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Training guide

Wildland fire training, start to finish

Every wildland firefighter in the US trains to one national standard, set by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) in its PMS 310-1. Here is what that means in practice: the courses for your first Red Card, the fitness test, what you repeat every season and how you qualify for the next position.

By The Journeyman · Checked against NWCG standards, October 2026

The short answer

To work the fireline as a Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) you need five courses, S-130, S-190, L-180, ICS-100 and IS-700, and you must pass the arduous Work Capacity Test: 3 miles carrying 45 pounds in 45 minutes or less. Your agency or employer then issues your Red Card.

Every season after your first you take the RT-130 refresher and pass the pack test again.

The four stages of wildland fire training

  • 1 · Get your first Red CardFive courses and an in-person field day qualify you as a Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2), the entry-level crewmember.
  • 2 · Pass the pack testThe Work Capacity Test at the arduous level: 3 miles with a 45-pound pack in 45 minutes, walking.
  • 3 · Stay current every seasonThe RT-130 annual fireline safety refresher and the pack test, every year after your first.
  • 4 · Move upEach position above FFT2 adds its own courses, experience and a position task book.

Your first Red Card: the FFT2 courses

A Red Card (the Incident Qualification Card) lists the wildland fire positions you are qualified to fill. For the first one, Firefighter Type 2, NWCG requires these courses:

CourseWhat it covers
S-130Firefighter Training: hand tools, building fireline, hose lays, the fire shelter and fireline safety. Ends with a field day.
S-190Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior: how fuels, weather and terrain drive a fire.
L-180Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service: situational awareness, communication and decisions on a crew.
ICS-100Introduction to the Incident Command System: how an incident is organized. Free online from FEMA (listed there as IS-100).
IS-700National Incident Management System, an introduction. Free online from FEMA.

The full walk-through, in order and with what to expect on the field day, is in how to get a Red Card.

The fitness test

Fireline positions are rated arduous, so you take the Work Capacity Test at that level, known as the pack test: 3 miles on level ground carrying a 45-pound pack in 45 minutes or less. You walk it; running is not allowed. Support roles rated moderate or light have shorter tests. Times, rules and a training plan are in the pack test guide.

Staying current every season

A Red Card is not a one-time certificate. To keep fireline qualifications current, each season after your first you:

  • take RT-130, the Annual Fireline Safety Refresher, and
  • pass the Work Capacity Test again at the level your position needs.

Missing either one keeps you off the line until it is done, which is why crews track these dates as closely as they track the Red Card itself.

Moving up: FFT1 and beyond

The next step for most crewmembers is Firefighter Type 1 (squad boss). NWCG requires satisfactory performance as an FFT2, a completed and certified FFT1 position task book (PMS 311-14), the S-131 Firefighter Type 1 course and the RT-130 refresher. S-131 was rebuilt as a performance-based, instructor-led course in 2026. The FFT1 task book is shared with Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5), although the two remain separate positions.

Every position after that, from engine boss and crew boss to fallers and dispatchers, has its own required training, experience and task book in PMS 310-1. NWCG's position qualification flowchart (in the sources below) shows how they connect.

Where to take wildland fire training

  • The Wildland Fire Learning Portal lists in-person and online courses from federal regional training centers, and hosts many of the online courses.
  • FEMA's Emergency Management Institute runs ICS-100 and IS-700 online, free and open to anyone.
  • State forestry agencies and state fire marshal offices run S-130/S-190 classes in many states, often before each season.
  • Community colleges and private training providers teach the basic courses, often timed to contractor hiring.
  • Your employer. Federal and state agencies, fire departments and many contractors train the people they hire. You can find contractors near you by dispatch center in Fireline Lookup.
  • The Journeyman app. Training providers post their courses, and firefighters get training alerts for their region.

Questions

How long does wildland fire training take?

Many providers teach S-130 and S-190 together as a course of about 40 hours that ends with a field day. Add the short online courses (L-180, ICS-100, IS-700) and the pack test, and a focused new firefighter can finish in one to two weeks.

Can I do wildland fire training online?

Partly. ICS-100 and IS-700 are free online through FEMA, and L-180 and S-190 are commonly taken online. S-130 always ends with an in-person field day, and the pack test and the fire shelter practice are in person too.

How much does wildland fire training cost?

ICS-100 and IS-700 are free. S-130 and S-190 prices depend on the provider. Federal and state agencies train the people they hire, and many contractors and fire departments do the same.

Do I need a job before I train?

No: you can take the courses on your own, and having them can help you get hired. The Red Card itself is issued by the agency, department or company you work for, so the last step goes through an employer. See how to become a wildland firefighter.

What is the difference between FFT2 and FFT1?

FFT2 is the entry-level crewmember. FFT1 (squad boss) leads a squad and needs experience as an FFT2, a completed task book and the S-131 course on top.

Sources

Requirements change when NWCG updates PMS 310-1. Your agency or employer has the final say on what you need, so confirm with them before you sign up for a course.