The Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) has approved for release the latest Fire and Emergency Services Self-Assessment Model (FESSAM). The 11th Edition of the FESSAM was born out of those previously adopted Models and stands on the program’s effort to offer fire and emergency service agencies worldwide a plan for continuous improvement. Agencies preparing for peer review and the Commission’s award of accredited status should begin to prepare for the changes adopted in the new 11th Edition FESSAM by first listening to this 90-minute Significant Changes video. Hosted by CFAI Program Manager Jim White, CFO, and 11th Edition Project Manager Jerry Nulliner, CFO, the Significant Changes presentation walks step-by-step through all the notable changes found in the new 11th Edition FESSAM. We are encouraging everyone who is responsible for CFAI accreditation in their agencies to plan on listening to this in-depth look at the new FESSAM.

A digital copy of the new Quality Improvement for the Fire and Emergency Services, 2nd Edition, which will include the 11th Edition of the FESSAM, will be sent to you when available (anticipated publication date – Fall 2025).

You will have 14 days to complete the on-demand training. Your 14-day access will start when you open the video. 

Cancellation Policy: No cancellations or substitutions are permitted.

March 10-13, 2026

Registration Rates: 

Additional information can be found on the CPSE website. 

To register yourself, click here. To request a group registration and invoice, or to request registration and an invoice for yourself, click here. CPSE will no longer accept emails for group registration. Hotel information will be provided in your registration confirmation.

All registration cancellation and refund requests must be made in writing by 5:00 pm EST, Friday, February 27, 2026. A refund of all fees, minus a $75.00 processing fee, will be given for cancellations received by that date. Because CPSE has to guarantee numbers to the Caribe, NO refunds will be granted after Friday, February 27, 2026. Submit all requests via email to university@cpse.org. Telephone cancellations will NOT be accepted.

A substitution of your full registration is permitted prior to the conference by submitting a written request to university@cpse.org by 5:00 pm EST, Thursday, March 5, 2026. No substitutions are permitted on-site.

Stay connected with the CPSE Excellence Conference on Facebook and LinkedIn by following #CPSE2026EC.

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

We look forward to seeing you at the Excellence Conference!

This on demand webinar features an overview of the practical and operational importance of Annual Program Appraisals. While a requirement for accreditation compliance, this course also offers ways to address completing them as well as how to weave them into the culture of your agency. 

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

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

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 Community Experience Manager Kelly Martin, will provide an overview of Defining Community, Workplace, Inclusion and Belonging, Psychological Safety, Strategies for Inclusive Organizations, Inclusive Behaviors, and Inclusive Leadership.

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.

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

Bellevue Fire Department, Bellevue, WA

January 13 – 15, 2026

This course features three full days of instruction to help agencies prepare for accreditation under the 11th 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 16

Regular Registration: $675

Registration closes: January 2, 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: 

Bellevue City Hall

450 110th Ave NE

Bellevue, WA 98004

AIRPORT LOCATION:

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) or Everett (PAE)

HOST RECOMMENDED HOTEL INFORMATION:  

Hotel 116, A Coast Hotel

625 116th Ave NE

Bellevue, WA 98004

Website: Click here 

Courtyard Marriot

11010 NE 8th St

Bellevue, WA 98004

Website: Click here 

HOST AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION:

Bellevue Fire Department

PRIMARY CONTACT:

Doug Halbert, Deputy Chief

(O) 425-452-7872

dhalbert@bellevuewa.gov 

SECONDARY CONTACT:

Jeff Hackmeister, Accreditation Manager

(O) 425-452-4491

jhackmeister@bellevuewa.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

Greenville City Fire Department, Greenville, SC

February 4 – 6, 2026

This course features three full days of instruction to help agencies prepare for accreditation under the 11th 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 7

Regular Registration: $675

Registration closes: January 23, 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: 

City of Greenville Public Safety Complex

204 Halton Rd

Greenville, SC 29607

AIRPORT LOCATION:

Greenville / Spartanburg International (GSP)

HOST RECOMMENDED HOTEL INFORMATION:  

Hilton Greenville

45 West Orchard Park Drive

Greenville, SC 29615

Website: Click here 

Crowne Plaza Greenville by IHG

851 Congaree Rd 

Greenville, SC 29607

Website: Click here 

HOST AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION:

Greenville City Fire Department

PRIMARY CONTACT:

Christopher Bryant, Captain/Accreditation Manager

(O) 864-467-4283

cbryant@greenvillesc.gov 

SECONDARY CONTACT:

David Hindman, Division Chief of Operations

(O) 864-467-6637

dhindman@greenvillesc.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

Mount Dora Fire Department, Mount Dora, FL

March 24 – 26, 2026

This course features three full days of instruction to help agencies prepare for accreditation under the 11th 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 24

Regular Registration: $675

Registration closes: March 13, 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: 

Martin Luther King Center

803 Florida Ave.

Mount Dora, FL 32757

AIRPORT LOCATION:

Orlando International Airport (MCO)

HOST RECOMMENDED HOTEL INFORMATION:  

Hampton Inn Mount Dora

19700 US-441

Mt Dora, FL 32757

Website: Click here 

Comfort Inn & Suites Tavares North

1380 E Burleigh Blvd

Tavares, FL 32778

Website: Click here 

HOST AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION:

Mount Dora Fire Department

PRIMARY CONTACT:

Michael Smith, Division Chief

(O) 352-735-7140

smithm@mountdora.gov 

SECONDARY CONTACT:

Joseph Hightower, Fire Chief

(O) 352-735-7140

hightowerj@mountdora.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.