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Fire Standards, Accreditation, and Certification The Fire Protection Bureau was originally accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) in 1995. This world-wide organization includes 54 member entities including 28 states, 8 Canadian provinces, the Republic of South Africa, Brazil, the Sultanate of Oman, and the United Kingdom, Canadian Armed Forces, Newfoundland, United States Department of Defense. Following an on-site visit in December of 1999 by three IFSAC members, the IFSAC Board of Governors reaccredited Washington State Patrol, Fire Protection Bureau on April 15, 2000. The Bureau and the fire service in Washington State were complimented on their high quality accreditation and certification program and for the professionalism of the personnel involved. The next site visit will occur sometime in 2005. Accreditation - Any department, agency, region, association, district, private vendor, or person may make application to the Fire Protection Bureau for accreditation of their fire training programs. The entity shall be assessed by a site team on criteria and processes that address administrative procedures; record keeping and reporting procedure; staffing; facilities and equipment; policies and procedures; health and safety; performance standards; curriculum; and evaluation and testing. Accreditation is based on national and state-adopted performance standards. The Fire Protection Policy Board has the authority to accredit training programs and has adopted the National Fire Protection Association professional qualification standards, when there is a need and a standard is available. Those entities presently accredited to Firefighter I are the Seattle Fire Department, Washington State Patrol Fire Training Academy, Bates Technical College, Island County Firefighters Association, Spokane Fire Department, and Everett Community College. Certification - Fire personnel may become certified by successfully passing a written and practical state certification test in that discipline. Certification tests for competency are provided by the Fire Protection Bureau to fire organizations, professional associations, or institutions that act as the host entity. Candidates must score 80% on the written examination, and practical skills are graded on a pass/fail basis. Levels of competency testing available are Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Hazardous Material Operation, Fire Instructor I, Fire Instructor II, Fire Investigator , Public Fire and Life Safety Educator I, Marine Firefighting for Land Based Firefighters - Awareness Level, Fire Officer I and Fire Officer II. New levels to come on board in the near future are Inspector I, Hazardous Materials Technician, and Airport Firefighter. In development are Marine Firefighting for Land Based Firefighters – Operations and Technician, Rescue Technician – Basic Technician, Rope Rescue, Surface Water Rescue, Vehicle and Machinery Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Structural Collapse, Trench Rescue, and Public Educator II.
Recommended Reading: FIREFIGHTER II
FIRE INSTRUCTOR I
FIRE INSTRUCTOR II
MARINE FIREFIGHTING FOR LAND BASED FIREFIGHTERS - Awareness Level
FIRE OFFICER I
FIRE OFFICER II
ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATION INFORMATION - You You may contact the Fire Standards, Accreditation and Certification Unit, a Regional Deputy Fire Marshal, or Regional Training Council Chair for scheduled certification examination locations. Certification testing is the first process candidates should approach. Other avenues within the system are: Reciprocity - This is a process of recognizing individuals' current or valid competency (certificate and seal) that was issued by another state, province, or Department of Defense, from the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress, or Professional Qualifications Board. To apply for reciprocity, a candidate submits a letter of request and a copy of the competency certificate to Fire Protection Bureau, Standards & Accreditation, PO Box 42600, Olympia WA 98504-2600. Reciprocity is available only on levels accredited by IFSAC in Washington State. The Bureau verifies the information with the originator of the certificate. A Washington State Certificate of Competency is issued with a Fire Policy Board seal. A new IFSAC seal is not issued. Historical Recognition - The purpose of a historical recognition process is to provide a means by which fire service personnel may become certified to a specific standard based on extensive on-the-job experience, significant education, and/or specialized training. It was established to recognize Washington State fire service personnel for their training and experience prior to the Fire Protection Bureau becoming accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress in April of 1995. You must have documented training and extensive experience prior to April 1995 to be considered as a candidate for historical recognition. If you entered into the fire service after April of 1995, you are not eligible for the historical recognition certifications. Once you have been qualified to enter into the process you may apply for additional levels. Your training and experience must be documented to the appropriate NFPA standard and completed prior to the *dates listed below for each specific level. Example:
To apply for Firefighter I you must submit documented training
and experience to the NFPA 1001 standard, 1992 edition. All of your
documentation should be prior to April of 1995.
To apply for historical recognition, the candidate completes the Bureau application and submits it along with all supporting documentation. Call the Standards and Accreditation Unit at 360-596-3931 for an application. A volunteer review panel of qualified peers will review the application package for compliance with applicable performance standards and make recommendations to the Bureau. If certification is recommended, a Washington State Certificate of Competency with an IFSAC seal and number is issued. Historical recognition is not applicable to those who fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense. Emergency Vehicle Accident Prevention (EVAP) Information - Washington State law requires that persons operating vehicles weighing more than 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight (GVW), or buses carrying 16 or more passengers including the driver, must obtain a commercial driver's license (CDL). Emergency service personnel may obtain a CDL exemption by completing a driver's training program accredited by the Fire Protection Bureau and approved by the Director of the Department of Licensing (DOL). Currently, three emergency vehicle driving programs are available for firefighters in the state that qualify for the CDL exemption. The Bureau conducts random audits of these programs:
*FIRE SERVICE PERSONNEL WHO RECEIVE TRAINING AFTER THE DATES LISTED
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