TIM Technical Specialist Professional Certification

The Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) offers a Certified Traffic Incident Management Technical Specialist credential in cooperation with the Emergency Responder Safety Institute (ERSI). This professional credential is the first and only accredited national certification for personnel to meet the requirements of NFPA 1091: Standard for Traffic Incident Management Personnel Professional Qualifications. The Certified Traffic Incident Management Technical Specialist credential offered by FDSOA is accredited by The Pro Board.

All emergency response personnel who respond to incidents on the roadway are eligible to earn this certification to demonstrate that they have obtained the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to properly discharge duties like positioning blocking vehicles, setting up a traffic incident management area, deploying and removing temporary traffic control devices, and conducting manual traffic control.

To become a Certified Traffic Incident Management Technical Specialist, you must fulfill the following requirements:

• Earn the National TIM Training Certificate from one of three sources and submit the certificate to FDSOA:
  • Online from The Responder Safety Learning Network
  • Online from the National Highway Institute (Federal Highway Administration)
  • In-person in a federal- or state-recognized National TIM Training class
• Complete nine skill sheets from FDSOA and file an affidavit affirming they have been completed
• Pass a Certification Exam administered by FDSOA

First, earn the National TIM Training Certificate from one of those sources. Download and save your certificate proving you successfully completed the training. Second, complete your preparation for the exam. You should:

• Read NFPA 1091
• Read Chapter 6i of the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and your state's supplement (if there is one) or your state's equivalent MUTCD
• Read Chapter 9: Traffic Incident Management of NFPA 1500: Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety, Health, and Wellness Program
• Register on the Responder Safety Learning Network and complete some modules that are not covered by the National TIM Program, such as "LODDs on the Roadway: Safety Lessons Learned," "Scene Control," or "The First 15 Minutes at Roadway Incidents." The choice of modules is up to you, you are simply advised to complete as many as you can and to prioritize modules that address gaps in your training and are appropriate for your department's work.
• Read Hardening Blocking Vehicles for Traffic Incidents and Planned Special Events from the Emergency Responder Safety Institute.
• Read Study of Protecting Emergency Responders on the Highways and Operation of Emergency Vehicles. Emergency Responder Safety Institute.
• Read The Past, Present, and Future of Responder Safety at Roadway Incidents from the Emergency Responder Safety Institute.
• Complete the Certified Traffic Incident Management Technical Specialist Test Prep Exam Workbook & Study Guide.

Completing the Exam Workbook & Study Guide is crucial to your prep because it includes all the topics covered in NFPA 1091 and, therefore, in the exam.

Once you have earned the National TIM Training Certificate and have completed your test preparation, go to FDSOA.org to fill out the application to become a Certified Traffic Incident Management Technical Specialist. Follow the instructions in the application to submit your National TIM Training Certificate with your application. Please refer to the FDSOA web site for full information on the application process, application fee, and testing procedure.

Once you have applied, you will hear from FDSOA to schedule the exam. If you pass the exam, you will receive a document and insignia affirming that you have earned the designation "Certified Traffic Incident Management Technical Specialist." FDSOA will submit your name to the Pro Board Registry.