Incident Command System (ICS) training in Alberta
ICS gives every responder on an incident the same command structure, the same terminology and the same defined roles. Northline delivers all three levels as in person group training for fire departments, municipalities, industrial organizations and emergency response teams.
Three levels of ICS
- ICS I-100 Foundational
A practical introduction to standardized command structures, common terminology and defined roles.
Who it is for. Anyone who may work within an incident command structure.
- ICS I-200 Intermediate
Leadership, delegation, communication, resource management and the management of expanding incidents.
Who it is for. Personnel taking on supervisory responsibilities.
- ICS I-300 Advanced
Command organization, incident planning, resource coordination, Unified Command and the Incident Action Planning process.
Who it is for. Fire officers, Incident Commanders, staff officers and emergency management personnel.
Each level has its own page with course detail, prerequisites and delivery options. Start with the level that matches the responsibility you hold now.
How ICS training is delivered
All three levels are delivered the same way: in person, to your group, at your hall, your facility or a location you arrange. Northline runs ICS across Alberta.
Northline schedules group sessions on request, around your operational requirements, and adapts them to local emergency plans and command structures.
Tell us the level you need and how many people you are training, and we will confirm scheduling and cost.
Request a QuoteWhat your members receive
Northline delivers ICS Canada curriculum. Members who complete a level receive the recognized ICS Canada certificate, the same credential issued by any approved agency in Alberta.
ICS sits outside the Alberta Fire Rescue Certification Program, which is the separate pathway covering NFPA qualifications such as Fire Officer and Fire Service Instructor. An ICS certificate is an ICS Canada credential and a recognized certificate in its own right. Pro Board and IFSAC seals belong to the Alberta program's NFPA qualifications.
Requirements differ between organizations and authorities. Confirm what your own organization requires before you enrol, and ask us to check whether a level matches it.
Some of your people may be able to take this free
The Alberta Emergency Management Agency delivers ICS courses free to what it calls its primary training audience. If your members are in it, use it. Check what AEMA has scheduled before you pay anyone, including us.
That audience includes:
- Local authority employees designated with an emergency management role under the Emergency Management Act, which explicitly includes volunteer firefighters.
- Government of Alberta employees with a role in emergency management, consequence management or business continuity.
- Non government organizations that are members of the NGO Council of Alberta.
- Volunteers with search and rescue teams.
- RCMP members based in Alberta detachments, and Canadian Armed Forces members based in Alberta.
It leaves out:
- Private businesses, private industries, or individuals unaffiliated with a government organization.
- NGOs outside the NGO Council of Alberta.
- Anyone living outside Alberta.
If you are a municipal department and your members hold a designated emergency management role, look at AEMA first. If you are an industrial brigade or a private operation, you train through a provider such as Northline. Northline also trains a whole crew together, on your schedule and at your own hall, and scopes ICS alongside the NFPA qualifications that require it.
Alberta lists ICS 100 among the prerequisites for NFPA 470 hazardous materials operations and NFPA 1140 wildland certification, and ICS 100 plus ICS 200 for 470 Technician. Departments scoping those often want the ICS handled in the same program.
What people say about our training
“Very fun and informative”
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“I have taken this course many times and was pleased to get new knowledge as well as a great reinforcement of existing skills”
“Logan brought a very interesting and relatable program to our group
I have taken this course many times and was pleased to get new knowledge as well as a great reinforcement of existing skills
I would highly recommend this group as trainers!”
GoGravel Canada Intermediate/Standard First Aid, group training. -
“When we got to the delivery portion of the course, Logan walked me through the grading process so I could come in aware of what was expected.”
“I took my 1041 Level 1 and 2 through Logan, and had a wonderful experience. He was able to answer all questions, and was available when I needed help. When we got to the delivery portion of the course, Logan walked me through the grading process so I could come in aware of what was expected. I will be taking future courses here for sure.”
Nikolas Krushelnicki NFPA 1041 Fire Service Instructor I and II. -
“Outstanding course. Meticulously delivered, detail-oriented, and incredibly knowledgeable.”
“Outstanding course. Meticulously delivered, detail-oriented, and incredibly knowledgeable. Highly recommend Logan and the Northline team!”
Steve Erickson Intermediate/Standard First Aid, group training. -
“Logan is an excellent teacher who is intentional with every story he tells and lesson he teaches.”
“Logan is an excellent teacher who is intentional with every story he tells and lesson he teaches. 100% would recommend to any large group hoping to get Intermediate First Aid Red Cross certified!”
Josie Webber Intermediate/Standard First Aid, group training. -
“Exceptional instruction and care when teaching the red cross first aid course!”
“Exceptional instruction and care when teaching the red cross first aid course!”
Ethan Quirk Intermediate/Standard First Aid, group training. -
“Evaluation process was well defined and run, with clear performance based expectations.”
“Evaluation process was well defined and run, with clear performance based expectations.”
Dave Cran Team Lead & Training Coordinator, Foothills Search & Rescue -
“Great instructor, thorough, knowledgeable and professional.”
“Great instructor, thorough, knowledgeable and professional.”
Shelby Hammond Firefighter, Diamond Valley Fire Rescue NFPA 1002 Aerial Apparatus. -
“Logan was great to work with. Very prompt and thorough. Helpful and professional in the delivery of our NFPA courses.”
“Logan was great to work with. Very prompt and thorough. Helpful and professional in the delivery of our NFPA courses.”
Andy V Rope Team Member, Foothills Search & Rescue -
“Excellent Instructors, extremely knowledgeable!”
“Excellent Instructors, extremely knowledgeable!”
