This qualification is designed for people working in, or intending to work in, senior positions in fire management, either in paid employment or as a volunteer, who have responsibilities for the direction and management of an organisation, including operational management of fires at a senior level.

This is the fifth of five national certificates developed for vegetation fire and rescue fire fighters, commencing at level 2, progressing on through levels 3, 4, 5, and 6, and complementing the National Diploma in Fire and Rescue Services (Vegetation Fire Fighting - Management) (Level 5) [Ref: 0780].

This qualification covers a range of knowledge and skills specific to vegetation fire prevention, command and control of fire fighting, as well the management of a rural fire organisation. It covers the skills required by people operating at the at Principal Rural Fire Officer and Incident Controller level whose responsibilities include the management of business processes, setting policy, and performing fire management duties.

The compulsory section contains standards that support the role of a fire agency or organisation manager, covering command of vegetation fire incidents, applying knowledge of vegetation fire behaviour, carrying out planning activities at rural fire operations, and demonstration of knowledge of legislated responsibilities of a rural fire authority.

The elective sets provide flexibility to the qualification and offer a choice of standards from within the Fire and Rescue Services subfield and other sectors that have relevance to the responsibilities required of a Principal Rural Fire Officer and Incident Controller working at a management level in a fire agency or organisation. They also provide opportunities for people progressing within the fire fighting industry to select standards from anywhere on the National Qualifications Framework.