About the qualification
Qualification Number: 610/6795/7, 610/6796/9
Level 4 Certificate in Fire Risk Assessment
Operational Start Date: 1st January 2026
Total Qualification Time: 200 hours
Guided Learning: 100 hours
Level 4 Diploma in Fire Risk Assessment
Operational Start Date: 1st January 2026
Total Qualification Time: 380 hours
Guided Learning: 180 hours
What are the objectives for the Level 4 Fire Risk Assessment qualification(s)?
The objective of these qualifications is to support learners in developing the knowledge, skills and understanding required to undertake fire risk assessment activity at an Intermediate level, in line with BS 8674:2025.
The qualifications prepare learners to apply relevant fire safety legislation, guidance and risk-based methodologies across a range of premises, to exercise sound professional judgement within defined limits of competence, and to record clear, structured and defensible fire risk assessment findings. Learners are expected to recognise complexity, uncertainty and situations requiring escalation or referral.
Achievement of the qualification supports progression towards demonstrating competence through supervised practice, workplace experience and ongoing professional development. The qualification alone does not evidence unsupervised or advanced fire risk assessment practice.
What are the pre-entry requirements for the Level 4 Fire Risk Assessment qualification(s)?
There are no formal pre-entry requirements for this qualification. Centres must, however, carry out an initial assessment or skills scan to confirm that learners can work at Level 4 and meet the demands of the programme.
As a minimum, centres should only enrol learners who can demonstrate one or more of the following:
- a role that provides access to appropriate workplace evidence and opportunities for supervised practice during delivery.
- a relevant fire risk assessment qualification at Level 3 (or an accepted equivalent), and/or
- substantial recent experience supporting or undertaking fire risk assessment activities in the workplace, and/or
- a role that provides access to appropriate workplace evidence and opportunities for supervised practice during delivery.
The SFJ Awards Level 3 Certificate in Fire Risk Assessment provides a strong foundation for progression to this qualification and is recommended for learners who are new to formal fire risk assessment qualifications. Completion of the Level 3 qualification is not mandatory, but it may support learner readiness and progression.
What are the opportunities for progression after the Level 4 Fire Risk Assessment qualification(s)?
This qualification creates a number of opportunities for progression, including further study at a higher level and movement into more complex fire risk assessment environments. Learners may progress to the Level 5 qualification, which will align to the Advanced tier of fire risk assessor competence described in BS 8674:2025. As learners gain workplace experience, they may also work towards third-party certification and professional recognition, reflecting the broader competence expectations set out in the standard.
For more information, download the Qualification Handbook here:
Handbook