Kevin Murray Firefighter/Paramedic, Rockyview County Fire Services -
“Fantastic instructors and very well run.”
“Fantastic instructors and very well run.”
Ryley Dimmer Firefighter, Calgary Fire Department -
“Very enjoyable and thorough!”
“Very enjoyable and thorough!”
Andrew Rasmussen Intermediate/Standard First Aid, group training. -
“…played an integral role in my success at this stage!”
“This was my second time applying for the Calgary Fire Department. I made it to the interview process my first time and I did not perform well. I wanted to make sure that this wasn’t the case my second time around so I did my research and I signed up for the Firefighter Interview Intensive Course with Northline.
Working with River was a game changer. His help throughout the preparation process gave me a lot of confidence walking into the interview. The time and effort River put in to making sure that I understood the process and that I was properly prepared for whatever questions were asked played an integral role in my success at this stage!
If you are an aspiring firefighter looking for someone who truly cares and wants you to succeed, I highly recommend reaching out to Northline!”
Graham MacDonald Calgary Fire Department interview preparation. -
“I had a 10/10 experience with the consulting they provided me in preparation for my STAR format interview.”
“I had a 10/10 experience with the consulting they provided me in preparation for my STAR format interview. Logan & River are professionals that leverage years of experience in their respective fields to give you an edge going into STAR format interviews.
I couldn’t recommend them enough, these two gentlemen will have you ready to succeed.”
Dustin Magee Calgary Fire Department interview preparation. -
“I would highly recommend Northline Emergency to anyone who is preparing for an interview in the fire service.”
“I used Northline Emergency Training & Consulting to prepare for an upcoming interview. River was great to work with, and ensured that I was prepared even with the limited time that I had. I would highly recommend Northline Emergency to anyone who is preparing for an interview in the fire service.”
Bryce Duke Calgary Fire Department interview preparation. -
“I would highly recommend working with River as an interview coach!”
“I was fortunate to work with River in preparation for my interview with Calgary Fire and with his support and expertise, I was able to score high in the interview process. River was thorough with helping me understand exactly what I could expect, setting me up with success early on. His feedback during interview prep was very helpful and allowed me to make some important changes to elevate my interview style and answers. I would highly recommend working with River as an interview coach!”
Ashleigh Baker Calgary Fire Department interview preparation. -
“Reasonable price. Great information and assistance.”
“Reasonable price. Great information and assistance.”
Samuel Ruzza Edmonton Fire Rescue Services interview preparation. -
“If you are looking to start a career in emergency services, this is where I would start.”
“If you are looking to start a career in emergency services, this is where I would start.”
William Graham Firefighter, Calgary Fire Department
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ICS I-100, I-200 and I-300?
ICS I-100 is foundational and introduces the command structure, terminology and roles. ICS I-200 is intermediate and prepares personnel to take on supervisory responsibilities on expanding incidents. ICS I-300 is advanced and covers command organization, incident planning, Unified Command and the Incident Action Planning process for complex incidents.
Do I need ICS I-100 and I-200 before taking ICS I-300?
Alberta requires ICS I-200 completed in class at least five months before enrolling in ICS I-300. It is a hard prerequisite, met only by in class I-200. I-200 itself requires I-100. Tell us when your members completed I-200 and Northline will confirm eligibility before anything is scheduled.
Can we get ICS free from the province instead?
Possibly, and you should check. The Alberta Emergency Management Agency delivers ICS free to its primary training audience, which includes local authority employees designated with an emergency management role under the Emergency Management Act, and that explicitly includes volunteer firefighters. It also covers Government of Alberta employees with an emergency management role, member NGOs of the NGO Council of Alberta, search and rescue volunteers, and RCMP and Canadian Armed Forces members based in Alberta. Private businesses and industries, unaffiliated individuals and anyone living outside Alberta sit outside that audience. If your members qualify and AEMA has something that fits your timeline, take it. Book Northline when you need a whole crew trained together on your own schedule at your own hall, when you are an industrial or private operation outside AEMA's audience, or when ICS needs scoping alongside the NFPA qualifications that require it.
Can Northline deliver ICS training for our department?
Yes. Northline delivers ICS for fire departments, municipalities, industrial organizations and emergency response teams. Delivery is across Alberta, and group delivery can be scheduled around operational requirements.
How is ICS training delivered?
In person, to your group. All three levels are delivered in person only, at your hall, your facility or a location you arrange, across Alberta.
Can one person sign up for an ICS course?
Northline currently delivers ICS as group training for departments and organizations, scheduled on request. If you are one person who needs a level, tell us and we will let you know when a group session is being arranged.
Does completing an ICS course provide certification?
Yes. Northline delivers ICS Canada curriculum, and members who complete a level receive the recognized ICS Canada certificate, the same credential issued by any approved agency in Alberta. ICS sits outside the Alberta Fire Rescue Certification Program, which is the separate pathway covering NFPA qualifications, so an ICS certificate is an ICS Canada credential; Pro Board and IFSAC seals belong to the Alberta program's NFPA qualifications. Requirements differ between organizations, so confirm what your own authority expects before you enrol.
Train your command structure
Tell us the level, the number of people and your preferred timeframe, and we will come back with scheduling and cost.
If your training is funded through a grant or an annual budget, say so. The written scope and costed proposal can go straight into an application, and we can work to your budget year.
Fire departments developing officers usually scope ICS alongside NFPA 1021 Fire Officer, NFPA 1041 Fire Service Instructor and safety officer training. See officer development programs for how the whole program is scoped and what each component certifies.
“Great training, awesome instructors!”
Sean KozachenkoFirefighter, Rockyview County Fire ServicesFire Service Instructor I, NFPA 1041.