Firefighter I

Fire Service Training Bureau

Fireghter I

Certication Procedures Guide

This Certication Procedure Guide reects the requirements of

NFPA 1001: Standard for Fireghter Professional

Qualications, 2013 Edition

May 2018 V1.1

Foundation of the FSTB Certication System

Equal Access for All

Registrations for certication will be accepted from any candidate meeting the criteria listed in the appropriate

certication document. Applications will be accepted without regard to race, color, creed, gender, marital status,

or status as a military veteran. Applications will be accepted without regard to age as long as the applicant is at

least 18 years of age, and disability as long as that disability does not hinder the applicant’s ability to perform

the necessary skills and practices required by the National Fire Protection Association’s Professional Qualications

Standards. If you have questions or comments regarding the certication, training, or other services provided by

the Fire Service Training Bureau (FSTB), please call 515-294-6817.

Legal Authority

Legislative authority for re service certication was granted to the Fire Service Institute, Iowa State University

Extension by the Iowa legislature in 1986. With the passing of HF 2492 and the permission of the governing

International Fire Service Accreditation Congress, authority for re service certication was granted to the Fire

Service Training Bureau, Division of the State Fire Marshal effective July 1, 2000.

Accreditation

The FSTB certication system has been accredited by the IFSAC to certify re service personnel to accepted

national standards. Through this process, Iowa re service personnel achieve international certication.

Accreditation of the FSTB certication system assures the Iowa re service that programs and standards used

within this system adhere to the most current recognized and adopted national standards. The assurances

gained through the accreditation process provide credibility and prestige for every reghter participating in the

certication process. Fireghters certied through the Iowa system are recognized throughout the United States

(and the world) as qualied and meeting the standards set forth by the National Fire Protection Association

(NFPA).

Certication

After participants within the FSTB certication system have met the performance requirements and successfully

completed an objective evaluation process, the FSTB awards National Certication. Upon awarding National

Certication, the individual’s name is entered in the Iowa certication data bank as well as the national certica-

tion data bank maintained by the IFSAC at Oklahoma State University. An ofcial seal from the IFSAC is attached

to every certicate and includes an individual national certication number.

Standards

NFPA Professional Qualications Standards are used by the entities accredited by the IFSAC. To maintain

accreditation, entities must certify re service personnel to the latest edition of the “Professional Qualications

Standards” adopted by the issuing jurisdiction.

System Integrity

The requirements, criteria, and processes explained in this document are used to ensure the highest possible

credibility and stature for participants in the FSTB certication system. These processes help ensure

that Iowa trained and certied re service personnel are among the most highly qualied reghters in the world.

Entering the System

Qualied personnel within the Iowa re service may enter the certication system for the purpose of seeking

certication by contacting the FSTB. Upon receipt of a request, the FSTB will forward appropriate information to

members of the re service about any of the levels of certication available.

Application & Fees

Every individual seeking certication within the FSTB certication system must submit an Online Certication

Testing Registration Form and a $50 Registration Fee to secure entrance into the system. Approved methods

of payment are: Cash, Purchase Order, Check, Money Order, Credit Card, or Bill to Fire Department. Candi-

dates must submit their Online Certication Registration Form and payment at least three (3) weeks prior to the

requested exam date to be accepted and allow for processing.

NO “WALK-IN” OR LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT ANY TEST SITE!

Refunds of Registration Fees

Registration fees may be refunded only within the rst two (2) months after being received by the FSTB.

Registration fees will only be refunded if the individual has not taken any action towards certication, other than

the submission of the registration and fee payment. Registration fees will not be refunded if any of the steps of

the certication process have been initiated (e.g., submitting local documentation form, taking written or

practical exams).

