The all important NFPA 1001's

[wannabe]

Just wanted to ask those of you that are out there taking pre-fire courses if they are concerned that their programs are not NFPA 1001 stamped?

I hear this is the case in most of the Ontario schools. Can't be...is it?

[jamielopes]

Good question.

I too, thought that any course should be NFPA stamped. However, I spoke with a captain in Cambridge about it, who also is an instructor at Conestoga College, Pre-Service Firefighter program, and his response was that the NFPA standards do not allow for hand on, practicum training, but rather relay heavily on theory. Where as the pre-service program at Conestoga is endorsed by the OFM. This endorsement is more appealing to the dept's in the Waterloo region, and surrounding area.

(More or less, that's what I understood to be said)

hope that answers it.

Jamie

[wannabe]

Thanks Jamie, that makes sense. I'm sure most cities who have a hometown course must hire from it.

I only ask because I know that London(my first choice) doesn't hire unless your course is NFPA. That's why I'm headed out to Alberta this spring.

You would think that in the 1,2 and even 3 years that some of these programs run they could fit in the NFPA requirements though, making thier graduates qualified everywhere. Sounds screwy to me. *shrug*

[itchyduval]

Hey Man,

I just recently graduated from the Pre-service course in Barrie back in August. That gave us the opportunity to write the Provincial Exam (Components 1,2, and 3). Upon getting successful results on that exam. We will receive our Firefigter Certificates when we get hired and complete our training period. A few months goes by, and, Out of the Blue ProBoard sent me a letter congratulating me on Qualifying to receive my FireFighter Level 1 Certficate(NFPA 1001) and Hazmat 472. So, evidently the course paid off tremendously because it was governed by the O.F.M. and the O.F.C.
Not to mention the 1 year course was excellent!!!
So good luck, just thought you might be interested in knowing that good things happen close to home as well.

[wannabe]

Interesting!

You know, you would think these programs would give that info out more readily!

I wonder how many people have passed by thier programs after learning that they are not NFPA certified. And here you find out that they are after all. Well...I guess I wouldn't go so far as to say they all are. Yours turned out to be.

I know the OFM stamp is all that here in Ontario but if you plan to apply in another province it's the NFPA stamp that people are looking for.

In my specific case...if I wanted my home town, London, they only take NFPA. Period.

I'm glad your course worked out for you...sounds like you picked a good one.

Best to you,
Paula

[Smoke20286]

Its quite a while since I was looking for a job, but it seems to me most of the schools that are prerequisites for being hired with many cities don't really concentrate on NfPA 1001 anymore.

[firedad]

i'm taking the pre-service fire course at northern college and we have a guy from nova scotia. he needs the NFPA 1001 to get a job back home, and hes getting it in our course, acually all of us are getting it. maybe you just have to research where you take the course.

[wannabe]

Hmmmm...amybe it's like in the States where you take the course and write the exam afterwards to get the stamp.

[firedad]

after we write the ontario fire exam, all you have to do is pay an extra $25.00 and you get the NFPA 1001 cert.

if we pass...

hope this helps...good luck

[Smitdy6]

I am in the Pre-Service at St. Clair College and all the instructors (Fire Chiefs in this area) have told us that the NFPA 1001 are important but would rather hire someone with hands-on practical experience. The OFM endorsment holds a look of clout in Ontario. We also have the opportunity to write the Ontario Exam at the end of our course, and recieve a certificate a few months after being hired. Full certification comes into effect after completing the performance check list on the job and signed off by an officer.
Good Luck to all!

[Frustrated]

I am a graduate of the Texas A&M Fire Training School, and we received both the NFPA certificate and the Pro Board certificates. I don't understand why Fire Chiefs around Ontario are saying that they would rather hire recruits with "hands on" training. Aside from the first week of school when we were learning about fire science, we were outside every single day being taught the hands on method. I think they should research the other schools a little more thorough and not have such a biased opinion because they teach at the ontario schools or have helped out with them in some way. There is no Training Field in Canada that could compare to the almost 200 acre field in Texas.