Certification - Instructor
Instructor Certification
The professional qualifications for fire service instructors are based upon selected objectives of the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Standard 1041. Each designated level of instructor classification is related to a specific identified chapter found in NFPA 1041.
The standards for each level of fire service instructor must be met with competence and in their entirety. Performance standards are evaluated by individuals approved by Office of Fire Fighters Training (OFFT). The OFFT must give final approval before applicants for probationary or certified fire service instructor are granted status.
Probationary Fire Service Instructor
This is the entry level fire service instructor position. A Probationary Fire Service Instructor is an instructor who is learning and developing instructional skills and abilities while working under the close supervision of an OFFT certified instructor.
A. Minimum Requirements:
1. Must possess Fire Fighter I certification or have
successfully completed old Phases I & II to instruct
subjects within the Fire Fighter I course.
2. Must possess Fire Fighter II certification or have
successfully completed the old 240 hour training course
to instruct subjects within the Fire Fighter I & II courses.
3. Must have three (3) years fire suppression experience; or
meet the special instructor requirements approved by
Council. (Such requirements include but are not limited to
training, experience and education relating to the course
under consideration. Individuals qualifying under such
special instructor requirements are limited to instructing
the specific course(s) for which Council approves them.)
4. Must have successfully completed the 16 hour OFFT
Educational Methodology course; or the OFFT
Educational Methodology I & II courses or an OFFT
recognized equivalent; or possess a baccalaureate degree
or current certificate in education. (Note: The NFA
course, Instructional Techniques for Company Officer is
no longer considered equivalent to the OFFT
Educational Methodology course.)
5. Must have successfully completed the OFFT/IFSTA
Instructor Orientation course if an equivalent to OFFT
Educational Methodology I & II is being recognized; or
applicant took the old 16 hour OFFT Educational
Methodology course.
6. Must complete and submit a Probationary Instructor
Application to the OFFT Region Supervisor.
7. Application must be approved and signed by applicant's
fire chief; or the county training committee representative;
or the area OFFT Training Coordinator.
B. Responsibilities:
1. Must comply with OFFT policies and procedures
governing fire training; failure to do so may result in
revocation of probationary instructor status.
2. Must contact an authorized OFFT representative and
arrange to be evaluated while instructing. A probationary
instructor must receive two (2) consecutive satisfactory
evaluations within 24 months of being granted
probationary status or probationary status will be
automatically revoked. One evaluation must be in a
classroom setting and the other in a practical skills setting.
C. Authorization:
1. Probationary instructors who are Fire Fighter I certified
or have successfully completed the old Phases I & II may
instruct subjects in Fire Fighter I in which they have
demonstrated competency.
2. Probationary instructors who are Fire Fighter II certified
or have successfully completed the old 240 hour training
course may instruct subjects in Fire Fighter I & II in
which they have demonstrated competency.
3. Individuals qualifying under special instructor
requirements are limited to instructing the specific
course(s) for which Council approves them.
4. Probationary instructors may only instruct under the
on-site supervision of an instructor certified at the level
being instructed. The certified instructor must be present
and observing the instruction at all times. (Note: In cases
of undue hardship, the requirement of on-site supervision
may be waived in writing by the OFFT Regional
Supervisor upon written request of the course manager.)
To apply for Probationary Instructor - See Probationary Instructor Application, BCCFS-209
Certified Fire Service Instructor
A Certified Fire Service Instructor is defined as an instructor who, in addition to meeting Probationary Fire Service Instructor qualifications, has demonstrated the knowledge and ability to coordinate other instructors, and who is capable of using a variety of teaching strategies to develop lesson plans and instructional aids based on a task analysis.
A. Minimum Requirements:
1. Must satisfy all requirements of Probationary Fire Service
Instructor to be eligible for Certified Fire Service
Instructor status.
2. Must possess Fire Fighter I certification or have
successfully completed old Phases I & II to instruct
subjects within the Fire Fighter I course.
3. Must possess Fire Fighter II certification or have
successfully completed the old 240 hour training course
to instruct subjects within the Fire Fighter I & II courses.
4. Must have five (5) years fire suppression experience; or
meet the special instructor requirements approved by
Council.
