This programme is designed for people already undertaking fire risk assessments at intermediate level, including work in premises with a moderate level of fire risk.

It is particularly suitable for:

• Independent fire risk assessors
• Fire safety consultants and managers
• Responsible Persons who regularly undertake fire risk assessments
• Facilities managers with fire safety responsibilities
• Experienced fire safety professionals seeking a regulated qualification

Candidates must bring suitable current experience, underpinning knowledge and their own workplace evidence. The programme assesses existing competence rather than teaching the subject from the beginning.

If you are new to Fire Risk Assessment, we recommend first completing the FireQual Level 3 Certificate in Foundation Fire Risk Assessment before progressing to this qualification.

Candidates will normally hold the FireQual Level 3 Certificate in Foundation Fire Risk Assessment or another qualification accepted by FireQual as meeting the entry requirements. Applicants without the Foundation qualification may still be eligible through FireQual's Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) process, subject to meeting FireQual's requirements.

All candidates should:

• be undertaking fire risk assessments
• have experience of moderate-risk premises
• be able to produce reports independently
• have access to suitable current workplace evidence

The assessment programme begins with an Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) activity. Your assessor reviews your experience summary, relevant recent CPD and supporting evidence before the remaining assessment activities are released. Holding an eligible qualification does not remove this initial step.

Your experience summary can include previous qualifications, training and work history, but must also demonstrate recent practical experience. Relevant CPD evidence should relate to the preceding 18 months. If suitable CPD cannot be demonstrated, your assessor may consider three appropriate documented fire risk assessments completed within that period.

If you use fire risk assessments to support APEL, you cannot reuse the same assessments for the separate main workplace FRA activity.

APEL assessment and refunds

The full qualification fee is payable at booking. If, following APEL and in consultation with the candidate, your assessor determines that you cannot currently progress, the qualification fee will be refunded less the non-refundable £200 + VAT APEL assessment fee.

Following your booking, you will receive access to the FIA online assessment platform together with your login details and guidance on getting started.

Your first activity is APEL. Once your assessor is satisfied with your initial evidence, the remaining activities are released together, so you can work through them in the order that best suits you.

The main programme includes:

• Review of sample fire risk assessments
• Scenario-based case studies
• Written assessment exercises
• Completed Fire Risk Assessment reports
• Reflective explanations of your decisions and recommendations
• Knowledge evidence

Your FIA assessor reviews submissions and provides feedback on any gaps against the assessment criteria. You may need to revise your evidence, provide additional material or take part in a professional discussion where clarification is required.

The qualification is assessed on a Pass/Fail basis. All required criteria must be met.

1. Book online and receive login details for the FIA online assessment platform.

2. Complete APEL and upload the required initial evidence.

3. Your assessor reviews APEL and provides valuable feedback.

4. Once satisfactory, the other assessment activities are released together.

5. Complete the case studies, workplace FRAs, knowledge evidence and other assessment activities.

6. Your assessor will provide guidance and feedback throughout this process and can be easily contacted by messaging using the FIA’s online learning platform.

7. Receive assessor feedback; revise or add evidence where required. Your assessor may ask for other supporting evidence in order to appropriately review the portfolio of work completed.

8. Once all activities meet the criteria, internal quality assurance is completed and successful candidates are submitted to FireQual for certification.

The qualification assesses the knowledge, understanding and practical competence required for intermediate fire risk assessment. Formal training is not provided throughout a candidates journey however the assessor will provide valuable feedback that supports your progress throughout.

Topics include:

• Applying fire safety principles when undertaking Fire Risk Assessments
• Identifying and evaluating fire hazards
• Applying current fire safety legislation
• Applying relevant British Standards and industry guidance
• Assessing means of escape
• Evaluating fire detection and alarm systems
• Assessing emergency lighting and other fire protection measures
• Evaluating structural fire protection and compartmentation
• Considering external wall construction
• Assessing fire safety management arrangements
• Recognising when specialist advice is required
• Producing suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment reports
• Developing proportionate recommendations and action plans

This qualification is assessed through a structured programme of online assessment activities designed to demonstrate your competence. These activities have been developed to assess the practical application of knowledge and professional judgement, rather than simply testing theory.

