Emergency Services Leadership Institute

The Emergency Services Leadership Institute (ESLI) program is sponsored and hosted by the Florida Fire Chiefs' Association and Florida Fire Chief's Foundation in the interest of addressing contemporary leadership issues that affect mid-level and Chief Fire Officers. The focus and content of the six-course Institute is consistent with upper-level academic achievement and address issues that are either not prominent in other curricula or not structured in a manner that allows for an integrated learning experience over a two-to-three-day period per course.

While the institute is comprised of six courses, each individual course is designed to stand alone as a specific educational experience. The six courses will be offered on a two-year revolving basis. The Institute is designed to allow a participant to start and finish with any course and can be taken in any sequence. Successful completion of the six courses will meet the requirements for graduation from the Emergency Service Leadership Institute. The six courses are Human Resources and Labor Relations; Personal Qualities, Leadership & the Organization; Government Relations and Public Policy; Marketing Fire & Emergency Services; Finance & Budgeting; and Emergency Management.

Enrollment Requisites

1. Participant must be a Lieutenant rank or higher
2. Participant must hold a current membership with the Florida Fire Chiefs' Association at the time of registering for each module
3. ESLI fees are currently $235 per student, per module

NEW! Updates to the ESLI Program:

1. Registration is on a first come first served basis, regardless of enrollment or wait-list status. Please ensure you register timely as this is a high-demand educational program.
2. Wait-list request does not guarantee a seat, it simply ensures you are notified about the ESLI program and upcoming courses. Please contact [email protected] to be added to the wait-list.
3. Elective modules will be added to the ESLI program, the first of which is available in 2024 - Community Risk Reduction.
4. Equivalency: The Bureau of Fire Standards and Training (BFST) will provide equivalency to ESLI graduates for the following courses required for Fire Officer III and Fire Officer IV certification:
• BFST 9516 Chief Officer, a 60-hour course toward required for Fire Officer III certification
• BFST 4045 Personnel Management for Fire and Emergency Services, a 45-hour course toward Fire Officer IV certification
• BFST 3533 Community Risk Reduction, a 45-hour course toward Fire Officer IV certification.
5. To obtain equivalency, ESLI graduates must provide the following to the BFST:
1. A copy of each certificate for the six (6) core ESLI modules to obtain BFST 9516 and 4045 equivalency.
2. A copy of the Community Risk Reduction elective module certificate to obtain equivalency for BFST 3533.
3. There will not be any other substitutions or equivalencies offered or accepted.
6. Cancellation: Any cancellation of course registration must be made in writing and is fully refundable up until 30 days prior to the start date of the class. Cancellations within the thirty (30) day period are not eligible for refund; substitutions will be permitted on a case-by-case basis. OR payment may be deferred to a future class within one (1) year of the original date of payment.

IMPORTANT PROGRAM INFORMATION!

The ESLI program consists of six (6) core classes and one (1) elective session. To make this program successful and for you to gain the most knowledge and interaction with fellow participants, we ask that you adhere to the following basic rules. Instructors are not permitted to vary from the rules and students are expected to conduct themselves accordingly.

1. All students are expected to arrive on time and be prepared at the starting time for each class. Class start times may vary slightly depending on instructor needs and facility availability.
2. Both students and instructors are expected to dress in business casual attire meaning no t-shirts or shorts. Comfort is important, however, professional appearances for professional people is also important.
3. All student tuition must be paid upfront through the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association (FFCA) or by contacting a member of the FFCA staff to accept payment.
4. Where possible, the FFCA will provide a session workbook for you to make notes, or follow the program. This will also provide you with some take-a-away information for later use at your agency.
5. Both instructors and students are expected to maintain a learning environment, free of bullying, disparaging remarks, and a constant respect for each other’s opinions or questions.
6. Due to our affiliation agreements with other agencies, students are expected to attend all hours of the ESLI session. Understanding that there may be an unforeseen issue, instructors are permitted to approve 1-hour of tardiness per day. If you know that you have other obligations that prohibit you from attending all hours or cannot meet the 1-hour allowable tardiness, you must reschedule your attendance in another session of the same topic. There will be no exceptions. Instructors will be required to report to the FFCA office, any attendee that cannot meet this obligation.
7. Should you find that you have registered for a session and can no longer attend it for whatever reason, students are required to contact the FFCA office for options on either substituting another member of your agency, a refund, or credit toward a different scheduled session.

Your assistance in helping to maintain these simple, yet necessary rules will allow the best possible chance of providing a true learning and sharing environment. Again, thank you for participating and we look forward to seeing you in other sessions.

2025 Public Spring/ Summer Schedule
Please Note: Participants must register for each module separately to secure their spot.

2025-2026 Public Fall/ Winter Schedule
Please Note: Participants must register for each module separately to secure their spot