This paper argues for an increased role and the importance of higher education in the continuing professionalization of fire service. The article opens by describing the development of higher education in fire service that began with a 1966 Wingspread conference for fire service leaders where a three tiered model and seven content areas were defined. A second Wingspread conference in 1976 evaluated progress in higher education and professionalism for fire service and revised the model to include a private-sector path and graduate education. The next section discusses the similarities and differences between fire and police education noting that to the extent that law enforcement is a profession it is to some degree due to its association with the legal profession. The next section describes central concepts associated with graduate schools and degrees: discrete discipline, research, and body of knowledge. Each of these, the article argues, could be applied to fire service as a graduate discipline. A final section, addressed to fire service members directly, discusses making choices for professional development through additional professional education. (JB)