CHAPTER 251
FIRE FIGHTER TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION
[Prior to 9/29/04, see 661—Ch 54]
661—251.1(100B) Definitions. The following definitions apply to rules 661—251.1(100B) to 251.204(100B):
“Emergency incident” means any incident involving a fire or other hazardous situation to which personnel of a fire department respond.
“NFPA” means the National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269. References to the form “NFPA xx,” where “xx” is a number, refer to the NFPA standard or pamphlet of the corresponding number.
“Structural fire fighting” means fire fighting in a hazardous environment which requires the use of self-contained breathing apparatus.
661—251.2 to 251.100 Reserved.
MINIMUM TRAINING STANDARDS
661—251.101(100B) Minimum training standard. On or after July 1, 2010, any member of a fire department shall have completed the training requirements identified in the job performance requirements for the fire fighter I classification in NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, 2002 edition, chapter 5, prior to the member’s engaging in structural fire fighting. Each fire department shall identify its members who are or will be engaged in structural fire fighting and shall ensure that any member engaged in structural fire fighting on or after July 1, 2010, has completed the training requirements specified in this rule prior to the member’s engaging in structural fire fighting.
Note: A fire fighter is not required to be certified to meet this requirement. Training to meet this requirement may be provided by the fire service training bureau, a community college, a regional fire training facility, or a local fire department, or any combination thereof.
Exception 1: A fire fighter who received training which complied with the job performance requirements for the fire fighter I classification contained in an earlier edition of NFPA 1001 shall be deemed to have met this requirement, provided that records documenting the training are maintained in accordance with rule 661—251.104(100B).
Exception 2: The chief or the training officer of any fire department may apply to the fire marshal by June 1 of any year for an extension of the deadline to meet the training requirement for members of the department engaged in structural fire fighting. Any such extension shall be for one year and may be renewed annually upon application. An extension shall be granted only if the department has requested training required under this rule, with training costs to be offset through funding from the fire fighting training and equipment fund, pursuant to 661—Chapter 259, and funds to offset the cost of the training have not been available or have been inadequate to fully offset the cost of the training. The extension may be for all or some of the fire fighters in the department. The application shall be in a form specified by the fire marshal and shall list by name each fire fighter for whom an extension is requested. The extension, if granted, shall list by name the fire fighters to whom the extension applies and shall apply only to those listed.
661—251.102(100B) Other training. Any member of a fire department who serves in a capacity other than structural fire fighting at an emergency incident on or after July 1, 2010, shall have received training based on the duties the member might perform at an emergency incident. Training to meet this requirement may be provided by the fire service training bureau, a community college, a regional fire training facility, or a local fire department, or any combination thereof.
661—251.103(100B) Continuing training. After July 1, 2010, fire department members shall participate in at least 24 hours of continuing training annually, which shall be selected from the following subject areas:
	●	Personal protective equipment and respiratory protection
	●	Structural fire fighting techniques including standard operating policies or standard operating guidelines
	●	Ground ladders
	●	Hose and hose appliances
	●	Ventilation
	●	Forcible entry
	●	Search and rescue techniques
	●	Fire fighter safety
	●	Incident management system or incident command system
	●	Emergency vehicle driver-operator
	●	Hazardous materials first responder—operations level
	●	Emergency medical service (EMS) training
	●	Additional training based on standard operating procedures or standard operating guidelines
	●	Other Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-related training, such as blood-borne pathogen protection
	●	Specialty training such as confined space entry, vehicle extrication, rescue techniques, wildland or agricultural fire fighting techniques
	●	Emergency response to terrorism
	●	Any other training designed to meet local training needs
Note: Training to meet this requirement may be provided by the fire service training bureau, a community college, a regional fire training facility, or a local fire department, or any combination thereof.
661—251.104(100B) Record keeping. Each fire department shall maintain training records for each individual member of the department who participates in emergency incidents. These training records shall identify, for all training completed by the individual fire fighter, the person or persons who provided the training, the dates during which the training was completed, the location or locations where the training was delivered, and a description of the content of the training.
