Shortcuts for Burning Responsibly
Prescribed Burn Manager Certification
The law states that in order for a prescribed burn to have liability protection; it must be supervised by a Certified Prescribed Burn Manager.
1975 Code of Alabama, Section 9.13.270, and Alabama Administrative Code, Chapter 390.X.6, state that the requirements for obtaining certification as a Prescribed Burn Manager will consist of the following: “Completion of a training course approved by the Alabama Forestry Commission.”
Certification Process
A training program has been established to meet the requirements of the Prescribed Burning Act. The Burn Manager Certification Course, covering 32 hours, will include discussion of fire behavior, burning methods, safety, planning, smoke screening and Alabama fire laws. Courses are offered annually across the state. For a list of training sessions, see the Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Courses section below. It is also suggested that participants complete a Fire Behavior Course, which can be done as a self-study class, prior to the Burn Manager Training Course.
Training equivalent to the courses sponsored by the Alabama Forestry Commission will be accepted as meeting the requirement for certification. Chapter 390.X.6.02 of the Alabama Administrative Code states that the determination as to the acceptability of any particular training will be made by the Alabama Forestry Commission or its designee.
To receive initial certification, burners should submit an Application for Prescribed Burn Manager Certification along with proof of training and a non-refundable $50 certification fee. Please send applications to:
- Alabama Forestry Commission
- Attn: Prescribed Burn Certification Program
- Post Office Box 302550
- Montgomery, AL 36130-2550
Please note: Burners who paid $150 to attend an AFC-sponsored certification course and are applying following successful completion of that course do not have to pay an additional $50 application fee when submitting the application for certification. The completed application and proof of training are all that is required for those burners.
Certification Term
The Prescribed Burn Manager Certification will have a 5 year term, requiring renewal every five years. Each Certified Prescribed Burn Manager must, over that five year period, earn six (6) hours of continuing education directly pertaining to prescribed burning. For information on recertification see the section "Prescribed Burn Manager Recertification" section below.
For additional information contact Marti Davis at (334)240-9332
Prescribed Burn Manager Re-Certification
Certification is for a five-year period, requiring renewal every five years. In order for a certification to be renewed, six hours of continuing education directly pertaining to prescribed burning must be earned prior to the certification expiration date. Burners who do not meet this standard will have their certification expire. Courses and topics that would meet the continuing education requirements would include but are not limited to: fire behavior courses, fire behavior calculations courses, ignition operations courses, fuels and fuels modeling courses, fire effects courses, smoke management courses, and any course offered or sponsored by the Alabama Forestry Commission specifically for the purpose of providing continuing education for prescribed burning.
For a list of AFC-sponsored training workshops, see the "Certified Prescribed Burn Courses" section below.
To receive Certification Renewal, Burn Managers should submit an Application for Prescribed Burn Manager Re-Certification, along with proof of continuing education accomplishment and a non-refundable $50 certification fee prior to the expiration date of their certification. Please send applications to:
- Alabama Forestry Commission
- Attn: Prescribed Burn Certification Program
- Post Office Box 302550
- Montgomery, AL 36130-2550
Please note: Burners who paid $100 to attend an AFC-sponsored recertification workshop and are applying following successful completion of that training do not have to pay an additional $50 application fee when submitting the application for recertification. The completed application and proof of training are all that is required for those burners.
For more information contact Marti Davis at (334)240-9332
Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Courses
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Who should take the CPBM Certification COURSE? Any forest land owner, forester, wildlife biologist, consultant, contractor, or agency personnel who is interested in the use of prescribed wildland fire as a management tool and who is seeking certification should attend. Out of state participants are welcome.
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Who should take the CPBM Re-Certification WORKSHOP? Any current Alabama Certified Prescribed Burn Manager who needs the required 6 CEUs every 5 years for re-certification should take the workshop. Please make sure that you are a Certified Prescribed Burn Manager in good standing before you sign up for the recertification workshop. You can check your expiration date by logging into the online burn permit website http://burnpermits.forestry.alabama.gov and checking My Info.
Registration
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
2025 CPBM summer schedule TBD