Certified Prescribed Burn Manager

20 years after being passed by the michigan legislature, and with contributions from the michigan prescribed fire council, the certified prescribed burn manager program has finally launched.

What is it?

The Certified Prescribed Burn Manager program is a licensing process that gives the licensee greater coverage when it comes to utilizing prescribed fire as a land management or cultural practice.

How do I become a CPBM?

To become a CPBM you will need to follow one of two paths.

1. Hold a CPBM in another state and apply for reciprocity. States such as

2. nnnn

Submission Process

State Reciprocity Documentation

• Copies of required courses (s130, s190, s290 and a certified prescribed burn manager course) if outside of original states requirements. Most states have their own certification course that will meet MI guides. 

• Record of prescribed burns if your original state is less than the required 5 burns for Michigan. If your state is 5 burns or above, you can just use your reciprocity documentation as your experience log. 

• Michigan CPBM application form 

Michigan Licensee Applicants

• Certifications for S130+ field day, S190, S290 and the Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Course

• Record of at least 5 prescribed burns you have participated in, preferably at least 2 that you burn bossed on, but burn bossing 2 is not required. Most folks have utilized the experience log, or their organizations burn log from prior burns. 

• Michigan CPBM application

Obtaining National Wildfire Coordinating Group Certifications

NWCG is the national standard in wildland & prescribed fire training. As a pre-requisite to attending a CPBM course, you will need to obtain S130, including completing the field day component, S190 & S290, with or without the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System (CFFDRS) addendum.

To access these trainings, start by creating an account through the Wildland Fire Learning Portal.

• S-130 Firefighter Training*

• S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

• S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior

*Requires a field day to be considered completed. Field days are routinely offered around the state and Midwest region. For more information, please subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram & Facebook for the latest information regarding these training opportunities.

Why would I want to do this?

By becoming a CPBM licensee you help to reduce your liability if a fire breaks containment. While it is not carte blanche to set the woods on fire, it does help establish that

Maintaining currency

Burning Issues

One of the ways of maintaining currency for your CPBM license is by attending the annual Burning Issues conference held by the Michigan Prescribed Fire Council.

Fireline Opportunities

Track your experience out on the fireline using this CPBM Experience Log. When it is time to submit, scan and send to xxxxxxx.

Burn Plan Writing Workshops

Prescribed Burn Associations

Training Opportunities

Should I put fire on the ground?

While there isn’t a database that can pinpoint your personal property’s ecological needs, a useful starting point is the Michigan Prescribed Fire Model from Michigan Natural Features Inventory. This model draws on historical records, tribal traditions, & fire ecology science to identify fire regimes on State, Tribal, and Federal lands.

Conversations with local land conservancies and other natural area managers are also beneficial. Land conservancies that are formally a part of the Michigan Prescribed Fire Council include: Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, Land Conservancy of West Michigan, & Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy.

RxBurn Planner

RxBurn Planner is a tool created by Tall Timbers. It utilizes

Smoke V2 or whatever its called