1986: The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the International City-County Management Association (ICMA) met to develop the concepts and design for continuous improvement of the fire services industry.

December 1996: The IAFC and ICMA executed the Master Trust Agreement, establishing the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) to award accreditation to fire and emergency service agencies and to pursue scientific research and education in the public interest.

November 2001: The original trust was dissolved and the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) was incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation, governed by a board of directors that oversaw two commissions: the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and the Commission on Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Designation.

March 2006: To reflect its larger focus and its importance to all-hazard response, the corporation's name was changed to the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE). The Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) became an entity under CPSE, continuing to assist organizations in making the transition from tactical deployment to strategic response. The name of the Commission on Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Designation changed to the Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC), reflecting the diversity of emergency services.