IFE Level 4 Certificate Examination

Candidates can apply to sit a single IFE Level 4 Certificate paper or a combination of papers from this level. Each paper requires candidates to provide extended written responses (i.e. essays) to 6 out of 8 questions..

The time allowed for each paper is 3 hours.

Candidates achieving 40% or above will pass the paper.

A prize may be awarded by the Institution for candidates who demonstrate outstanding achievement in all four papers (two mandatory plus two optional) in any one examination year.

As candidates pass each examination paper they complete an Ofqual accredited unit within the IFE Level 4 Certificate, viz:-

  • Fire Engineering Science: mandatory paper (Y/502/3125)
  • Fire Safety: mandatory paper (D/502/3126)
  • Strategic Human Resource Management in Fire and Rescue Services: optional paper (K/502/3128)
  • Fire Service Operations: optional paper (H/502/3127)
  • Aero Fire Studies: optional paper (H/502/3130)
  • Fire Investigation: optional paper (M/502/3132)
  • Civil Emergency and Disaster Management for Fire and Rescue Services: optional paper (A/502/3134)

Candidates can achieve the IFE Level 4 Certificate qualification by passing an appropriate combination of four examinations (the two mandatory plus two optional papers). Ofqual regards this as completing an appropriate combination of four units. The qualification appears below:-

  • IFE Level 4 Certificate in Fire Science and Fire Safety (500/5924/5)

Candidates do not have to pass four examinations within a specified timescale in order to achieve the qualification. However, in order to meet the academic requirements for the MIFireE grade of membership, candidates must pass the two mandatory papers and two optional papers within 5 examination years; e.g. 2009, '10, '11, '12 and '13.