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.