TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION SPECIALIST 1
Career Family: TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION SPECIALIST
New Jersey treats Training and Certification Specialist 1 as a competitive-class job, so the gate is an examination and the ranked list it produces rather than a direct offer.
This is where the Training and Certification Specialist ladder starts, one grade under Training and Certification Specialist 2, whose band tops out about $31,835 higher. The spec names a bachelor's degree, but it leaves the door open to substitute experience for the degree. The FY2026 range lands between $67,312 and $98,503.
How to get hired
- Watch for an open-competitive announcement for Training and Certification Specialist 1 on the NJ Civil Service Commission jobs portal. Announcements run for a fixed filing window.
- Apply during that window and sit the examination. Depending on the title, that can be a written test, a rating of your training and experience, or a mix of the two.
- Passing scores go onto a ranked eligible list. Veterans get preference points added on top of their score.
- When an agency has a vacancy it must appoint from the top of that list under the "Rule of Three." Many competitive jobs are first filled provisionally while the list is being built.
Read the official specification at NJ Civil Service Commission.
Pay ladder: Training and Certification Specialist series
- Training and Certification Specialist 1 — $67,312 – $98,503 (this title)
- Training and Certification Specialist 2 — $88,530 – $130,339
Promoting to Training and Certification Specialist 2 raises the top of the band by about $31,835. Its top salary lands around the 42nd percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.
Rungs are ordered by FY2026 pay. NJ level numbers are not always sequential, so ordering follows salary rather than the title number.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator.
Definition
Under the limited supervision of a Training and Certification Specialist 2 or other supervisory official in the Department of Community affairs, participates in the development of a large and complex statewide fire safety educational, training, and credentialing program which includes the adoption of training programs and exams, approving eligible training organizations and facilities, and the issuance of certification titles authorized by N.J.A.C. 5:71 and N.J.A.C. 5:73, pursuant to the Uniform Fire Safety Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq., and N.J.S.A. 52:27D-25a et seq; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Develops and implements fire service and fire safety code training programs, and a certification program for persons who perform fire safety inspections of high rise and hazardous structures pursuant to the Uniform Fire Safety Act. Certifies businesses and contractors who shall engage in the installation, service, repair, inspection, or maintenance of fire protection equipment, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:74. Issues, suspends, or revokes certifications and permits. Evaluates certification system procedures, identifies deficiencies, and prepares recommendations. Establishes and maintains records and files, including course completion records, certification applications, experience evaluations, and other records. Develops and implements automated computer systems designed to track certifications issued, establish certification cycles, give credit for attendance at CEU programs, register stakeholders into programs, track examination results, and generate official statistical reports and rosters. Participates in the development and revision of regulations for the certifications authorized in N.J.A.C. 5:71 and N.J.A.C. 5:73. Assists in establishing guidelines for curriculum content and instructor requirements for courses required to meet certification requirements authorized in N.J.A.C. 5:71 and N.J.A.C. 5:73. Assists with the development of an assessment system to monitor and evaluate the materials, delivery, and content of education and training courses; provides technical assistance in curriculum development and implementation. Assesses courses proposed by fire service eligible organizations. Implements the standards for evaluating training, education, and experience/equivalency substitutes for specific certification requirements. Coordinates instructor assignments, selection of program delivery locations, program materials, and publicity for Department sponsored training activities. Reviews training regulations and continuing education requirements for job specific accuracy; proposes amendments, deletions, and/or additions as required. Assists in the development and implementation of guidelines and procedures for awarding grants and state contracts to develop the materials for adopted educational, training, and credentialing programs. Works with eligible training organizations to promote the delivery of credentialing programs authorized by N.J.A.C. 5:71 and N.J.A.C. 5:73. Develops and maintains cooperative working relationships with agencies, individuals, and groups interested in or affected by fire safety and firefighting education, training, and credentialing. Gives testimony at hearings of the Office of Administrative Law involving certification appeals. Appears as a speaker before fire organizations, fire departments, professional conferences, and other interested groups. Prepares correspondence. Prepares reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Maintains essential records and files. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of firefighting job performance requirements (JPRs), fire service instructional methodology, and fire code enforcement job proficiency requirements established in N.J.A.C. 5:71 and N.J.A.C. 5:73. Knowledge of the Uniform Fire Safety Act and regulations. Knowledge of training and education principles, methods and techniques. Knowledge of the methods used to evaluate student progress. Knowledge of theories, principles, and techniques relating to adult education. Knowledge of basic academic standards for the development of technical course criteria authorized in N.J.A.C. 5:71 and N.J.A.C. 5:73. Knowledge of resources available in the academic community to effectuate the education, training, and credentialing of the State's fire service and fire code enforcement stakeholders. Knowledge of fire protection equipment and its installation, service, repair, inspection, and/or maintenance. Knowledge of fire protection equipment standards pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:70 and N.J.A.C. 5:74. Knowledge of the essential steps and techniques involved in the development and continued use of operational specifications for management information systems. Ability to understand the Uniform Fire Safety Act and related laws adopted by the State of New Jersey. Ability to comprehend and interpret laws, regulations, and adopted technical standards. Ability to develop the content, procedures, and presentation of training courses. Ability to establish policies and procedures for the development, coordination, and evaluation of training programs. Ability to work with education administrators and teaching staff in the development of courses authorized in N.J.A.C. 5:71 and N.J.A.C. 5:73. Ability to review educational programs for conformity to established guidelines concerning course content and instructor qualifications. Ability to develop, schedule, and evaluate training classes. Ability to evaluate instructional personnel. Ability to develop program evaluation systems and management information systems for the operation and improvement of educational, certification, and fiscal support programs. Ability to develop and coordinate reporting systems with training institutions and testing services. Ability to assess a program of equivalency evaluation designed to permit the substitution of training courses to meet specific credentialing requirement components established in N.J.A.C. 5:71 and N.J.A.C. 5:73. Ability to implement a fire safety training needs survey. Ability to communicate effectively. Ability to prepare reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to prepare correspondence. Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Six (6) years of professional experience in planning, developing, and/or administering a program of education, training, and credentialing in the areas of fire administration, fire prevention, fire suppression, technical rescue, fire code enforcement, or emergency incident management. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions. LICENSE/CERTIFICATION: Appointees will be required to possess a minimum of a valid Firefighter I certification issued by the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:73. Appointees will be required to possess a valid Fire Instructor II certification issued by the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:73. Appointees will be required to possess a minimum of a valid Fire Officer I certification issued by the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:73. Appointees will be required to possess a minimum of a valid Incident Management Level I certification issued by the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:73. Appointees will be required to possess a valid Fire Official certification issued by the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:71. Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.