Firefighter I Curriculum Changes

June 2013 – Slide 1

Firefighter I Firefighter I Curriculum Changes Curriculum Changes

June 2013 – Slide 2

BackgroundBackground

Last re-write was in 2001 (1997 NFPA 1001) Specifies 348 hours Instruction & undefined

manipulative and testing hours. Included: 40 hours EMS 12 hours ICS (I-200) 8 hours Confined Space 27 hours wildland 17 hours extrication

June 2013 – Slide 3

BackgroundBackground

Jan 2013 latest edition of NFPA 1001 released In April, a cadre began to review existing FFI &

II with new standards to develop Certification Training Standards (CTS) & lesson plans.

In July, a validation team reviewed the material and forwarded to STEAC

Presented to STEAC on July 19

June 2013 – Slide 4

Summary of ChangesSummary of Changes

NFPA 1001 sec. 4.3 has EMS as an entrance req. making EMS a prerequisite (Min Std. H&SC 1797.182) removing 40 hours from program.*

NFPA 1001 does not address ICS, but cadre felt necessary (+ SEMS & NIMS req.). Settled on IS-100 and IS-700 as co-requisites (classroom delivery & on-line test. SEMS training to be determined by AHJ).

Confined Space Awareness is a co-requisite.* Concurrent EMT/First Responder not allowed

June 2013 – Slide 5

Summary of Changes (cont).Summary of Changes (cont).

Haz-Mat FRO to align with NFPA 472 & include WMD’s. Certification testing will be done by SFT (not CSTI - more information pending).

Wildland aligned with NFPA 1051 and increased to 53 hours to meet S-130 & 190, CICCS & CALFIRE requirements (candidates will meet NFPA Wildland FFI & CICCS Type 2 FF).

Extrication moved to FFII (to align with 1001, Chap 6)

Flammable liquids & gas moved to FFII. Separate Unit for Passenger Vehicle Fires.

June 2013 – Slide 6

Summary of Changes (cont)Summary of Changes (cont)

____________________________New Hours Old Hours______________

Lecture: 126:30 (348)

Skills/Activities: 227:00 (not identified)

Testing: 36:00 (not identified)

Total: 389:30*(not identified)

* Based on a class size of 50 students (hours may vary for different sizes)

June 2013 – Slide 7

Summary of Changes (cont)Summary of Changes (cont)

Admin. & Procedural Addition of skills & activities hours is new to reinforce basic competenciesAddition of testing hours to satisfy IFSAC & Pro-Board requirements.Skills testing sheets developed to satisfy IFSAC & Pro-Board requirements. Sheets will become the standardized testing documents state-wide.

Sample Skills SheetsSample Skills Sheets

June 2013 – Slide 8

June 2013 – Slide 9

Summary of Changes (cont)Summary of Changes (cont)

New Required Equipment(As found in draft course Plan)

NFPA 1403 Compliant Burn RoomVehicle Fire PropTwo portable tanks with water transfer equip.Class B fuels & 16 sq ft burn pan (extinguishers)

June 2013 – Slide 10

Summary of Changes (cont)Summary of Changes (cont)

ImpactsDetails being finalized. What we do know is agencies wishing to sign-off on FFI will need to:

Have enrolled student’s pay registration fee up front to SFT (similar to enrollment in CO program). Fee to include IFSAC & Pro-Board costs.

Use approved forms (Skill Sheets & Summary Sheet for testing, Task Book to be taken to agency for completion - timeframe TBD).

Conduct Skills testing on 5 standard topics and 5 random ones Provide adequate time to conduct testing (36 hours for written & skills) Evaluator in test process cannot be the Instructor for that topic Evaluators will need to be approved by SFT (attend class similar to current

SFT Instructor Update courses – min. qualifications TBD). Agencies will need to meet certain requirements TBD (most likely incorporated

into the SFT accreditation process).

June 2013 – Slide 11

Firefighter I Firefighter I Capstone TestingCapstone Testing

June 2013 – Slide 12

FFI Capstone TestingFFI Capstone Testing

BackgroundSFT is pursuing IFSAC & Pro-Board recognition. (Students will receive SFT, IFSAC & Pro-Board certs upon completion)

Both IFSAC & Pro-Board require Capstone written & skills tests to satisfy their certification requirementsConsistent with SFT Strategic Plan (Capstone testing is Goal

3 in Blueprint 2020)

Focus will be shifted to how an (accredited) agency develops, validates, proctors and scores and process’ these tests (no requirements for curriculum, lesson plans, etc.).

June 2013 – Slide 13

FFI Capstone TestingFFI Capstone Testing

Testing ChangesDetails being finalized. What we do know is agencies wishing to sign-off on FFI will need to:

Have enrolled student’s pay registration fee up front to SFT (similar to enrollment in CO program). Fee to include IFSAC & Pro-Board costs.

Use approved forms (Skill Sheets & Summary Sheet for testing, Task Book to be taken to agency for completion - timeframe TBD).

Conduct Skills testing on 5 standard topics and 5 random ones Provide adequate time to conduct testing (36 hours for written & skills) Evaluator in test process cannot be the Instructor for that topic Evaluators will need to be approved by SFT (attend class similar to

current SFT Instructor Update courses – min. qualifications TBD). Agencies will need to meet certain requirements TBD (most likely incorporated

into the SFT accreditation process).

June 2013 – Slide 14

FFI Capstone TestingFFI Capstone Testing

Mandatory vs. Voluntary: PROSSFT proposing requiring candidates at ARTPs* & ALA** to make written & skills testing Mandatory.

FFI Candidates usually lack understanding of certification system which can lead to confusion & uninformed choices.

Provides the best setting to capture students as they start their fire service career & education

Aligns with testing process used by other professions Provides consistency with other State certification systems promoting

portability Eliminates a two-tier system (some would pursue the IFSAC/Pro-

Board certification, some would not).

* Accredited Regional Training Program ** Accredited Local Academies

June 2013 – Slide 15

FFI Capstone TestingFFI Capstone Testing

Mandatory vs. Voluntary: CONS

SFT proposing requiring candidates at ARTPs* & ALA** to make written & skills testing Mandatory.

Adds another requirement for those not interested in IFSAC/Pro-Board certification.

Will result in higher cost for participants (current $40 fee expected to rise by $60-$70)

Participants do not like change Increase the administrative and procedural requirements for ARTP’s

and ALA’s. Make it more difficult for small agencies to award FFI.

* Accredited Regional Training Program ** Accredited Local Academies

QuestionsQuestions

June 2013 – Slide 16