The Command Post: Navigating Certification Challenges and Career Transitions in the Fire Service

Fire Engineering Podcast Network

The Command Post: Navigating Certification Challenges and Career Transitions in the Fire Service
In this episode of The Command Post, hosts Rick Lasky and John Salka take a close look at the complexities of firefighter certification across the United States. Drawing on decades of experience—from Illinois and New York to Texas and Florida—they expose the frustrating patchwork of state standards that complicate career moves and professional growth.
Lasky and Salka reflect on the evolving role of firefighters, contrasting volunteer and career demands. They also emphasize the critical need for standardized, transferable certifications like Pro Board to ease transitions. The conversation also touches on the human side of the fire service: maintaining connections, balancing family life, and the importance of staying active and engaged after retirement. Through personal stories, practical advice, and sharp criticism of bureaucratic inertia, they challenge leaders to unify and simplify certification processes to better serve firefighters and, ultimately, their communities.