Wildland Fire Workforce Development Opportunities

An Updated 0456 Series

As part of an effort to modernize federal wildland fire management mandated by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the General Schedule (GS) 0456 occupational job series formerly known as the Forest and Range Control, 0456 is being redeveloped into the new Wildland Fire Management, 0456 series. 

The updated Wildland Fire Management, 0456 series does not require a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education.

At the present time, these portions of the Wildland Fire Management, 0456 series have been finalized:

• Career paths for engine crew, hand crew and helitack crew positions from Grades 03-10 (GS-0456-03 to GS-0456-10)
• Career paths for prevention, fuels management and planning positions for Grades 07-11 (GS-0456-07 to GS-0456-11)
• Fire management officer position templates for Grades 11-13 (GS-0456-11 to GS-0456-13)

The Department of the Interior (DOI) and other federal agencies will continue to release details as they are finalized.

Additional Information

To learn more, please visit the following links:

• Office of Personnel Management's (OPM's) "Position Classification Standard for Wildland Fire Management, 0456” PDF
• DOI Standard Fire & Law Enforcement Position Descriptions (FLERT) webpage
• DOI and OPM “Frequently Asked Questions: Implementation of Section 40803 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Public Law 117-58)” PDF

To learn more about the General Schedule classification and pay system, please see the OPM General Schedule Overview webpage.

The Wildland Firefighter Apprentice Program (WFAP) is a succession planning program. WFAP develops future mid-level fire managers, provides a more defined career path within wildfire management, broadens employees’ career opportunities, and increases the lower-level permanent General Schedule (GS) workforce.

For Apprentices

WFAP enhances and develops future fire and aviation leaders and managers. Over the course of this 12-48-month program, a career-entry firefighter:

• Receives education, training, and paid work experience;
• Works on wildland fire modules such as hand crews, fire engines, and helitack; and
• Attends 3-4 weeks of basic and/or advanced fire academy in California or the southeast area.

Upon graduation, participants are journey-level status wildland firefighters.

College education is not a requirement.

For Mentors

Firefighters can participate in WFAP as staff and academy instructors at the basic and advanced academies. Help lead and develop the next generation of wildland fire leadership by fostering an environment of mentoring, coaching, and peer interaction.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Pathways Internship Program connects Native American and Alaska Native college students to paid internships throughout the Bureau of Indian Affairs. With meaningful projects, rotational assignments, and multi-semester opportunities, Pathways prepares student trainees for an impactful career in public service and offers a direct pipeline to full-time employment with the BIA or Tribal Nations upon graduation.

Pathways offers paid internships within the Division of Wildland Fire Management for fire support positions in areas such as in administration, budgeting, and post-wildfire recovery.

The Salish Kootenai College (SKC) Tribal Research and Education in Economics (TREES) Wildland Fire Management Internship program aims to help Native American college students begin careers in wildland fire operations and management.

The SKC TREES Program:

• Provides tuition assistance,
• Matches students with summer Tribal forestry operations internships, and
• Covers internship travel and lodging costs where possible.

The Prescribed Fire Training Center (PFTC) is a unique program that combines prescribed burn field experience with a flexible curriculum of classroom instruction on foundational topics for prescribed fire practitioners. Participants will have the opportunity to complete portions of their NWCG-approved prescribed fire task books under the guidance of invited training specialists.

For Trainees

Programs at PFTC include Fire Leadership for Women (FLFW) 20-Day Sessions, Mixed Module 20-Day Sessions, and Agency Administrator Workshops. PFTC also provides detail opportunities.

For Firefighters

Current firefighters may serve as PFTC field coordinators on assignments lasting up to 25 days.