This article enquires into the nature of an emergent continuous professional development (CPD) mechanism for firefighters in the form of an Integrated Personnel Development System (IPDS), which proposes to base future training for every rank in the service on the acquisition and demonstration of competence for role. IPDS is due to be introduced nationally in 2005 to both uniformed and civilian staff, and this work critically evaluates its introduction. Given that the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association (CACFOA) indicates that the structure of the Fire Service in England and Wales encompasses 50 separate brigades (www.cacfoa.org.uk) employed by 47 English and three Welsh Fire Authorities, this is no minor change. The scope of this shift is truly national and its scale can be better comprehended when it is recognised that in an annexe to the Main Report for 2000-2001, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services reported that there were 33,376 full-time firefighters, 1474 control room staff, 12,028 retained and 6074 non-uniformed fire authority staff. The fire service in England and Wales has been and is currently run on para-military lines, with up to 13 hierarchical ranks separating the County Fire Officer from the probationary firefighter. (Contains 4 tables and 4 figures.)