Certication Process Timeline

Candidates testing for ALL LEVELS (Fireghter I and/or II, Hazrdous Material Awareness and Operations,

Driver/Operator - Pumper and/or Aerial, Fire Service Instructor I and/or II, Fire Ofcer I and/or II, Inspector I,

and Fire Investigator) will be given twelve (12) months to complete the certication process. The twelve (12)

month time limit begins when the application is entered into the database by the FSTB Certication and

Accreditation Unit staff. The FSTB will NOT accept any documentation requirments until the candidate’s

registration has been entered into the certication database. After the twelve (12) month time period has expired,

candidates not completing the certication process will be required to start the process over by

submitting a NEW registration form and fee payment. Candidates will also be required to retake the written

and practical exams (regardless of the pass/fail status from the previous exams) and re-submit all required

documentation. All information and paperwork from expired certication attempts will be removed from the

FSTB database.

Certication Exam Availability

Every qualied individual seeking certication will be allowed access to the certication exam process (see

“Certication Requirements”). Certication exams are offered in numerous locations throughout Iowa every year.

They are conducted on a regional basis at many of the Iowa Community College regional re schools, select re

departments, and at the Annual State Fire School conducted by the FSTB. A Certication Schedule is posted

on the Certication Page of the FSTB website, www.dps.state.ia.us/fm/fstb. Each candidate seeking

certication within the Iowa FSTB Certication System must submit the Online Certication Testing Registra-

tion Form. Restricted test sites are also conducted for re departments having enough candidates to “ll” a test

site. Fire departments wishing to schedule a restricted test site should contact the FSTB for more information.

Certication Requirements

Facial Hair Policy

Persons with beards or facial hair in the area of the SCBA face piece seal (including full-face beards, mutton-

chops, goatees, etc.) will NOT be allowed to participate in the skills exam for any certication level. This policy

will be enforced regardless of the skills being tested at any site. No exceptions to this policy will be granted.

This is in conjunction with 29 CFR 1910.134, Respiratory Protection Standard.

Exam Results

After candidates have completed the exam process, the FSTB begins the process of scoring and processing

the test results. As soon as scoring and documentation are completed, the results are sent to the candidate via

regular mail. To ensure candidate condentiality, certication exam scores will not be released over the

telephone or any other mechanism. The candidate should receive test results within 30 working days of the

exam. If candidates do not receive their test results within 30 working days, they should notify the FSTB. Exam

scores will still not be released by phone, but the FSTB will begin a trace of the notication and/or explain the

delay.

Please DO NOT contact the FSTB Certication and Accreditation Unit prior to the 30-working day timeframe.

Certication

Upon successful completion of the certication process, the applicant’s name will be entered into the Iowa

certication database and the National Certication Database maintained by the IFSAC. Candidates will also

receive (at no additional cost), an “Iowa/Nationally Certied” patch, a certication level bar, and an individual-

ized certicate awarding National Certication from the FSTB. This certicate will bear a numbered seal from

the IFSAC. When you have completed all of the necessary steps for your certication level, please allow 60

working days for the completed certicate. If you have not received your certication within that time period,

please contact the FSTB to verify all materials are completed and received.

Please keep a copy of all your documentation for your records.

Reciprocity

Individuals in possession of certications from out-of-state/other IFSAC entities may request reciprocity from

the FSTB. The FSTB will only grant reciprocity for the levels of certication that the FSTB is accredited to by

the IFSAC. Individuals must complete and submit the Online Request for Reciprocity Form, available on the

FSTB website along with a $50 Reciprocity Fee. Once the provided IFSAC seal has been veried, the certi-

cate information will be entered into the Iowa certication database and the FSTB will recognize the individual

as having attained national certication at the requested level. The FSTB will not provide a new IFSAC certi-

cation seal number or certicate as the individual has already attained national certication and recognition at

said level. If the individual or their afliated organization specically desires or requires an Iowa certication for

the level in question, they must complete the steps for Certication Testing Registration, as described previ-

ously, and complete the written and practical exams, along with payment of the Certication Registration Fee.

Denial and Revocation of Certication

The FSTB may deny or revoke a candidate’s certication if the candidate submits false, copied, or plagiarized

information to the FSTB or is found to be cheating during any phase of the certication process.

