69A-37.055. Curriculum Requirements for Training Firefighter Recruits or Firefighters

(1) Overview. The firefighter training curriculum requirements for schools operated by or for any employing agency for the specific purpose of training firefighter recruits or firefighters consist of 191 hours of training to complete Part I (equivalent to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Firefighter I compliant), and an additional 301 hours of training to complete Part II (equivalent to NFPA Firefighter II compliant). Completion of the 492 hours making up Parts I and II equates to what is collectively referred to in this rule chapter as the “Minimum Standards Course,” which is required to be certified as a firefighter. The individual courses must include the titles, content, and at least the minimum hours of instruction prescribed by the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training (Bureau) in this rule. Completion of Parts I and II is accomplished by completing the required coursework identified in this rule. Pursuant to Section 633.408(2), F.S., the curricula for Parts I and II may only be administered by education or training providers approved by the Bureau. Part I may be completed at either a recognized fire department or an approved fire training facility, as defined in Rule 69A-37.060, F.A.C. Part II must be completed at an approved fire training facility, as defined in Rule 69A-37.060, F.A.C. The school or employing agency is permitted and encouraged to offer additional training beyond what is required for firefighter training.

(2) Curriculum Requirements. The Bureau will develop and maintain an objective-based curriculum addressing the topics contained in this rule. Such curriculum will be available through the Division of State Fire Marshal’s website at https://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/SFM/. The curriculum will list each topic area, objectives, and the required hours.

(a) Part I of the curriculum, consisting of 191 hours of knowledge and skill-based training, will include:

1. General Knowledge:

a. Incident Command;

b. Role of the Firefighter;

c. Standard Operating Procedures;

d. Rules and Regulations;

e. Life Safety Initiatives in Support of Operations;

f. Firefighter Injuries and Fatalities;

g. Mental Health / Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder;

h. Cancer Prevention; and

i. Healthy Lifestyle.

2. Fire Department Communications:

a. Fire Department Communications Equipment;

b. Personnel Accountability Systems; and

c. Emergency Evacuation Procedures.

3. Fireground Operations:

a. Personal Protective Equipment/Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus;

b. Scene Safety/Setup;

c. Forcible Entry;

d. Emergency Evacuation/Mayday Procedures;

e. Ladders;

f. Hose Rolls/Loads;

g. Fire Streams/Fire Attack;

h. Search and Rescue/Restricted Passages;

i. Ventilation;

j. Property Conservation;

k. Water Supply;

l. Fire Extinguishers; and

m. Ropes and Knots.

4. Preparedness and Maintenance: Equipment Cleaning and Maintenance.

5. EMS Requirements:

a. Basic First Aid;

b. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR); and

c. Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

6. Florida Requirements:

a. State Emergency Response Plan;

b. FL-130, FL-190, FL-180 (or National Wildfire Coordinating Group curriculum equivalent);

c. Hazardous Materials Awareness;

d. Building Construction;

e. Protecting Fire Scene Evidence; and

f. Review of NFPA® 1582, “Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments,” 2018 Edition, which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference in this rule (see subsection (3) of this rule for information on obtaining the material).

7. Review of Chapter 4 of NFPA® Standard 1001, “Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications,” 2019 Edition, which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference in this rule  (see subsection (3) of this rule for information on obtaining the material).

8. Course Review.

9. An examination for each portion of the outline, which must include both a written and a performance test to obtain the best measure of learning.

(b) Part II of the curriculum, consisting of 301 hours of knowledge and skill-based training, will include:

l. Review of Chapter 5 of NFPA® Standard 1001, “Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications,” 2019 Edition, which is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference in this rule (see subsection (3) of this rule for information on obtaining the material).

2. General Knowledge: Function within the Incident Command System.

3. Fire Department Communications:

a. Basic Incident Reporting Requirements; and

b. Operation of Communications Equipment.

4. Fireground Operations:

a. Evidence Protection;

b. Rescue Extrication;

c. Hose Rolls/Loads;

d. Fire Streams/Fire Attack;

e. Fire Control/Live Fire;

f. Fire Detection/Alarms/Suppression;

g. Thermal Imaging;

h. Engine/Company Evolutions;

i. Firefighter Safety and Survival; and

j. Emerging Issues.

5. Rescue Operations: Auto Extrication.

6. Fire and Life Safety Initiatives, Preparedness, and Maintenance:

a. Fire Prevention/Public Education;

b. Fire Safety Survey/Pre-Incident Survey; and

c. Selection/Maintenance/Operation of Electric Equipment.

7. Emergency Medical Services Requirements:

a. Emergency Medical Responder;

b. Emergency Medical Technician; or

c. Paramedic.

8. Florida Requirements:

a. Hazardous Materials Operations;

b. Structural Collapse Awareness;

c. Active Shooter; and

d. Health and Physical Fitness.

9. Course Review.

10. An examination for each portion of the outline, which must include both a written and a performance test to obtain the best measure of learning.

(3) Incorporated Material. NFPA® 1001 and NFPA® 1582 are copyrighted material that cannot be copied but may be: (a) viewed during regular business hours at the Division of State Fire Marshal, 315 John Knox Road, The Atrium, Third Floor, Tallahassee, Florida; (b) viewed at the Department of State, Administrative Code and Register Unit, The Capitol, 400 South Monroe Street, Room 701, Tallahassee, Florida 32399; (c) accessed in a read-only, non-printable, non-downloadable format on the NFPA’s free access website at http:www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/free-access; or (d) purchased by writing to the NFPA at 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169-7471.

Rulemaking Authority 633.128(1)(a), (b), (2)(a), 633.408(1) FS. Law Implemented 633.128(1)(a), (b), 633.408 FS. History–New 9-7-81, Formerly 4A-37.10, 4A-37.55, Amended 11-26-85, 1-3-90, 6-30-91, 3-20-95, 12-10-01, Formerly 4A-37.055, Amended 3-19-09, 8-3-15, 10-20-15, 3-31-19, 7-1-20.