COURSE OBJECTIVES

RX-310 is an introductory, self-paced online course designed to help you understand how fire interacts with various ecosystems. It’s based on NWCG standards and objectives wtih a Canadian and American lens. The course takes approximately 30 hours, including time for online videos, interactive exercises, learning reviews, and reviewing your student manual.

At the successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of fire as an ecological process using the concepts of fire regimes and fire effects at multiple scales.

2. Identify realistic management solutions in an adaptive management framework.

3. Communicate effectively with fire and resource professionals based on a common understanding of fire effects.

4. Demonstrate an understanding of how fire management related resource issues interact.

5. Demonstrate an understanding of how to manipulate treatments to achieve desired first order fire effects.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• What is RX-310?

  RX-310 is an introductory, self-paced online course designed to help you understand how fire interacts with various ecosystems. It’s based on NWCG standards and objectives and is suitable for anyone working with wildland and prescribed fire or interested in fire effects and fire ecology. It was designed with Canadian and American content, using examples from coast to coast.

• What is the course cost and time committment?

  A one-time payment of $285 CAD for six months of access. The course takes approximately 30 hours, including time for online videos, interactive exercises, learning reviews, and reviewing your student manual. 

• Is the course online, in-person or field?

  • This course is fully online and self-paced, so you can learn on your own schedule from anywhere in the world. 

  • There is no instructed field portion. You have a many exercises to apply your knowledge to set you up for future field workshops and positions where this knowledge will be applied.

  • To get more experience in implementing monitoring plots or surveys take a fire effects monitoring workshop or ask for mentorship. If you want to get more experience in the FOBS or FEMO position, take the in-person S-244 Field Observer (FOBS) and/or a Fire Effects Monitor (FEMO) course offered in the USA and British Columbia.

• Do I need any prerequisites?

  Nope! This is an introductory-level course with no prerequisites—open to anyone with an interest in fire ecology and fire effects.  Having some fire experience is an asset but not a requirement.

• Are there exams or graded components?

  • Unit reviews are for self-check only. They are open book and there’s no pass/fail. They're designed to reinforce your learning with helpful explanations.

  • You’ll complete a final review, which is open book and allows multiple attempts to meet the NWCG 70% grade for passing. 

  • Take your time and we are confident that if you listened to the videos, reviewed the presentations, and completed the exercises and learning reviews, that you will pass on the first attempt.  There are no trick questions.

• Is there a certificate?

  Yes! Upon successful completion, you’ll receive a certificate of completion.

• RX-310 is required for some certifications, can I use this one?

  This course meets the RX-310 standards and is developed by an agency qualified and certified instructor.  Share the sneak peak of the student manual with your supervisor and confirm if they will accept this course for your fireline and burn role certifications.  It contains the objectives, list of lesson topics and exercises.

• Who is the course designed for?

  This course is ideal for:

  • Fire professionals

  • Land managers

  • Ecologists and biologists

  • Students and career changers in fire or environmental fields

  • Anyone interested in learning about fire as an ecological process

  It includes real-world examples and case studies from across North America but is also relevant globally, as fire effects principles apply to ecosystems worldwide.

• Can I see the course material before enrolling?

  Yes! You can download the course objectives and content and get a sneak peek of the student manual for free before signing up.

  You also get a sneak peak of a video and case study.

• Who developed this course?

  The course is developed and overseen by a qualified instructor who meets both NWCG and BC Wildfire Service standards for instructing a 300-level course with this content. The course will be continually upgraded to meet current legislation and best practices. if there are any changes or suggesstions to the content, please reach out.

  Learn more about her background at www.crprofessional.ca.

• Is this the same as the University of Idaho RX-310 course?

  This course is a self-paced alternative. If you’re looking for live instruction and peer interaction, we highly recommend the excellent version offered by the University of Idaho. BC Wildfire Service is working closely with U of I to target the BC audience.

• Can I contact the instructor with questions?

  Absolutely. If you have any questions before or during the course, you’re encouraged to email the developing instructor directly.

• Any tips before I start?

  Yes!
  📓 Take notes—the online content builds on your student manual.
  ✅ Use the open-book format to your advantage.
  🌎 Know that this course is relevant no matter where you're from.
  🎓 And most of all—have fun learning!