Wildfire Mitigation and Forest Resilience Certificate
Train for high-demand careers in wildfire mitigation, forest health and fire suppression in one year or less.
Wildfires are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity across Colorado and the Intermountain West. Communities are investing in fuel reduction, forest treatments and resilience planning, and they need trained professionals ready to do the work.
The Wildfire Mitigation and Forest Resilience Certificate prepares you with entry-level skills in wildfire mitigation, forest health, fire behavior, chainsaw operations and GIS mapping. Through a blend of classroom instruction, field-based training and a required internship, you’ll gain hands-on experience, earn industry-recognized certifications and build professional connections before you graduate.
Finish in three semesters and step confidently into the workforce.
Why Study Wildfire Mitigation?
- Complete the certificate in one year or less
- Earn embedded, industry-recognized certifications
- Train with fire professionals at Colorado Firecamp
- Gain hands-on field experience in mountain communities
- Build a professional network through internships
- Stack the certificate into associate or bachelor’s degrees
Career Outlook
Wildfire mitigation is a growing, year-round workforce need across Colorado and the Intermountain West.
Graduates may pursue careers in:
- Fire suppression
- Wildland-urban interface mitigation
- Wildfire mitigation specialist roles
- GIS and land management support
- Watershed protection
- Insurance, real estate and utility mitigation programs
- State, federal and private forestry organizations
Colorado employment snapshot:
- 8,380 related protective service occupations statewide
- 870 annual openings
- Median hourly wage: $37.41
Request Program Information
The Wildfire Mitigation and Forest Resilience Certificate is offered at:
- Salida - also available to students at all 11 CMC campuses, with a low residency model for in-person instruction in Salida.
This program emphasizes applied learning. Students train in real-world conditions and may earn or prepare for:
- Firefighter Type II (Red Card)
- Basic Faller
- Wilderness First Responder
- Firefighter Type I (optional pathway)
- National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) certifications
Field experiences include firefighter training, chainsaw safety and operation, forest measurement labs, defensible space assessments and a required internship with community or industry partners.
Much of the work completed in coursework directly supports local mitigation projects.
Graduates of the program will:
- Identify fire as an ecological process and describe treatments that increase forest resiliency
- Demonstrate safe, standards-based wildland firefighter and mitigation skills
- Operate and maintain chainsaws safely
- Evaluate fire behavior fundamentals
- Collect and analyze environmental data using field methods, GIS and remote sensing
- Obtain NWCG certifications related to wildland fire and forest stewardship
- Credential: Certificate of Occupational Proficiency
- Length: 3 semesters (Fall, Spring, Summer)
- Credits: Approximately 26+ (depending on internship credits)
- Locations: Salida - available to students at all 11 CMC campuses with a low residency model for in-person instruction in Salida.
- Format: In-person with select Remote Real-Time courses
- Internship: Required
There are no academic prerequisites. Required fire and chainsaw gear is provided.
The certificate can be completed while working full-time.
This program is ideal for:
- High school or GED graduates seeking hands-on careers
- AmeriCorps members using Segal Education Awards
- Early-career fire and forestry professionals
- Career changers
- Current CMC students looking to add wildfire mitigation skills
- Students who have recently completed S-112 or S-130/190 at Colorado Firecamp
Program Learning Outcomes are what we expect each student will learn while earning a degree or certificate. Meeting these learning outcomes is how we assess our performance as a college. Our learning outcomes support both important career skills and future success as a student.
Upon completing the Wildfire Mitigation and Forest Resilience Certificate program, CMC students will be able to:
- Identify fire as an ecological process and describe treatments to increase forest resiliency.
- Demonstrate safe, standards-based wildland firefighter and wildfire mitigation skills.
- Demonstrate basic chainsaw operation, safety, troubleshooting and maintenance skills.
- Evaluate fire behavior fundamentals in the structure and wildland fire environment.
- Collect environmental data using field methods, GIS, and remote sensing.
- Analyze data to inform decision-making for wildfire management.
- Obtain National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) certifications for competencies related to wildland fire and forest stewardship.
Related Degrees
Bachelor
Ecosystem Science & Stewardship (BS)
Associate
Ecosystem Science & Stewardship Emphasis (AS)
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Wilderness Medical Professional Certificate