Every year the Forestry Commission offers training for individuals seeking to become Certified Prescribed Fire Managers (CPFM). Training and Safety Manager Stephen Polk announced in July the dates and locations for the four classes that the agency is offering this fiscal year; please see the table below and share this information with anyone you believe may be interested.
| Session date | Location | Availability |
| October 23, 2025 | Columbia, SC | OPEN |
| November 5, 2025 | Walterboro, SC | OPEN |
| December 10, 2025 | Florence, SC | OPEN |
| January 7, 2026 | Columbia, SC | OPEN |
Certification can reduce the liability for those conducting outdoor burning. The one-day course teaches managers how to plan prescribed burns that comply with South Carolina Smoke Management Guidelines. These regulations are mandatory for all forestry, wildlife and agricultural burning in South Carolina. The course is not intended to teach individuals how to burn, but rather how to manage smoke from prescribed fires under these regulations and create awareness of legal issues associated with outdoor burning. Certification requires that an individual complete this training, pass a written exam and document one’s burning experience. Each session will begin at 8:30 a.m. and close by 5 p.m. with an administered test.
To register for the course, prospective students must complete the registration form and pay a $75 registration fee. Applications are accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. The deadline for registration is three weeks prior to the course. Reference materials and specific details regarding locations will be mailed to each participant two weeks prior to each session.
If you have further questions, please contact SCFC Training & Safety Manager Stephen Polk at SPolk@scfc.gov or (803) 896-8810.