Chapter 5 Implementing Training and Certification Standards 5-1

Chapter 5

Implementing Training and Certification Standards

5-1

Introduction

• Familiarity with the process used to hire career firefighters

• Not anything like it was in the old days

• Many applicants have all their certifications

• Many applicants may have a college degree

5-2

Life Safety Initiative 5

Develop and implement national standards for training, qualifications, and certification (including regular recertification) that are equally applicable to all firefighters based on the duties they are expected to perform

5-3


OPPOSING CONCEPTS

• Standards of care

• Chain of survival (AHA)

• Standard of care vs.

chain of survival

• What about firefighting?

5-4


HOW WE GOT HERE

• Political issues

• Directly affect fire and emergency services

• Vast differences is state training processes

• States make changes fairly often

• Based on governing bodies

Cont.5-5


HOW WE GOT HERE

• After initial training?

• Drills vary by department

• Variables in education and training

• No two states are equivalent

• Nonstandard responses to emergencies

5-6


EVALUATING WHERE WE ARE

• Initial training requirements

• Learning domains

• Cognitive

• Psychomotor

• Affective

Cont.5-7

Courtesy of Concord Fire Department



• Key action verbs

• Remembering

• Understanding

• Applying

• Analyzing

• Evaluating

• Creating

Cont.5-8



• NFPA standards

• Knowledge

• Skills

• JPRs

• Resources

Cont.5-9



• Certification requirements

• Definition

• Tested by an accredited examining body

• Career firefighter basic training

• Volunteer firefighter basic training

Cont.5-10



• In-service training requirements

• Overview

• Takes place on the job

• Ranges from lectures to hands-on

• Departments have own requirements for drills

• Practice and prepare

Cont.5-11



• Common skills

• High-frequency and low-risk

• Commonly practiced

• Target hazards

• Low-frequency and high-risk

• Natural disasters

Cont.5-12

Courtesy of Concord Fire Department



• Funding issues

• Could result in deficient training

• Elimination of some travel

• Must justify to political leaders

• Positions cut in paid departments

Cont.

5-13



• Accreditation

• Overview

• International Fire Service Accreditation Congress

• National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (NBFSPQ, or Pro Board)

• In 2010 offered accreditation for 72 levels of 16 NFPA standards

Cont.5-14



• Higher educational requirements

• Business associations

• Physical ability testing

• Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)

• Pass/fail

• Rarely accepted outside respective area

5-15


ESTABLISHING WHERE WE SHOULD BE

• Recertification requirements

• FESHE model

• Model for future training

• Peer driven

• Total package

of training and education

• Becoming an industry standard

Cont. 5-16Courtesy of John Blauch



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• Tiered training

• Specific levels within a certification

• Credentialing

• Presidential Directive 12

• First responder authentication credentials

5-18

Summary

• Improving safety is a challenge• Should establish minimum training and certification

standards• A career ladder has been developed• Standard certification and the integration of higher

education is encompassed• Standard credentialing, certification, and

recertification would provide the opportunity for safety to be interwoven into all aspects of training

5-19

Documents

Chapter 5 Implementing Training and Certification Standards 5-1