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.