661—251.105 to 251.200 Reserved.
FIRE FIGHTER CERTIFICATION
661—251.201(100B) Fire fighter certification program. There is established within the fire service training bureau of the fire marshal division a fire fighter certification program for the state of Iowa, which shall be known as the Iowa fire service certification system. The Iowa fire service certification system is accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress to certify fire service personnel to accepted national standards. All certifications issued by the Iowa fire service certification system shall be based upon nationally accepted standards. Participation in the Iowa fire service certification system is voluntary in that state law does not require certification to work or volunteer as a fire fighter in Iowa. However, some fire departments within the state require certification for continued employment or promotion. Inquiries regarding such requirements should be directed to the hiring or employing department.
Inquiries and requests regarding the Iowa fire service certification system should be directed to Iowa Fire Service Certification System, Fire Service Training Bureau, 3100 Fire Service Road, Ames, Iowa 50010-3100. The bureau can be contacted by telephone at (888)469-2374 (toll-free) or at (515)294-6817, by fax at (800)722-7350 (toll-free) or (515)294-2156, or by electronic mail at fstbinfo@dps.state.ia.us. Further information can be found on the Web site for the fire service training bureau at www.state.ia.us/government/dps/fm/fstb.
	251.201(1) Eligibility. Any person seeking certification through the Iowa fire service certification system shall be a current member of a fire, emergency, or rescue organization within the state of Iowa and shall be at least 18 years of age.
Exception:  Persons not meeting the requirement of membership in a fire, emergency, or rescue organization may be granted exceptions to this requirement on an individual basis. Individuals seeking such exceptions shall address these requests to the fire service training bureau.
	251.201(2) Application. Application forms for each level of fire fighter certification may be obtained from the fire service training bureau, or on the bureau’s Web site at www.state.ia.us/government/dps/fm/fstb. In order to enter the certification program, an applicant shall submit a completed application, accompanied by the required fee, to the fire service training bureau. The fee must accompany the application form, although a purchase order from a public agency or private organization may be accepted in lieu of prior payment. The application and fee shall be submitted no less than two weeks prior to the date of any examination in which the applicant wishes to participate.
661—251.202(100B) Certification standards. Standards for Iowa fire fighter certification are based upon nationally recognized standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, P.O. Box 9101, Quincy, Massachusetts 02269-9101. Certification at each level in the Iowa fire service certification system results in national certification as well.
	251.202(1) Fire fighter.
	a. 	Fire fighter I. Certification as a fire fighter I is based upon the requirements for fire fighter I certification established in NFPA 1001, “Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications,” 2008 edition, chapter 5.
	b. 	Fire fighter II. Certification as a fire fighter II is based upon the requirements for fire fighter II certification established in NFPA 1001, “Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications,” 2008 edition, chapter 6.
	251.202(2) Driver/operator.
	a. 	Driver/operator (pumper). Certification as a driver/operator (pumper) is based upon the requirements for fire department vehicle driver/operator (pumper) certification established in NFPA 1002, “Standard on Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications,” 2009 edition, chapter 5.
	b. 	Driver/operator (aerial). Certification as a driver/operator (aerial) is based upon the requirements for fire department vehicle driver/operator (aerial) certification established in NFPA 1002, “Standard on Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications,” 2009 edition, chapter 6.
	251.202(3) Fire officer.
	a. 	Fire officer I. Certification as a fire officer I is based upon the requirements for fire officer I certification established in NFPA 1021, “Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications,” 2009 edition, chapter 4.
	b. 	Fire officer II. Certification as a fire officer II is based upon the requirements for fire officer II certification established in NFPA 1021, “Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications,” 2009 edition, chapter 5.
	251.202(4) Fire inspector. Certification as a fire inspector I is based upon the requirements for certification as a fire inspector I established in NFPA 1031, “Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Inspector and Plans Examiner,” 2009 edition, chapter 4.