Testing Accommodations

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that reasonable accommodations be provided to qualied

individuals with disabilities. This law denes disabilities as physical or mental impairments that substantially

limit one or more of a person’s major life activities (e.g., walking, hearing, speaking, seeing, reading, or writing).

The FSTB will provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations to qualied candates who have documented

disabilities and demonstrate a need for accommodations during the examination. A candidate must initiate a

request for accommodation by completing the FSTB Request for Accommodation Form, available on the FSTB

website. In addition to submitting the on-line request form, a candidate must provide documentation from a

qualied health professional, to include:

1. A statement of the specic diagnosis of the disability.

2. Cite the diagnostic criteria and tests given, with dates, results, and interpretations. Cite how the results

support the diagnosis.

3. Describe the candidate’s functional limitations due to the disability, and the impact of those limitations on

physical, perceptual and cognitive abilities.

4. Recommend specic accommodation(s) and for each accommodation, provide a rationale as to how it will

reduce the impact of the functional limitation(s).

5. State your professional credentials, training, work experience and any licenses you hold that support your

qualications to diagnose and/or treat this candidate’s disabilities.

6. If no prior accommodations have been made for this candidate, explain why. If they have - state what was

done and provide past documentation of prior accommodations.

Please note: The aforementioned supporting documentation provided by a qualied health professional must

be received at the FSTB at least 10 calendar days prior to the test date.

Please mail supporting documentation to:

Certication Unit

Fire Service Training Bureau

1015 Haber Road

Ames, IA 50011

Appeal Process

If certication is denied or revoked, the individual is entitled to due process, including an appeal and hearing.

Any person believing that they have not received fair treatment within the certication process is also entitled

to the appeal process.

The rst step in the appeal process is for the individual to contact the Certication Manager at the FSTB. This

initial contact is intended to be an informal review of the specic details. The ofcial appeal process must be

initiated in writing by email within 30 days of the action being appealed. The appeal must include the following:

• Individual’s FSTB Identication number.

• Current address, phone number and email address.

• Statement of the issue(s) involved & date incident took place.

• Remedy requested.

The Certication Manager shall, within 21 working days from the date the appeal is received, provide a written

response by email to the individual requesting the appeal. If the appeal is not resolved during this step, the

individual appealing may move to the second step and appeal to the Bureau Chief of the FSTB. This appeal

must be submitted in writing by email to the Bureau Chief within 7 working days from the Certication Manager’s

response. An individual may request a formal review of the appeal through an in-person meeting with the

Bureau Chief. The Bureau Chief shall within 21 working days after the 2nd step appeal is received, provide a

response in writing by email to the individual requesting the appeal. The decision of the Bureau Chief will be

nal.

Please keep a copy of all your certication documentation for your records.

Certication Questions may be directed to:

[email protected]

515-294-6818

Introduction to Fireghter I Certication

Online Certication Testing Registration Form

Certication Unit email: [email protected]

FSTB website: www.dps.state.ia.us/fm/fstb

FSTB Certication phone number: 515-294-6817

Each individual seeking certication within the Iowa Fire Service Training Bureau Certication System must submit

the online Certication Testing Registration Form, and a $50 Registration Fee, to secure entrance into the system.

The form is available on the Certication Page of our website at www.dps.state.ia.us/fm/fstb

or scan the code to go directly to the registration form.

A Certication Schedule (located on the Certication web page) is updated regularly to reect a current list of

available written and practical test sites.

Candidates are given twelve (12) months in which to complete the certication process. This time limit starts

when the candidate’s FIRST registration to test form in submitted and entered into the FSTB database.

Certication candidates are given two (2) attempts to pass each component, written and practical, of the exami-

nation process for each $50 registration fee paid within the twelve (12) month time limit.

