Fire rescue certification – Instructors, evaluators and proctors

Overview

The Alberta government administers International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) and Pro Board-accredited testing for municipal and industrial fire rescue services in Alberta.

Approved members of the fire rescue service help deliver testing according to set procedures and under the supervision of the Alberta's Firefighter Certification Program.

Instructors

Fire departments or schools looking to host National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) certification testing must ensure their instructors have completed both the:

• NFPA standard and level they will be teaching
• NFPA 1041 Fire & Emergency Services Instructor Level I or equivalent (example: B.Ed)

Instructors cannot act as proctors or evaluators for the class they instruct.

Instructors wanting to teach 1041 Fire & Emergency Services Instructor Level I must have completed 1041 Fire & Emergency Services Instructor Level II.

Evaluators

Evaluators who wish to conduct skills evaluations for NFPA certification must be approved by the Alberta Firefighter Certification Program. Evaluators must:

• be identified and supported by the Host Department 
• be certified in the entry level and NFPA standard and level being evaluated 
• be certified in NFPA 1041 Fire Service Instructor Level I and II
• attend a virtual orientation for the standard being evaluated, if applicable
• NOT have delivered the training to the students they will be evaluating
• NOT have a personal relationship with students they will be evaluating
• Ensure all skill evaluations provided by the program are fully completed (removal of skills from packages will result in an invalid evaluation)
• Ensure that all the skill evaluations are completed in a safe manner
• Ensure all required equipment and resources are available prior to the beginning of the skills evaluation
• View Evaluator Agreement

To become an evaluator, submit an Evaluator Application.

Proctors

Proctors administer exams on behalf of the provincial government. Proctors are responsible for ensuring the correct exam materials are delivered to the students, the exam rules are followed, and all paperwork is correctly completed and submitted.

They are also responsible for the security of the exams. Proctors must:

• commit to follow all testing and proctoring procedures
• NOT have delivered the training to the students who are testing
• NOT have a personal relationship with students who are testing
• View Proctor Agreement

Validating testing materials

• NFPA standards are reviewed and updated on a 5 year cycle. When a new NFPA standard is published, we review the new standard and work with current and active subject matter experts to ensure evaluation materials cover: The standard’s job performance requirements, required knowledge and required skills
• Alberta fire service operational requirements 

We are always looking for subject matter experts to help validate assessment material. Getting involved with the validation process helps you stay up-to-date with changes to NFPA standards and allows you to make a contribution to fire service certification in Alberta.
If interested in participating on validation committees for new standards, you must be:

• supported by your department 
• be an active instructor and evaluator in the current NFPA standards being reviewed
• be certified in the current NFPA standard being reviewed 
• be certified in NFPA 1041 (1020) Fire Service Instructor Level I and II

If you are interested in being part of the validation process, contact us at [email protected].

Contact

Connect with Municipal Affairs:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 1-866-421-6929
Email: [email protected]

Address: 

Municipal Affairs 
Office of the Fire Commissioner 
16^th Floor, Commerce Place 
10155 – 102 Street
Edmonton, AB T5J 4GB