FPO Refreshers and FPO Certification

FPO Refreshers and Certification courses.

2026 

Local Refresher for RSF/UPF: 

The date for the “In Person” 2026 FPO Refresher is Friday – April 17th  2026 – Grants Pass Interagency Office @0900.  

Coordinator will me, LEO DeTroy James, detroy.james@usda.gov

Please RSVP to me if you plan to attend. 

If you are unable to attend this refresher, let me know. There are other refreshers scheduled within the Region. 

New FPO:

Registration for the Forest Protection Officer (FPO) Initial 40-Hour Training Course is now open. This years initial FPO course will be held at the Willamette National Forest on May 18th-22nd.

March 9th

March 23th

April 6 th

May 18-22th

Registration for 40-Hour New FPO Training Open

Those interested in attending the FPO Initial Course must first get approval from their supervisors. The course will include the 36-Hour Initial FPO training material as well as a 4-Hour LEIRS session. All interested applicants must be confident they will pass a background check. Applicants must be a permanent employee and have a PIV card/LincPass.

Attendance at a full course is required if an FPO fails to attend an 8-hour recertification course for a period of more than 3 consecutive years.

Process Summary:

1. Applicants seeking initial FPO authority shall submit their interest via link provided in the nomination letter attached to this email by March 9thth.

2. Forest Supervisors will receive the list of potential applicants by March 10th for prioritized formal nomination to be submitted by March 23th.  

3. Patrol Captains will receive a list of nominees by March 24th for final approval to be submitted by March 27th.

4. Selected Applicants will receive confirmation by March 30th and must submit the following documents by April 6 th: background form FS-5300-9, SF-182, and a copy of their valid PIV card. These forms will be emailed out when the applicant is selected.

If you have any questions, please contact Tyler Smith, tyler.d.smith@usda.gov

and/or Ariel Clark, ariel.clark@usda.gov

FSM 5371.4 - Forest Protection Officer Recertification

Forest protection officers (FPOs), who have been granted authority to issue form FS-5300-4, Violation Notice, shall attend an annual 8-hour recertification course. The National standardized program of instruction must be used and documented. Forest protection officers shall receive this annual training in order to continue to issue violation notices or serve on security assignments in incident camps. Attendance at a full 36-hour course is required if an FPO fails to attend an 8-hour recertification course for a period of more than 3 consecutive years.