Incident Commanders: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of incident commanders about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.

That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for incident commanders to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of incident commanders expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.

Keep reading to learn more about career steps for incident commanders.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Incident Commanders?

Do incident commanders need a degree? What kind of experience do incident commanders typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for incident commanders to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Incident Commanders

A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of incident commanders. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 34% of positions. In 29% of job listings no education level was listed and in 27% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Incident Commanders

While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for incident commanders. In 34% of job postings for Incident Commanders, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 24% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 10+ years of experience was sought in 24% of job postings for incident commanders.

What Kind of Degree Do Incident Commanders Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for incident commanders, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?

According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 11 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective incident commanders, and in 2023 a total of 50,041 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.

Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective incident commanders.

Top Degree Programs for Incident Commanders

Top Online College For Working Adults

Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.

Degree Options for Incident Commanders

What Skills Do Incident Commanders Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by incident commanders to secure a job?

A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for incident commanders, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Incident Commanders
Based on 2,266 job postings

Based on 2,266 job postings related to incident commanders, fire prevention was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 45% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for firefighting, fire suppression systems, fire service, fire science and emergency medical services were also highly sought.

As for common skills, operations was the most desired skill found in job postings for incident commanders, followed by management, communication, planning, leadership and investigation.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about incident commanders? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for incident commanders.

What do incident commanders do?
How much do incident commanders make?

All Occupations

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.

View Other Occupations