1. Certification Workshop
Changes to Firefighter Curriculum

2. Certification Staff Disclaimer
Certification Staff in Austin do not make the changes to the program. All changes, updates, improvements are approved by a majority vote of the Board members at their meetings.

3. Overview “It’s not just you.”
We have been through a lot of changes over the last few years, and it is very confusing.
This section of the workshop will review the changes since 2011.

4. 2011
Let’s start with the old structure before the changes that made our lives so much fun.

5. Basic (including Intro)
2011
We had three certification levels: Basic, Intermediate
Individuals who completed a sub-set of the Basic objectives could apply for Introductory
Optional “Accredited” certificate issued after passing a written exam.
Basic (including Intro)
Intermediate
Advanced

6. 2011
TEEX provided Firefighting Phase I – IV courses based on this structure from
Phases I & II covered all of the Introductory objectives aside from First Aid
Phases III & IV completed the Basic objectives
Basic (including Intro)
Phases I & II + First Aid = Intro
Intermediate
Phases I – IV + First Aid = Basic
Advanced

7. Basic (including Intro)
– 2014
The Certification Board reviewed the full set of objectives regardless of existing levels and aligned them with the JPRs of NFPA 1001: Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications (ed. 2008).
Basic (including Intro)
Big Pile of Objectives
Intermediate
Advanced

8. Basic (including Intro)
– 2014
There were meetings… fights… children cried...
Basic (including Intro)
Big Pile of Objectives
Intermediate
Advanced

9. Basic (including Intro)
– 2014
First, all objectives that were specific to Firefighter II were separated out to create Module 4: Firefighter II (Advanced)
The term “Advanced” was carried through based on the requirements for TCFP testing.
Basic (including Intro)
Big Pile of Objectives
Intermediate
Advanced
Module 4: (Advanced)

10. Basic (including Intro)
– 2014
Next, all objectives that were left from the old Introductory became Module 1: Firefighter I (Intro)
Module 1: (Intro)
Basic (including Intro)
Big Pile of Objectives
Intermediate
Advanced
Module 4: (Advanced)

11. Basic (including Intro)
– 2014
All remaining objectives were split evenly into Module 2: Firefighter I (Basic) and Module 3: Firefighter I (Completion)
The term “Basic” was retained to ensure individuals could still receive their Firefighter license plates.
Module 1: (Intro)
Basic (including Intro)
Module 2: (Basic)
Big Pile of Objectives
Intermediate
Module 3: (Completion)
Advanced
Module 4: (Advanced)

12. Basic (including Intro)
– 2014
Optional Full Firefighter I or II certificate issued after passing written and skill exams.
Module 1: (Intro)
Basic (including Intro)
Module 2: (Basic)
Big Pile of Objectives
Intermediate
Module 3: (Completion)
Advanced
Module 4: (Advanced)

13. Basic (including Intro)
– 2014
Database relabeled to align with the new format
M1 – Module 1 M2 – Module 2 M3 – Module 3 M4 – Module 4
Module 1: (Intro)
Basic (including Intro)
Module 2: (Basic)
Intermediate
Module 3: (Completion)
Advanced
Module 4: (Advanced)

14. Basic (including Intro)
– 2014
In 2013 NFPA released an update to the 1001: Firefighter standard
The program then went back under required review.
Module 1: (Intro)
Basic (including Intro)
Module 2: (Basic)
Intermediate
Module 3: (Completion)
Advanced
Module 4: (Advanced)

15. 2012 –
This time just the Firefighter I material needed extensive review.
Completion of the objectives established testing eligibility (more on that later).
Module 1: (Intro)
Module 2: (Basic)
Big Pile of Objectives
Module 3: (Completion)
Module 4: (Advanced)
Firefighter II
Training Completion

16. 2012 –
NFPA 1002: Driver/Operator material removed from the firefighter program.
Extra non-1001 material removed and some remaining categories combined.
Module 1: (Intro)
D/O objectives
Module 2: (Basic)
Non-1001 objectives
Big Pile of Objectives
Module 3: (Completion)
Module 4: (Advanced)
Firefighter II
Training Completion

