International Association of Arson Investigators

What International Association of Arson Investigators does

The International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) is a Maryland-incorporated nonprofit professional association founded in 1949, headquartered in Forest Hill, Maryland, and operating as the world's leading credentialing body for fire, arson, and explosion investigation professionals. Its core offering is a five-tier certification portfolio — IAAI-CFI (Certified Fire Investigator), IAAI-FIT (Fire Investigation Technician), IAAI-ECT (Evidence Collection Technician), IAAI-CI (Certified Instructor), and specialty endorsements for Marine (M) and Motor Vehicle (V) fire investigation — accredited by The Pro Board and the Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board and aligned to NFPA 921 and NFPA 1033 standards.

The association monetizes through a hybrid of recurring membership dues, paid in-person training classes (priced $145-$1,530 per course), self-study programs on CFITrainer.Net, annual International Training Conference (ITC) registrations and sponsorships, the Fire & Arson Investigator print journal, advertising on firearson.com and in the journal, and an e-commerce store. Distribution runs through firearson.com, the CFITrainer.Net online learning platform, iOS and Android mobile apps, podcast channels, and a global network of chapters spanning USA, Canada, Caribbean, Central/South America, UK & Europe, Africa, Australasia, and Asia. Technology infrastructure is light: the website and CFITrainer.Net platform are maintained by Stonehouse Media Incorporated, and the organization is supported in part by FEMA AFG/SAFER grants.

IAAI is member-governed through an elected Board of Directors and Past Presidents Council, with an Executive Director (Anne Stone) overseeing operations. It has no parent company, no venture or private equity backing, and is funded entirely by member-generated revenue. Strategic co-development partnerships with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), ATF National Center for Explosives Training and Research (NCETR), the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC), and Eastern Kentucky University anchor curriculum and standards alignment, while recent activity includes certification program updates effective May 2025 and new training lines in supervision, incident safety, and fire fatality investigations.

Name

International Association of Arson Investigators

Legal name

International Association of Arson Investigators, Inc.

Website

https://firearson.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IAAI is a 1949-founded nonprofit professional association that certifies and trains fire, arson, and explosion investigators worldwide through NFPA-aligned credentials, in-person classes, and the CFITrainer.Net online platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services and Fire Investigation Certification

NAICS

Building Inspection Services (541350)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAIAJAL

Fire Safety Compliance, Risk Assessments & Training (Code Consulting)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Industrial Services & Facility Operations/Fire Protection & Life Safety Services (Inspection/Testing/Sprinklers)

SECONDARYBPAIAGAL

Fire Prevention, Inspection & Code Enforcement (Life Safety)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Law Enforcement & Public Safety (Police, Fire, EMS)

Keywords

• Fire investigation certification
• Professional association services
• Arson investigator training
• Fire investigation credentials
• Professional development training

Headquarters

HQ city

Forest Hill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to certifications, training, publications, and member resources.
2. Training Programs and Certifications: Revenue from in-person training classes, certification programs, and credential endorsements for fire investigation professionals.
3. Website Banner Advertising: Online advertising opportunities on firearson.com with leaderboard banner ads and special promotions targeting 600,000+ annual views.
4. Journal Advertising: Print advertising in the Fire & Arson Investigator journal reaching 11,000+ fire investigation professionals.
5. International Training Conference: Annual ITC event generating revenue through registrations and sponsorship opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The International Association of Arson Investigators is a professional membership association that delivers certification programs, in-person training classes, and self-study training to fire, arson, and explosion investigation professionals worldwide. Its flagship offerings include the IAAI-CFI Certified Fire Investigator credential, the CFITrainer.Net online training platform, and the annual International Training Conference, all aligned to NFPA 921 and NFPA 1033 standards. The association also publishes the Fire & Arson Investigator Journal and supports a global network of regional chapters.

Product overview

The International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) offers a comprehensive professional ecosystem for fire investigation professionals centered around its certification programs and training platform. The core offerings include five credential programs: IAAI-CFI (Certified Fire Investigator) as the flagship premier certification, IAAI-FIT (Fire Investigation Technician), IAAI-ECT (Evidence Collection Technician), IAAI-CI (Certified Instructor), and specialized endorsements for Motor Vehicle (V) and Marine (M) fire investigations. The CFITrainer.Net online platform provides self-study modules, podcasts, and digital resources complementing in-person training classes covering topics from Fundamentals of Fire Investigation and Fire Dynamics to Expert Witness Courtroom Testimony and Marine Fire Investigation. The Fire & Arson Investigator Journal serves as the premier print publication, while the Fire Scene Evidence Collection Guide provides online evidence procedures. The annual International Training Conference brings together professionals for networking and education. IAAI also provides membership services through a mobile application and maintains chapters worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CFITrainer.Net Online training platform providing fire investigation self-study modules, podcasts, and digital educational resources for fire investigation professionals worldwide.
• IAAI-CFI (Certified Fire Investigator)
• IAAI-FIT (Fire Investigation Technician)
• IAAI-ECT (Evidence Collection Technician)
• IAAI-CI (Certified Instructor)
• IAAI-(V) Motor Vehicle Fire Endorsement
• IAAI-(M) Marine Fire Endorsement
• Fire & Arson Investigator Journal
• International Training Conference (ITC)
• Fire Scene Evidence Collection Guide
• In-Person Training Classes
• Self-Study Programs
• Fire Investigator Health and Safety Best Practices
• IAAI Store