Candidates failing the written exam are responsible for notifying the FSTB of their desire to retest by registering

for another scheduled exam on the FSTB Certication web page. Candidates may not take the written exam

more than once per day. If the candidate has failed both attempts at the written exam, they must submit another

$50 registration fee, which will allow them two (2) more attempts.

Candidates will have two (2) attempts to pass each skill station during the practical exam. If the candidate fails

both attempts at any skill station, this constitutes a practical exam failure for that specic certication level and

the candidate will be responsible for notifying the FSTB of their desire to retest by registering for another

scheduled exam on the FSTB Certication web page. Candidates may not take the practical exam more than

once per day. If the candidate has failed both attempts at the practical exam, they must submit another $50

registration fee, which will allow them two (2) more attempts.

If the twelve (12) month time limit expires and the candidate has not successfully completed all the requirements

for the certication process, the candidate will have to restart the process. All information and documentation

relating to the previous certication attempt will be removed from the FSTB database.

Local Documentation forms and/or Projects must be submitted and approved within the twelve (12) months

from when the candidate’s certication application was entered into the FSTB database.

An ofcial picture ID (e.g., driver’s license, state-issued identication card, military ID, etc.) must be

presented for admittance to ALL written and practical exams.

Each candidate applying to certify at this level is required to bring NFPA compliant Personal Protective

Equipment (PPE) and a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).

Fireghter I - Certication Requirements

Prerequisites:

Candidates seeking certication, for Fireghter I, within the Iowa Fire Service Training Bureau Certication System

must meet the following:

1. Be a current member of an Iowa re, emergency or rescue organization. In addition to the membership

requirement, all persons must be at least 18 years of age.

2. Submit the Fireghter I Local Verication Form, signed by the Fire Chief or the Training Chief.

3. Candidate must be competent in all objectives listed in NFPA Standard 1001, 2013 Ed. for Fireghter I.

4. Must certify in Hazardous Materials Operations Level (NFPA 472, 2013 Ed., Chapter 5, Section 6.2 and 6.6).

5. Verication of face piece t testing shall be doumented on the Fireghter I Local Verication Form.

Any Candidate with beards or facial hair in the area of the SCBA face piece seal will not be allowed to

participate in the practical skills exam for Fireghter I. Candidates must be clean shaven.

Written Examination:

The Fireghter I written certication exam is based on knowledge objectives listed in NFPA 1001 Standard for

Fireghter Professional Qualications.

• Candidates are required to score a minimum of 70% on the written examination.

• The written certicaion exam contains one hundred (100) true/false and multiple choice questions covering

Fireghter I.

Practical Skills Examination:

The Fireghter I practical certication exam is based on skill objectives listed in NFPA1001 Standard for

Fireghter Professional Qualications.

• A minimum of ve (5) skills will be selected to be tested at each exam site. Candidates should be prepared to

test on the skills listed in the standard.

• Practical skills exams are graded on a pass/fail basis. Candidates must successfully complete all skill stations at

an exam site to receive a passing grade for the skill exam. The candidate is allowed two (2) attempts at each station.

Number of

Quesons 

Time

25 30 Minutes

50 60 Minutes

75 90 Minutes

100 120 Minutes

Practical Skills Examination (continued):

• Candidates failing the practical skills exam are responsible for notifying the Fire Service Training Bureau of

their desire to retest by registering for another regularly scheduled exam. Candidates may not take the practical

exam more than once per exam day.

