Training & Education

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) recommends that all volunteer fire departments in the United States set a goal that personnel attain, at a minimum, a level of training that meets or exceeds NFPA 1001: Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications or an equivalent state standard in order to engage in fire suppression.

 

 

Training opportunities are offered at the following levels:

 

For more information on Training and Educational resources please visit the USFA web site.

 

 

American Public University is a private, accredited online university dedicated to serving those who serve the public.Their learning management system was developed specifically for professionals who work demanding schedules. Earn an Emergency and Disaster Management or Fire Science degree online.

 

Columbia Southern University

Columbia Southern University offers five completely online fire science programs. The fire science degree programs at CSU provide thefoundation for leadership and administration of fire service organizations.

 

The University of Maryland University College offers an academic major and minor in fire science.

 

 

Emergency Training Solutions offers hybrid vehicle training as well as information for emergency service organizations. Their site offers links to discussions in Fire Engineering Magazine, Fire Chief Magazine, and a FDIC 2008 presentation summary. Additionally, there are links to lesson plans, a quick response guide, and links for each model of hybrid car.

 

Several hybrid car manufacturers have developed Emergency Response Guides (ERGs), and in some cases videos, including: Toyota, Lexus, Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. However, there is a lack of conformity between the ERGs: each one has its own format and many lack all the information responders need at an incident to safely mitigate a rescue.

 

Hydrogen-fueled vehicles are not consumer ready, but training is already being developed. Two great resources for what is being done are the California Fuel Cell Partnership and the U.S. Department of Energy.

 

West Virginia University houses the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC), which has developed extensive resources and offers a four-hour workshop for emergency responders and a two-day course for instructors. View the NAFTC’s brochure.

 

 

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation offers a training program to help fire departments prepare for the worst — a line-of-duty death or serious injury.  Fire service personnel and families who have lost a firefighter in the line-of-duty helped develop this one-day course. Taking Care of Our Own® covers pre-incident planning, survivor notification, family and coworker support, and benefits and resources available to the families. Course materials are also available for download.

 

Leading a combination fire department is one of the greatest challenges a fire chief can face. Jones and Bartlett published this compilation of best practices and lessons learned through experience. Written by Fred C. Windisch and Fred C. Crosby of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and with a Foreword by NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg, this guide provides advice on how to recognize a need to shift to a combination department, how to make the change, and how to manage a combination department.

 

This manual is designed to assist emergency service managers in establishing effective standard operating procedures within their organization. It is a valuable resource for personnel seeking a clear understanding of operational issues, and facilitates compliance with current laws, regulations, and standards related to the emergency services. Download a copy from the U.S. Fire Administration Publications Center.

 

 

Find scholarship opportunities.

 

Autism Recognition and Response
This coursework was developed by the North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal, in cooperation with other agencies in North Carolina and across the U.S. Packages can be mailed to any State who requests the program. Contact: Chris Best, North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal (NC-OSFM), 1-800-634-7854, cbest@ncdoi.net 

 

The Spondolytis Association of America, in cooperation with NAEMT, has created a continuing education video training program on ankylosing spondolytis (AS), a type of arthritis that affects the spine and other joints. This training is not intended to be diagnostic, but rather to prepare an emergency medical technician to do the right thing to prevent further injury once a person has self-reported that he or she has AS. Emergency first responders called to care for a patient with AS must remember that their patient's spine may be inflexible and traditional protocols for emergency care may do more harm than good.

 

 

MIPT is a non-profit, nationally recognized think tank creating state-of-the-art knowledge bases and sharing information on terrorism.

 

 

CHEMTREC is a 24-hour public service hotline for fire fighters, law enforcement, and other emergency responders to obtain information and assistance for emergency incidents involving chemicals and hazardous materials.

 

TRANSCAER® (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response) is a voluntary national outreach effort that focuses on assisting communities to prepare for and respond to a possible hazardous material transportation incident.