Selection Criteria

The EFOP target audience is current and emerging executive-level leaders in fire and emergency services organizations. The selection criteria are divided between two requirements areas: Service Requirement and Academic Requirement.

Service Requirement

Chiefs of Department or equivalent.
Chief officers or equivalent who head major bureaus or divisions within a fire department, e.g., suppression, prevention, training, emergency medical services, etc.
Chief officers and senior deputies of State governmental fire organizations, e.g., State
Fire Marshals and State Directors of Fire Training.
Other individuals who are serving in "key leadership" positions. Please refer to "Key Leaders" selection criteria following this section.

Academic Requirement

Applicants must have attained an associate's degree or greater from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning. No exception will be made to this requirement.
Beginning October 1, 2009 (FY 2010), applicants must have attained a minimum of a bachelor's degree.

"Key Leaders" Selection Criteria

The EFOP is USFA's premier executive education program with a limited capacity of participants each year. The primary audience is executive-level chief officers; however, a limited number of non-executive-level applicants who are serving in "key leadership" positions will be considered for the EFOP. Once the minimum academic requirement has been demonstrated, candidates will be selected on the following criteria:

NOTE: It is not required that a candidate possess all of the following. However, the more achievements and criteria presented, the stronger a candidate's application will be considered.

Those applicants requesting consideration for a key leader slot must possess the minimum academic requirement of associate degree. Advanced academic degrees will further strengthen the candidacy of the applicant.
Unique perspectives that broaden the diversity of EFOP.
Strength of the department chief's or sponsor's recommendation, commitment to supporting the applicant's participation, and description of the applicant's potential impact on the organization.
Personal accomplishments and significant contributions to the fire and emergency services and/or the community.
Potential for future impact on the fire service.

It is expected that the applications for these limited number of positions will be very competitive in nature. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review all of the aforementioned and following selection/application elements before submitting their application package.

Participation in EFOP Courses as a Non-EFOP Participant

Each year a limited number of spaces are available for individuals interested in taking an EFOP course, but not as part of the 4-year program. This may be the result of not meeting the academic degree requirement, and/or not wanting to commit to the 4-year time period and research project requirements. In either case, participants still must qualify by rank/position. Non-EFOP applicants for EFOP course offerings should follow the General Admissions Application process.