5. Must have received two (2) consecutive satisfactory
evaluations while a probationary instructor. One
evaluation must have been in a classroom setting and the
other in a practical skills setting. (Note: In the event a
course being considered for special instructor
requirements has no practical skills training, two (2)
consecutive satisfactory classroom evaluations will be
required.)
B. Responsibilities:
1. Must comply with OFFT policies and procedures
governing fire training; failure to do so may result in
suspension or revocation of certified instructor status.
C. Authorization:
1. Certified instructors who are Fire Fighter I certified or
have successfully completed the old Phases I & II may
instruct subjects in Fire Fighter I in which they have
demonstrated competency.
2. Certified instructors who are Fire Fighter II certified or
have successfully completed the old 240 hour training
course may instruct subjects in Fire Fighter I & II in
which they have demonstrated competency.
3. Individuals qualifying under special instructor
requirements are limited to instructing the specific
course(s) for which Council approves them.
Recognition of Training Received Outside of Michigan
A. For purposes of instructor certification only, the OFFT will
recognize the following training:
1. National Fire Academy (NFA) Courses delivered by
approved NFA instructors.
2. Fire Fighter I and Fire Fighter I & II training that
complies with the objectives of NFPA Standard 1001,
Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications and is certified by
the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress
(IFSAC) or the National Professional Qualifications
Board (NQPB).
3. Fire Fighter I and Fire Fighter I & II training that
complies with the objectives of NFPA Standard 1001,
Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications and upon request,
the issuing entity from outside of Michigan provides
written attestation as to program compliance and
authenticity of the certificate.
Requirements to Maintain Certified Instructor Status:
A. A certified instructor must teach in an MFFTC registered
course or serve as a FF-I &/or II test evaluator within the
previous three (3) year period or he/she shall be placed on
probationary status and notified in writing.
B. Exception: A certified instructor who teaches only within
his/her department; or a certified instructor in a large
department who may no longer instruct but is the officer in
charge of training, may be exempted from the requirements in
item "A" of this section upon compliance with the following:
For a fire department member to maintain certified instructor
status, the chief of the department or his/her designee must
notify the MFFTC of the member's training activity and
assignment in writing, on department letterhead. The
notification is due annually during the month December,
beginning in the year 2000.
Return to Certified Instructor Status:
A probationary instructor who wants to return to certified instructor status must receive two (2) consecutive satisfactory evaluations within two (2) years of being placed on probationary status.
Removal From OFFT Instructor System:
A. A probationary instructor who fails to receive two (2)
consecutive satisfactory evaluations within two (2) years of
being placed on probationary status, will be removed from
the probationary instructor list and notified in writing.
B. Once an individual has been removed from the probationary
instructor list, it is necessary to reapply for probationary
instructor status to instruct again.
Suspension, Revocation or Denial:
The OFFT may suspend, revoke or deny instructor status for any individual who:
A. Knowingly commits, encourages, allows or participates in the
misrepresentation of information required to apply for
training, testing or certification.
B. Knowingly, commits, encourages, allows or participates in
any act of falsifying documents, deception, fraud, or cheating,
involving training, testing, certification or the issuance of
official OFFT documents related to same.
C. Receives three (3) unsatisfactory evaluations within a two (2)
year period. A certified instructor who receives an
unsatisfactory evaluation must be re-evaluated by a different
evaluator, assigned by the OFFT, within a six (6) month
period or as soon as practicable. A certified instructor may
appeal an unsatisfactory evaluation in writing to the OFFT
regional supervisor. If the instructor believes there has been a
manifest injustice at the region level of appeal, he/she may
appeal in writing to the OFFT Director of Training for final
resolution.
D. Knowingly makes a misrepresentation of any OFFT
procedure, policy or paperwork.
E. Fails to comply with OFFT policies and procedures
governing fire training, testing or certification.
F. Without authorization, retains, copies, divulges the content, or
in any way violates the integrity of an OFFT examination.
G. Knowingly commits, encourages or allows the commission of
harassment or any form of illegal discrimination, including but
not limited to: Gender, sexual orientation, age, religious belief,
national origin, or handicap.
H. Knowingly commits, encourages or allows the commission of
any illegal, immoral or unethical act during the conduct of
OFFT training, testing, certification or related activities.
