High School

The Society of Fire Protection Engineers recommends that students take the following classes to prepare for a career in fire protection engineering: mathematics (including geometry, trigonometry, and introductory calculus) and laboratory sciences (including chemistry and physics). You should also take English and speech classes because FPEs need to write reports and communicate effectively with their colleagues. Other important classes include computer science, social studies, and government.

Postsecondary Education

To enter this career, you’ll need to either:

• Earn a bachelor’s degree in fire protection engineering; or
• Enter a five-year dual degree program and then earn a bachelor of science in another engineering field, and then earn a master’s degree in fire protection engineering; or
• Earn a bachelor of science in another engineering field, and then earn a master’s degree in fire protection engineering.

Fewer than 20 colleges in the United States and Canada offer degrees in fire protection engineering, technology, and safety, including Eastern Kentucky University; Oklahoma State University; University of Maryland, College Park; University of Waterloo; and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Visit https://www.sfpe.org/page/CareersPreparing for a complete list of programs.

Certification

Some community colleges and four-year colleges offer certificates in fire protection engineering fire investigation, fire science, or other fire-related areas. Contact schools in your area to learn about available programs.   

Other Education or Training

Many FPEs pursue continuing education throughout their careers to keep their skills up to date and to become certified or re-certified. For example, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers offers online courses and webinars such as Introduction to Fire Risk Assessment, Human Behavior in Fire, Principles of Structural Fire Protection, and Principles of Fire Protection Engineering. The National Society of Professional Engineers provides webinars for student members. Recent webinars included Career Success in Engineering: A Guide for Students and New Professionals and Ethics and Professionalism for Students and Young Engineers. The National Fire Protection Association, American Society for Engineering Education, and the Society of Women Engineers also provide professional development opportunities. Contact these organizations for more information.

Certification or Licensing

The National Fire Protection Association offers the certified fire protection specialist credentialto applicants who meet educational and experience requirements and pass an examination. Contact the association to learn more.

Engineers whose work may affect the life, health, or safety of the public must be registered according to regulations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Licensing requirements vary by state. In general, however, they involve graduating from an accredited college, having four years of work experience, and passing the six-hour Fundamentals of Engineering exam and the 9.5-hour Fire Protection Principles and Practice of Engineering exam (which covers five main areas: Fire Protection Analysis, Fire Dynamics Fundamentals, Active and Passive Systems, and Egress and Occupant Movement). Depending on your state, you can take the Fundamentals exam shortly before your graduation from college or after you have received your bachelor’s degree. At that point you will be an engineer-in-training. Once you have fulfilled all the licensure requirements, you receive the designation professional engineer. Visit the NCEES Web site, https://ncees.org/engineering, for more information on licensure. 

Aspiring FPEs should complete at least one internship or cooperative educational experience at a company or government agency that employs fire protection engineers.

Fire protection engineers must be good team players because they work closely with architects, designers, contractors, engineers of other disciplines, state and local building officials, and local fire professionals. Other important traits include excellent problem-solving and organizational skills, a detail-oriented personality, and strong communication and analytical abilities.

Fire protection engineers must have knowledge of the fundamentals of fire suppression system design and alternative fire suppression systems (such as gas suppression, water mist, and oxygen reduction systems), an understanding of U.S. and international fire codes and design standards, and skill using fire dynamics simulators and related software.