Since its founding in 1949, the International Association of Arson Investigators been a leader in fire investigator training and certification. CFITrainer.Net is the IAAI’s premier online learning network, delivering high quality training and resources in a wide variety of topics related to fire investigation.

CFITrainer.Net is a comprehensive system that allows participants to register for programs, track and document their progress, and take certificate and credential tests. CFITrainer.Net’s content is vetted by experts, often IAAI members who volunteer their expertise. CFITrainer.Net’s content is consistent with relevant standards, including NFPA 1033, NFPA 921 and NFPA 1321.

CFITrainer.Net offers the following major programs and features.

Self-Paced Programs (Modules). CFITrainer.Net’s flagship program is its over 90 online learning modules covering topics from fire dynamics and investigation fundamentals to specializations like commercial kitchen fires and motor vehicle fires. Registered users view the modules at their own pace and can take a Skills Challenge test to earn a certificate of completion. Module completions are documented in the user’s transcript. Certificates and transcripts can often be submitted for continuing education credit.

Multi-Program Certificates. CFITrainer.Net Multi-Program Certificates (MPC) offer a way to follow a thematic program of study to earn a certificate of completion that covers a broader array of knowledge and skills than a single module can accomplish. Each multi-program certificate has different required modules that have been selected because of their relevance to a particular topic. Completing all modules in the MPC earns the user a special certificate that is also documented on their transcript.

Live Classes & Events. The IAAI offers live classes and events virtually through CFITrainer.Net. Live Classes & Events appear in the list of available programs. Once the user is registered, they log in at the time of the event to participate virtually. After the event, the user can complete post-event activities and can earn a certificate of completion that is recorded on the transcript. If the registered attendee misses the live session, they can watch a recorded session.

Testing Platform. CFITrainer.Net is the testing platform to earn certificates for attending IAAI’s in-person classes and to earn some IAAI credentials, including IAAI-FIT, IAAI-CI, and Knowledge 1 self-study courses.

Individual Development Plans. CFITrainer.Net offers an online tool to create customized Individual Development Plans (IDP). CFITrainer.Net guides users through the process of specifying the details of the IDP. Users save and download their IDP to share it with their supervisor.

Fire Investigation Job Aids. CFITrainer.Net Job Aids provide “cheat sheet” references for completing major fire investigation tasks. They are a helpful tool to assist the fire investigation professional in working through executing that task while applying their knowledge, skills, and experience to determine actions to take at a particular scene. These Job Aids can be downloaded for free.

Podcast. The CFITrainer.Net podcast welcomes fire investigation professionals to talk about emerging issues of interest to the fire investigation community, including fire causes, fire science research, investigative tools and techniques, case studies. The podcast also highlights recent news affecting fire investigation.

Instructor Mode. CFITrainer.Net allows verified instructors to use CFITrainer.Net modules during in-class instruction and then authorize their class attendees to take the module’s Skills Challenge test to earn their Certificate of Completion without having to watch the module’s lesson videos individually again. Instructor can track their students’ status. This feature encourages instructors to integrate CFITrainer.Net module videos into their classroom instruction to teach key concepts, spark discussion, and support group work. Learn how to apply for access to Instructor Mode.

Secondary Reporting. Once an organization is part of CFITrainer.Net’s Secondary Reporting program, registered CFITrainer.Net users can opt to have their tested training results reported to organizations with which they are affiliated. The organization uses a secure login to view the training results. Secondary reporting allows organizations to verify that training has been completed and frees the user from providing paperwork to prove completion.

Additional Resources. The CFITrainer.Net Resources page also connects users to important fire investigation publications and organizations.

Primary funding for CFITrainer.Net is through the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives partners with the IAAI in the CFITrainer.Net effort.

-- DISCLAIMER --
When CFITrainer.Net develops modules, the most current edition of all available resources is used. Because modules remain available for years, it is inevitable that some resources will undergo revision after a CFITrainer.Net module using those resources was released. At this time, it is not practical to go back and continually revise CFITrainer.Net modules to use new editions of all resources. However, if CFITrainer.Net determines that revisions to a referenced resource are so substantial as to materially affect what is taught in the module, CFITrainer.Net does deprecate that module and sometimes will issue a new module in that topic with updated content. The field of fire investigation and its guiding documents are constantly evolving and it is incumbent upon the fire investigator to remain up to date with the guidance in the current editions of the documents referenced in all modules on CFITrainer.Net, regardless of which editions were used in the development of the module.