The National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board) is pleased to announce an initiative to assist the men and women of the Department of Defense (DOD), especially VETERANS RETURNING FROM SERVICE OVERSEAS in finding career and employment opportunities in the Fire Service when retiring out of military service.

An estimated 30,000 current Pro Board certified DOD Fire and Emergency personnel will be included in the Pro Board’s web based Certification Registry each year at no charge to the individual or DOD. Previously, the individual uniformed or civilian service member paid a fee to be included in the Registry. This open free enrollment into the Pro Board registry will be available at least through the end of 2016.

In addition, the Pro Board will retroactively include in its Certification Registry all eligible DOD certifications issued over the past 12 years since DOD became Pro Board accredited. The registration will include in the record the edition date of the NFPA standard to which the certificate was issued. This will insure that all previous Pro Board recognized DOD service members will have their Pro Board credentials available on the web when seeking employment or carrier advancement in the fire and emergency services.

Chairman Jim Estepp expressed the sense of the Board of Directors “We recognize the challenges our veterans face in finding career opportunities when they return home. A Pro Board credential can go a long way in helping our vets get reestablished in civilian life. They bring the necessary skills and experience to America’s fire and emergency services”.

For over 30 years, the Pro Board has been the internationally recognized leader in acknowledging professional competence in the fire and emergency services. The Pro Board’s Mission is “Improving life safety for citizens and emergency personnel through an international system of professional qualifications”

For additional information, please contact Tony O’Neill, Executive Secretary at 207 633 3642