to online resources that will support your department’s accreditation efforts.
• Multiple opportunities to engage and network with your peers.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:

• The steps in the self-assessment process, from building a team to becoming an accredited agency.
• The key elements of the accreditation process:
  1. Creating planning zones for your response area.
  2. Establishing a risk assessment process.
  3. Applying the risk assessment process to your response area.
  4. Developing a critical tasking process.
  5. Determine needed resources for fire and non-fire risks.
  6. Assess current deployment practices and establish target performance goals.
  7. Develop response performance data.
  8. Key elements of a Strategic Plan.
  9. How to create a self-assessment manual.

COST:

Early Registration: $650 – ends February 4

Regular Registration: $675

Registration closes: February 22, or until full, whichever occurs first.

*Onsite registration is not permitted*

To register, you must have a CPSE Portal account. Go here to create an account.

To register a group, contact university@cpse.org.

WORKSHOP TIME: 0800-1700 Daily

ATTIRE: Business Casual

WORKSHOP LOCATION: 

Rockford Fire Department Headquarters

204 S 1st St

Rockford, IL 61104

AIRPORT LOCATION:

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

HOST RECOMMENDED HOTEL INFORMATION:  

Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront

416 S Main St

Rockford, IL 61101

Website: Click here

Hilton Garden Inn Rockford

7675 Walton St

Rockford, IL 61108

Website: Click here

HOST AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION:

Rockford Fire Department

(O) 779- 348-7171

PRIMARY CONTACT:

Rebecca Tyo, Fire Training Coordinator and Accreditation Manager

(O) 779-500-6535

rebecca.tyo@rockfordil.gov 

SECONDARY CONTACT:

Michele Pankow, Fire Chief

(O) 779-500-6526

michele.pankow@rockfordil.gov 

All registration cancellation and refund requests must be submitted via email to university@cpse.org no later than two weeks prior to the start of the class. A refund request is subject to a $25 processing fee. Telephone cancellations will not be accepted. 

A substitution of your full registration is permitted up to three days prior to the start of the class. After this time, NO substitutions are allowed. Requests for substitution must be submitted via email to university@cpse.org. 

CPSE regrets that refunds will not be given for no-shows.

For questions, contact the CPSE office at university@cpse.org or 703-691-4620.