Quantifiable outcome

• 11,000+ professionals reached through Fire & Arson Investigator journal
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration between IAAI and ABYC to develop Marine Fire Investigation curriculum. ABYC provides industry expertise on marine vessel systems, electrical configurations, and propulsion systems. Jointly developed 3.5-day training program on investigating fires on marine vessels.
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) - National Center for Explosives Training and Research (NCETR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAAI partners with ATF NCETR at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama to host Origin & Cause and Expert Witness Courtroom Testimony training courses. NCETR provides facilities and security for training courses. Foreign nationals are not eligible to register due to security restrictions.
• Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) Fire & Safety Engineering TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with EKU's Fire & Safety Engineering Technology at Ashland Fire & Safety Laboratory for Commercial Kitchen Fires training program. EKU provides laboratory facilities and academic expertise for hands-on training sessions.
• FEMA AFG/SAFER GrantscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCFITrainer.Net is supported by FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant criteria. Grants help fund the online training platform operations and content development.
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAAI training and certification programs are developed based on NFPA 921 (Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations) and NFPA 1033 (Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator). IAAI has representation on NFPA technical committees. Recipient of Presidential Award of Excellence 2026.
• Dr. Elayne Pope, Ph.D.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForensic Anthropologist specializing in effects of fire on human remains. Provides Fatal Fire Investigation Training using human cadavers to recreate fatal fire scenes. Researcher and instructor for San Luis Obispo Fire Investigation Strike Team (SLO FIST) Fatal Fire Death Investigation Course since 2008.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Underwriters Laboratories (UL): UL conducts fire testing and research used by fire investigators and is a frequent advertiser in IAAI's journal and at ITC. While not a direct membership-association competitor, it is a peer in shaping fire investigation knowledge and is a key ecosystem participant.
• International Code Council (ICC): ICC develops building and fire codes adopted by jurisdictions, and offers certifications for code officials. It overlaps with IAAI in life-safety code content and shares a similar member/certification revenue model across the fire-safety ecosystem.
• International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC): IAFC is a broader fire-service membership association whose officer-level members include many of the same fire marshals and chiefs who purchase IAAI training. It competes for continuing-education mind share and conference attendance within the same fire-investigation buyer base.

Direct peers

• National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET): NICET certifies engineering technicians across fire protection and other disciplines and is accredited by ANSI. It is a direct peer in the technician-level certification market, with overlapping buyer personas in fire alarm and fire protection.
• Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE): SFPE is a global professional membership association for fire protection engineers, paralleling IAAI's role for fire investigators. Both deliver certifications, continuing education, conferences, and technical publications to fire-safety practitioners.
• National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM): NASFM represents state fire marshals — the senior officials who oversee arson investigation units and set training requirements. It is a direct peer in advocacy, professional development, and policy influence within U.S. fire investigation.
• International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC): IFSAC accredits fire-service certification programs, including those built on NFPA standards. IAAI's Pro Board and FSAB accreditations position it alongside IFSAC as a parallel accreditation pathway for fire investigator credentials.
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): NFPA is the standards-setting body whose NFPA 921 and NFPA 1033 form the backbone of IAAI's training and certifications. Both organizations operate in the fire investigation ecosystem, serving overlapping constituencies of fire professionals, and were co-recipients of IAAI's 2026 Presidential Award of Excellence.
• Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE): CPSE offers credentialing and accreditation for fire and emergency services agencies and individuals. It parallels IAAI's accreditation-driven model and competes for the same fire-service training budgets.

Regional players

• Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE): IFE is a U.K.-headquartered international professional body for fire engineers and fire investigators, granting its own certified fire investigator credential. It is a regional peer serving European, African, and Australasian fire investigation professionals — markets where IAAI also operates through chapters.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/IAAIInc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/iaaifireinvestigator
• Facebookfacebook.com/IAAIInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iaaihq
• Instagraminstagram.com/HQIAAI

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Association of Arson Investigators