Skills Being Tested:

1. General Skills - Don & Doff Personal Protective Clothing Ensemble & SCBA

2. Hoist Tools & Equipment

3. Initiate the Response to a Reported Emergency & Receive a Phone Call

4. Transmit and Receive Radio Messages

5. Demonstrate Use & Operation of SCBA

6. Replace SCBA Cylinders

7. Respond on Apparatus

8. Establish & Operate Work Areas at Emergency Scenes

9. Force Entry Into Structure

10.Exit a Hazardous Area as a Team

11. Set Up Ground Ladders

12. Attack a Passenger Vehicle Fire

13. Extinguish Fires in Exterior Class A Materials

14. Conduct a Search & Rescue in a Structure

15. Attack an Interior Structure Fire

16. Perform Horizontal Ventilation on a Structure

17. Perform Vertical Ventilation on a Structure

18. Overhaul a Fire Scene

19. Property Conservation Operations

20. Connect a Fire Dept. Pumper to a Water Supply

21. Extinguish Incipient Class A, Class B, & Class C Fires

22. Illuminate the Emergency Scene

23. Turn Off Building Utilities

24. Combat a Ground Cover Fire

25. Clean & Check Ladders, Ventilation Equipment, SCBA, Ropes, Salvage Equipment & Hand Tools

26. Clean, Inspect, & Return Fire Hose to Service

References/Textbooks:

• IFSTA, Essentials of Fireghting, 6th Edition, 2013

• IFSTA, Hazardous Materials for First Responders, 4th Edition, 2010

Fireghter I - Local Verication Form

NFPA 1001 - 2013

Candidate’s Name: ___________________________________________________________________________

Candidate’s Fire Department: __________________________________________________________________

FSTB ID #___________________________________________ Date of Birth ___________________________

(First 5 letters of last name & last 4 digits of SS #)

Local Verication Requirements

1. The candidate has been successfully tted to their Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Mask in

compliance with 29 CFR 1910.134 within the last twelve (12) calendar months.

2. NFA 1001 - 2013, Chapter 4, Entrance Requirements:

a. Subsection 4.1 - General: The candidate has successfully met the thirteen (13) requirements set forth in

NFPA 1582, Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments, 2013 edition,

Chapter 5, Subsection 5.1.1, as determined by the medical authority of the AHJ.

b. Subsection 4.3 - Emergency Medical Care: The candidate has successfully completed the emergency medical

care performance capabilities in compliance with the objectives in NFPA 1001 - 2013, infection control,

bleeding control, shock management, and CPR.

c. These requirements are developed and have been validated at the local level per departmental protocol.

Documentation of the requirements contained below are subject to verication by FSTB in written form and/

or hard copy of the document(s).

3. NFPA 1001 - 2013, JPR 5.1.2, Locate Information in Departmental SOPs: The candidate has successfully

demonstrated the ability to successfully locate information in the departmental SOPs/SOGs and standard or

code materials.

4. NFPA 1001 - 2013, JPR 5.5.1, Complete Recording & Reporting Procedures: The candidate has successfully

demonstrated the ability to successfully complete departmental equipment maintenance records and comply

with departmental maintenance reporting procedures.

This section is to be completed by Fire Department Chief or Training Chief ONLY

I have reviewed the candidate’s le and afrm that the candidate identied above has met the requirements listed in

paragraphs 1 through 4 above. All requirements have been successfully conducted and completed per local department

protocol. All information listed above can be validated by a copy of the documents maintained by the department.

____________________________________________ _________________________________________

Typed or Printed Name of Fire Department Chief or Training Chief Signature

Date: ___________________________ Fire Department: _______________________________________________

FD Phone Number: _______________________________ FD Email: _______________________________________

Scan completed document and email to: [email protected]

This form can ONLY be submitted after the candidate’s Certication Testing Registration

Form has been received by the FSTB and entered into the Certication database.

Decide to seek National Certication

Attend an appropriate class, if required

Submit Certication Registration Form,

Local Verication Form, and fee to FSTB

1st Attempt -

Complete written and skills exams

Passed

ALL

exams?

You have twelve (12) months to complete this process or you start over.

Certication Flow Chart for Fireghter I

Yes

Receive certicate

in 60 days

Notied by FSTB

in 30 days

Review material and study

FSTB

2nd Attempt -

Retest required exam(s)

Passed

ALL

parts?

Yes

Submit Certication

Testing Registration

Form & Fee to FSTB

1st Attempt -

Retest Required Exam(s)