Fire Fighter Academy Certificate of Achievement

The Certificate of Achievement for Fire Fighter Academy is based on the Certification Training Standards and the Uniform Fire Technology curriculum as approved by the State Board of Fire Services and the California Fire Chiefs Association. Fire Technology core courses align with the California C-ID program and the National Fire Academy Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) Model Curriculum: Associate's (Core). All Fire Academy coursework is taught to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001 - Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications. Successful completion of the Fire Fighter I Academy prepares the pre-employment student firefighter with qualifying experience for certification as California Fire Fighter I by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress and the Pro Board Fire Service Professional Qualifications System (IFSAC / ProBoard) as administered by the California Office of State Fire Marshal, Division of State Fire Training.    

Students currently enrolled in the FireTechnology Degree program are also seeking to complete the Fire Fighter Academy.  Many can complete the Fire Fighter Academy Certificate of Achievement within 12 months if the Summer Semester is included.   We anticipate 30 to 50 completers per year.

The program goal for the Fire Fighter Academy Certificate of Achievement is to prepare pre-employment candidates for Fire Fighter employment opportunities with the necessary knowledge, skills, and aptitudes to obtain and sustain a career in this highly competitive all-risk first responder profession.  Chabot College has continuously offered the Fire Fighter I Academy for 40 years and has maintained Accredited Regional Training Program status with California Office of State Fire Marshal, Division of State Fire Training. 

Upon completion of the program, students should be able to:

1. demonstrate knowledge and skills required to respond safely and effectively to fire and environmental emergency situations at the private, city, state and federal levels with an emphasis in one or more of the following areas: structural fire suppression and rescue incidents; hazardous materials operations-level incidents; wildland fire incidents; emergency medical first responder and basic life support incidents. 
   
2. identify minimum qualifications and entry-level skills for firefighter hiring. The student will be able to describe the following elements: application process; written exam process; physical ability exam; oral interview; chief's interview; background investigation; and firefighter probationary process. 
   

Due to the need for health and safety training for all firefighters, and core understanding of the professional requirements to obtain, perform, and maintain continuous employment in the career, the courses listed below (required for the Fire Technology degree) are the courses specifically identified to support the Fire Fighter Academy training for the students.  Although the EMT course is the desired minimum medical training, State Fire Training has designated the content of EMS 1 as the lowest level medical training for Fire Fighter I certification.

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
Fire Technology 1	Principles of Emergency Services	3	S1
Fire Technology 2	Principles of Fire and Emergency Services Safety and Survival	3	S1
Fire Technology 7	Health and Fitness for the Fire Service	3	S1
Fire Technology 88A	Introduction to Fire Fitness Training	1	S1
Fire Technology 10	Introduction to Fire Fighter I Academy	1	S1
Fire Technology 11	Fire Fighter I Academy	17	S2

 

and completion of one of the following:

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
Emergency Medical Services 1	First Responder	2.5	S1
Emergency Medical Services 2	Emergency Medical Technician	7	S3

Chabot College has offered Fire Fighter I academies for over 40 years, with more than the minimum units needed for a Certificate of Achievement. Many students complete all of the requirements for this proposed Certificate of Achievement, then obtain employment, but have no transcripted recognition at a Certificate level. This proposal would recognize this educational achievement level for many students who have yet to complete the Fire Technology AS Degree but have more than enough units to be academically recognized for their achievement.

Las Positas College (LPC), sister college to Chabot, posted a similar Certificate of Achievement with the fewer units proposed. Other Fire Technology programs in the region offer the Fire Fighter I Academies, but not all currently offer a Certificate of Achievement in Fire Fighter Academy. Fire Technology representatives from City College of San Francisco (Jim Connors), College of San Mateo (Christy Baird), Los Medanos College (Rick Hurtado), Las Positas College (German Sierra), and Merritt College (Demond Simmons) were advised of Chabot College's interest to formally pursue this Certificate of Achievement during the Public Safety Regional Joint Venture meeting in Spring 2019 at LPC. All representatives stated support for the Certificate option to be offered by Chabot College.