Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CVFI)

Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator

The CVFI course is offered every other year as a four-day, 36 hour, NAFI sponsored training program. The intent of the National Certification Board’s Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CVFI) certification program is to increase the professional knowledge and improve the analytical skills of those persons who engage in the investigation and analysis of fires and explosions in motor vehicles and/or participate in the civil and criminal litigation which ensues from such investigations and analyses.

CVFI certification is a three part process:

1. Credentials Review based on the completion of the CVFI application
2. Attendance at a NAFI Sponsored CVFI course
AND
3. Successful completion of the CVFI exam.

CVFI’s are required to maintain both their membership in NAFI and CFEI Status.

The CVFI Application Process
Prerequisites: CVFI Candidates must be a member in good standing of NAFI and hold either NAFI CFEI or IAAI CFI Certification. An exception can be made for those CVFI candidates attending a CVFI course who will also be sitting for the CFEI exam at the same NAFI sponsored program. Upon successful completion of the CFEI exam at that training program both the CFEI and CVFI credentials will be awarded. Should the candidate fail the CFEI exam – no credentials will be issued.

CVFI candidates should read the entire CVFI Guidelines and Application Packet carefully. It includes detailed instructions for the application and examination process. Fully complete each section of the application exactly as instructed. Submit your original application via mail or express courier. We cannot accept these materials in separate shipments or via fax, telephone or email. A separate CVFI application fee is required.

Applications that are deemed to be incomplete will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant. Applicants must then resubmit the entire application for consideration.

Please note that application processing can take between 1 and 6 weeks depending on the volume of applications to the Membership Services Office.

The CVFI Certification Process
The CVFI Exam is administered only at selected official NAFI sponsored training programs and selected PATC courses. This certification CANNOT be obtained by resume review or by proctored examination.

Exam Results
Official notification of CVFI Certification and exam results are made by US Mail. Official results will be sent within 6 weeks of the test date. Due to privacy concerns, we are unable to release test results over the phone.

CVFI Candidates taking the CVFI exam at a NAFI sponsored training program can receive unofficial test results on the day of the exam. CVFI Candidates taking the exam through the PATC, who are already NAFI members, may be able to obtain unofficial results earlier by logging into their membership on NAFI.org and printing a proof of membership in good standing. These unofficial results will be posted to membership within 2-5 weeks of test date.

Do’s and Don’ts for CVFI Applicants:
Do sign your application
Do complete every section of the application
Do make certain that all parts of the application are included
Do keep a copy of your application for your records (just in case).

Don’t fax or email your application – originals are required!

Do’s and Don’ts for Current CVFI’s
Do get your CFEI recertification training hours every 5 years
Do keep us updated on your address
Don’t let your NAFI membership lapse!

The CVFI program is governed by the official guidelines published in the application packet. This webpage is designed to be a digest of those policies and procedures.

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