Accreditation and Credentialing

By Chief Bud Philips, Ridge Road Fire District
NYSAFC Director

Each year, a number of articles are written on the significance of organizational accreditation and personal credentialing and each year, a few individuals embark on personal credentialing. Unfortunately, the task of organizational accreditation seems to be something the New York fire service has been reluctant to embrace.

Having taken my department on this road to international accreditation twice, I think I am more than qualified to speak to the benefits of the process. First, a few facts must be presented. In New York state, most police departments are nationally accredited. This accreditation has led to public support and the support of the political entities served. Second, accreditation is nothing more than validation of what your organization is doing, has done, and will do in the future. The third point is that the process may also improve your organization’s ISO rating.

In the political climate we live in today, where every dollar raised from taxes is used to deliver essential services, the accreditation process can and should be something embraced by all fire departments in the state – volunteer, combination, and career. The cost is minimal, the benefits are endless, and the public support is endless when they see a real plan for the present and future. I really think that departments are afraid to assess their programs and service delivery models, but in the end the process will only improve your organization and your community.

On the subject of credentialing, this process will enhance the position one holds. Whether he or she is the chief, a deputy, captain, lieutenant, or EMS officer, credentialing is here and it is definitely something all officers should be striving to achieve.

If you would like further information on the organizational accreditation process or personal credentialing, contact me directly via email or visit the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc. (CPSE) website.

About the Author:
Bud Phillips is chief of the Ridge Road Fire District, the only accredited fire department in New York state. He is one of only five individuals credentialed as a chief fire officer (CFO) in New York. Phillips is presently a director for NYSAFC, a director representing New York state in the Eastern Division of the IAFC, and vice president of the National Society of Executive Fire Officers (NSEFO).