	251.202(5) Fire investigator. Certification as a fire investigator is based upon the requirements for certification as a fire investigator established in NFPA 1033, “Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator,” 2009 edition, chapter 4.
	251.202(6) Fire service instructor.
	a. 	Fire service instructor I. Certification as a fire service instructor I is based upon the requirements for certification as a fire service instructor I established in NFPA 1041, “Standard for Fire Service Instructor Professional Qualifications,” 2007 edition, chapter 4.
	b. 	Fire service instructor II. Certification as a fire service instructor II is based upon the requirements for certification as a fire service instructor II established in NFPA 1041, “Standard for Fire Service Instructor Professional Qualifications,” 2007 edition, chapter 5.
	251.202(7) Responder to hazardous materials incidents.
	a. 	Responder to hazardous materials incidents (awareness). Certification as a responder to hazardous materials incidents (awareness) is based upon the requirements for certification as a responder to hazardous materials incidents (awareness) established in NFPA 472, “Standard for Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents,” 2008 edition, chapter 4.
	b. 	Responder to hazardous materials incidents (operations). Certification as a responder to hazardous materials incidents (operations) is based upon the requirements for certification as a responder to hazardous materials incidents (operations) established in NFPA 472, “Standard for Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents,” 2008 edition, chapter 5, sections 6.2 through 6.2.5.1 and sections 6.4 through 6.4.6.1.
[ARC 8302B, IAB 11/18/09, effective 1/1/10]
661—251.203(100B) Fees. Current certification application fees and any other fees related to participation in the certification process shall be listed in the publication Certification Procedures Guide for each level of certification, published by the fire service training bureau and available on request from the fire service training bureau. The information in each guide shall be effective upon publication until superseded by publication of a later edition. Prospective candidates who are considering application for a particular level of certification should contact the fire service training bureau for the latest date of publication of the Certification Procedures Guide.
Fees may be paid by personal check made payable to Iowa Department of Public Safety—Fire Service Training Bureau, credit card, purchase order from a public agency or private organization, check or draft from a public agency or private organization, or money order. The check, credit card information, purchase order, money order or draft shall be submitted with the application.
661—251.204(100B) Certification, denial, and revocation of certification.
	251.204(1) Certification. Upon completion of the requirements for certification, the applicant’s name shall be entered into the Iowa certification database maintained by the fire service training bureau for the respective level of certification and into the National Certification Data Base maintained by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress. Individuals who successfully complete the certification requirements shall also receive an individualized certificate awarding national certification from the fire service training bureau, which will bear a numbered seal from the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress, and additional insignia from the fire service training bureau.
	251.204(2) Denial of certification. Certification shall be denied to any applicant who fails to meet all of the requirements for the type of certification, who knowingly submits false information to the fire service training bureau, or who engages in fraudulent activity during the certification process.
	251.204(3) Revocation. The fire marshal may revoke the certification of any individual who is found to have knowingly provided false information to the fire service training bureau during the certification process or to have engaged in fraudulent activity during the certification process.
	251.204(4) Appeals. Any person who is denied certification or whose certification is revoked may appeal the denial or revocation. An appeal of a denial or revocation of certification shall be made to the commissioner of public safety within 30 days of the issuance of the denial or revocation using the contested case procedures specified in 661—Chapter 10.
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 100B.
[Filed emergency 6/22/00—published 7/12/00, effective 7/1/00]
[Filed 3/2/01, Notice 7/12/00—published 3/21/01, effective 5/1/01]
[Filed 9/9/04, Notice 4/14/04—published 9/29/04, effective 12/1/04]
[Filed 5/18/05, Notice 7/7/04—published 6/8/05, effective 8/1/05]
[Filed 10/29/08, Notice 7/2/08—published 11/19/08, effective 1/1/09]
[Filed ARC 8302B (Notice ARC 8178B, IAB 9/23/09), IAB 11/18/09, effective 1/1/10]