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

Life Safety Initiative 5 OPPOSING CONCEPTS Standards of care Chain of survival (AHA) Standard of care vs. chain of survival What about firefighting? 5-4

Life Safety Initiative 5 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

Life Safety Initiative 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

Life Safety Initiative 5 EVALUATING WHERE WE ARE Initial training requirements Learning domains Cognitive Psychomotor Affective Cont. 5-7 Courtesy of Concord Fire Department

Life Safety Initiative 5 EVALUATING WHERE WE ARE Key action verbs Remembering Understanding Applying Analyzing Evaluating Creating Cont. 5-8

Life Safety Initiative 5 EVALUATING WHERE WE ARE NFPA standards Knowledge Skills JPRs Resources Cont. 5-9

Life Safety Initiative 5 EVALUATING WHERE WE ARE Certification requirements Definition Tested by an accredited examining body Career firefighter basic training Volunteer firefighter basic training Cont. 5-10

Life Safety Initiative 5 EVALUATING WHERE WE ARE 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

Life Safety Initiative 5 EVALUATING WHERE WE ARE Common skills High-frequency and low-risk Commonly practiced Target hazards Low-frequency and high-risk Natural disasters Cont Courtesy of Concord Fire Department

Life Safety Initiative 5 EVALUATING WHERE WE ARE Funding issues Could result in deficient training Elimination of some travel Must justify to political leaders Positions cut in paid departments Cont. 5-13

Life Safety Initiative 5 EVALUATING WHERE WE ARE 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

Life Safety Initiative 5 EVALUATING WHERE WE ARE Higher educational requirements Business associations Physical ability testing Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) Pass/fail Rarely accepted outside respective area 5-15

Life Safety Initiative 5 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 Courtesy of John Blauch

Life Safety Initiative 5 ESTABLISHING WHERE WE SHOULD BE Cont Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Life Safety Initiative 5 ESTABLISHING WHERE WE SHOULD BE 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