Many argue for the certification of fire and arson investigators, because it is believed that this will upgrade the skills and training of such investigators. Those opposing such certification argue that it will be difficult to convince all the States to accept the standardization of certification, and if minimum standards are set so high as to require significant additional and difficult education and training for fire investigators, it would reduce the number of investigators currently working and reduce the number of new applicants to become investigators. The vast difference in case law in different areas of the country and the variance of the statutes for one State to another suggests that certification of the fire-arson investigator should not be adopted nationally. It should be determined on the local level, with each jurisdiction setting standards appropriate for its own situation. All fire-arson investigators, employed privately as well as publicly, should be required to meet the standards set by that jurisdiction. Ten footnotes and eight bibliographic entries are provided.