All assessment evidence must be your own work, be verifiable and ordinarily be no more than 18 months old. Where a submitted fire risk assessment has been subject to a formal peer review or quality assurance process, candidates must declare this and identify any amendments or changes made as a result of that review. This is to ensure the assessor can distinguish the candidate's original work from any subsequent revisions arising from external feedback.

If a candidate submits FRAs as APEL evidence, they should not be submitted for any further documented FRA activity. Requiring different FRAs at each stage ensures that the same evidence is not relied upon for both initial suitability and the formal assessment of competence, while allowing candidates to demonstrate their knowledge and experience across a broader range of work.

Flexible online assessment

You can complete assessment activities around your work commitments within the programme completion period. Following satisfactory APEL, the main activities are available together, allowing you to choose your order of completion.

Dedicated FIA assessor guidance

Every candidate is allocated an FIA assessor who reviews submissions, provides constructive feedback and helps explain the standards your evidence must demonstrate.

You can use the FIA online learning platform’s messaging to ask questions about the assessment process or request guidance. Your assessor may identify gaps, explain what further evidence is needed and recommend additional learning where appropriate.

This is guidance through assessment, not a programme of taught lessons or formal training. You remain responsible for producing independent evidence that meets the qualification requirements.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Participation in this qualification contributes towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

The FIA will confirm the number of CPD hours awarded in accordance with its current CPD policy upon request by a candidate.

Developing Your Professional Competence

Although this programme is designed to assess existing knowledge and competence, the assessor-guided approach also provides valuable opportunities for continued professional development.

Through constructive feedback and guidance from an experienced FIA assessor, candidates can gain fresh perspectives, explore alternative approaches and identify opportunities to further develop their professional judgement and understanding.

Even experienced fire risk assessors may benefit from having their work independently reviewed and challenged. The assessment process encourages reflection on existing practices, helping candidates build on their expertise and take new insights and perspectives into their day-to-day work.

The programme is not a taught training course, but offers more than an assessment of existing competence, providing an opportunity to reflect, refine and strengthen professional practice.

Certification

Once all required assessment activities have been completed satisfactorily and internal quality assurance is complete, successful candidates are submitted to FireQual for certification.

Is this a classroom course?  No. It is a flexible online assessment programme for experienced professionals. There are no scheduled taught sessions.

Will I receive support? Yes. You will be allocated a dedicated FIA assessor who will guide and support you throughout the assessment process.

What does assessor-guided mean?  You have an allocated FIA assessor who reviews your evidence, gives feedback about the required criteria and can respond to requests for guidance by messaging through the online learning platform.

Do I need to complete APEL if I already have a qualification?  Yes. APEL is the first activity for all candidates and determines readiness to proceed to the main assessment activities, any qualifications should be submitted during this process.

What happens if my evidence is not satisfactory?  Your assessor provides feedback identifying what requires further work. You may be asked for additional or revised evidence, a professional discussion or further learning. Additional attempts are subject to assessor review.

Will I need a professional discussion?  Not necessarily. Your assessor may request one to clarify evidence or verify competence.

Can I complete the programme while working?  Yes. The activities are online and flexible, so you can fit them around your other commitments.

How long does the qualification take? Completion times will vary depending on your experience, availability and the time taken to complete the assessment activities.

• FIA Members - £995+VAT
• Non-Members - £1195+VAT

APEL assessment and refunds

The full qualification fee is payable at booking. If, following APEL and in consultation with the candidate, your assessor determines that you cannot currently progress, the qualification fee will be refunded less the non-refundable £200 + VAT APEL assessment fee.