IAFF Education and Training Frequently Asked Questions
Affiliate Leadership Training Summit (ALTS)
Q: When is the next Affiliate Leadership Training Summit (ALTS) conference?
Becoming a Fire Fighter
Q: Do you have any information on how to become a fire fighter?
A: To learn more about becoming a fire fighter in your community please click
here.
College Credits
Q: Can I get college Credit for IAFF classes I take?
A: Students successfully completing our programs can apply for college equivalent credits through the American Council on Education (ACE) program or the National Labor College (NLC).
Click
here for information about NLC credits for Haz/Mat and WMD related courses. Click
here to learn more about NLC credits for PEP courses.
HazMat/WMD Training
Q: What type of training does HazMat/WMD department offer?
A: Types of training HazMat/WMD department offers include:
- Direct Training: Course lengths vary from 8 to 80 hours. Courses are taught by a minimum of two IAFF Instructors. The IAFF travels to the department's location and delivers training using the department's equipment and standard operating procedures. This allows for a customized course to better fit the needs of fire fighters and first responders.
- Indirect Training: Pending available funding, the IAFF can supply
training materials (i.e., text, videos, CD) directly to the department to
allows the department to train during their schedule. This can result in
decreased overtime and backfill expenses. The IAFF can provide registration and survey forms to ensure students are registered with the IAFF as having taken the course, and can be made eligible for any associated college credits from the National Labor College or the American Council on Education.
- Instructor Training: Any of the courses currently offered by the IAFF HazMat/WMD Training Department can be delivered as a Train-the-Trainer program through the delivery of an eight-hour adult educational methodology program. Students who complete the training program can then deliver the specific IAFF training program within their own department in an effort to build a self-sustaining training program of their own. This is called indirect training as described above.
- Supportive Teaching: After successfully completing an IAFF Train-the-Trainer (TtT), the IAFF will provide two supportive teaching sessions for local instructors. Local instructors will be assigned an IAFF master instructor who will act as a mentor to the local instructor. The mentor will team teach with the local instructor up to two times at his/her designated location. The first delivery will be led by the IAFF master instructor and the second by the local instructor. Each time, the master instructor will evaluate the didactic and practical skills of the local instructor and provide any necessary feedback. This will ensure competency of the local instructors, as well as transfer of knowledge to the students through their teaching.
Q: Since the HazMat/WMD training department uses no per capita/union dues, who provides funding?
A: IAFF HazMat/WMD training is 100% federally funded and has been since 1987. Our training is funded by the following federal agencies:
- National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (HWWT, HDPT, DOE)
- Department of Transportation
- Department of Homeland Security
- Department of Justice
The IAFF HazMat Technician and Emergency Response to Terrorism: Operations (ERT:Ops) have been approved by DHS and are therefore available for overtime and backfill reimbursement. Specific reference to courses approved include:
For more information on requesting overtime and backfill please contact your State Administrative Agency (SAA). Visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) web site to find
your SAA.
Q: What is the class dress attire?
A: Class attire requires business casual (dress or work pants, collared or polo shirt) or uniform. The host local's IAFF President, Fire Chief or Training Officer has the ability to vary from this standard.
Q: What do I need to bring to the class?
A: The following Personal Protection Equipment is required for use during practical evolutions: helmet, gloves, eye protection, steel toe shoes.
Q: What type of certificate will I received once I successfully complete the training programs?
A: IAFF training programs are objective based using National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards, Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.
All departments, jurisdictions and states have different requirements for training and certification. Some departments are self-certifying while others are required to abide by state requirements or regulations. The IAFF HazMat/WMD Training Department can work with you to customize not only the training to be delivered, but to ensure state acceptance or acknowledgement. Please allow extra time in advance to work out the special needs for your department.
The IAFF does not offer National Pro-Board or IFSAC certification at this time.
Q: When will I receive my course completion certificate?
A: Course completion certificates are processed upon successful completion of the course and verification of prerequisite course work. Certifications are processed at IAFF Headquarters and are mailed to the training officer. The process may take up to two weeks.
IAFF Training
Q: How do we schedule a class at our local?
A: The IAFF offers on-site training through various programs. To learn more visit the
Request Training web page.
Q: How much do the classes cost?
A: Cost for on-site training depends on the program offered. To learn more visit the
Request Training web page.
Q: Who will instruct the class?
A: The IAFF provides a team of professional instructors from across the U.S and Canada that are active in their departments and locals. The curriculum is taught to fire fighters by fire fighters. Instructors who are assigned to teach at various facilities are chosen on an individual basis, appointed by the IAFF General President and assigned by the appropriate department. Instructors are active or recently retired IAFF members and are independent contractors of the IAFF. Requests for a specific instructor are welcomed and every attempt will be made to grant requests if the instructor is available. All instructors assigned to teach for the IAFF Program are of the highest quality.
New Members
Q: Where can I find orientation materials for my new members?
A: The IAFF offers a PowerPoint presentation that you can download to customize for your presentation to new members. You may also contact the Information Resources Department for printed materials at (202) 737-8484.
Partnership Education Program (PEP)
Q: What courses are offered through the PEP program?
Scholarships
Q: Do you offer any scholarships? Are there any scholarships for graduating high school students?
A: The IAFF offers several scholarships, visit
scholarships web page to learn more. The IAFF offers the Howie McClennan Scholarship to college students who are children of fallen fire fighters.