17. Smaller Pile of Objectives
2012 –
NFPA 1002: Driver/Operator material removed from the firefighter program.
Extra non-1001 material removed and some remaining categories combined.
Module 1: (Intro)
Module 2: (Basic)
Smaller Pile of Objectives
Module 3: (Completion)
Module 4: (Advanced)
Firefighter II
Training Completion

18. Smaller Pile of Objectives
2012 –
NFPA 1403: Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions recommends certain categories of training be completed prior to beginning Live Fire training.
Module 1: (Intro)
Module 2: (Basic)
Smaller Pile of Objectives
Module 3: (Completion)
Module 4: (Advanced)
Firefighter II
Training Completion

19. Smaller Pile of Objectives
2012 –
The specified categories were separated out to create 1403: Introductory as a subset of the Firefighter I objectives.
Completion of these categories qualifies the individual for an Introductory Fire Fighting training completion certificate.
Module 1: (Intro)
1403: Introductory
Module 2: (Basic)
Smaller Pile of Objectives
Module 3: (Completion)
Module 4: (Advanced)
Firefighter II
Training Completion

20. Smaller Pile of Objectives
2012 –
The remaining Firefighter I objectives remained to establish testing eligibility.
Module 1: (Intro)
1403: Introductory
Module 2: (Basic)
Smaller Pile of Objectives
Firefighter I
Training Completion
Module 3: (Completion)
Module 4: (Advanced)
Firefighter II
Training Completion

21. Testing…
Let’s take a moment to talk about testing.

22. 2011
Up until 2011 individuals who received their Basic, Intermediate, or Advanced Firefighter certificates had the option to take a written examination.
After passing the exam, they would receive an Accredited Basic, Intermediate, or Advanced Firefighter certification.
Basic
Basic
Accredited
Intermediate
Intermediate
Accredited
Advanced
Advanced
Accredited

23. 2011 There were essentially six different certifications to track.
This was also a consistent source of confusion, especially when listed as a prerequisite for another certification.
Basic
Basic
Accredited
Intermediate
Intermediate
Accredited
Advanced
Advanced
Accredited

24. 2011
While making other changes to align the program with Firefighter I & II, the Board clarified the certificates to be clearer to those outside the SFFMA family.
Basic
Basic
Accredited
Intermediate
Intermediate
Accredited
Advanced
Advanced
Accredited

25. – 2014
Anyone who tested out at the Intermediate and Advanced levels prior to were “grandfathered” on January 1, 2012 with their records in the database relabeled to Firefighter I or II.
Those who tested out to the Basic level remained with a label of Basic in the same area but no further exams were offered.
Basic
Accredited
Basic
Accredited
Intermediate
Accredited
Firefighter I
Advanced
Accredited
Firefighter II

26. – 2014
It was progress, but still left us tracking six separate certifications.
Module 1: (Intro)
Basic
Basic
Accredited
Module 2: (Basic)
Basic
Accredited
Intermediate
Intermediate
Accredited
Module 3: (Completion)
Firefighter I
Advanced
Advanced
Accredited
Module 4: (Advanced)
Firefighter II

27. –
At the request of the SFFMA Executive Board the Certification Board mandated that firefighter certifications require some form of testing for issuance.
Since January 1, 2015 individuals who complete their Firefighter I or II training and have their applications fully processed are designated as trained through Firefighter I or II.
At that time they are also listed as eligible to take their written and skill exams.
Upon completion of both exams (it doesn’t matter which is done first), the individual will receive a full SFFMA Firefighter I or II certification.

28. –
As of January 1, 2015 SFFMA offers one training completion certificate and two full firefighter certifications.
Module 1: (Intro)
1403: Introductory
Basic
Basic
Accredited
Module 2: (Basic)
Basic
Accredited
Firefighter I
Intermediate
Intermediate
Accredited
Module 3: (Completion)
Firefighter I
Firefighter II
Advanced
Advanced
Accredited
Module 4: (Advanced)
Firefighter II