Smeby (2014) suggests professional qualifications for fire and emergency services (FES) administration include three areas of competency: (1) training, (2) experience, and (3) education. In all three areas, FES administrators should meet minimum levels of proficiency. These minimal qualifications should be the same throughout the country, just as they are for medical, engineering, and legal professionals.

For this journal, rationalize Smeby's statement on professional qualifications or reject it suggesting time-in-grade and experience is a better way to establish competency for FES administrators. Why do you support this?