HomeMy WebLinkAboutSOG 401.03-Revised 7-2016_Certification & Continuing EducationBeaumont Fire -Rescue
401.03 — Certification & Continuing Education
Revised- 7/5/2019
6
Replaces: UOGs 1 11.19 & 111.20
1 "�
I. Guiding PhilosophX
While continuing education is mandated by licensing agencies, the most important reason
for actively participating in continuing education activities is to maximize our ability to provide
safe and effective services to our customers. We routinely participate in continuing education
activities so that we remain knowledgeable and skillful public safety professionals.
II. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to detail the certification and continuing education structure
utilized by Beaumont Fire -Rescue Services.
III. Goals
The goals of this policy are to:
A. Outline the agencies that regulate certification and continuing education.
B. Communicate the established certification & training programs and related
responsibilities.
IV. Definitions
A. EPA — Acronym for the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
B. ISO — Acronym for Insurance Services Office.
C. NFPA — Acronym for National Fire Protection Association.
D. TCFP — Acronym for Texas Commission on Fire Protection.
E. TCOLE — Acronym for Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
F. TDSHS — Acronym for Texas Department of State Health Services.
V. Agencies Regulating Certification & Continuing Education
A. Fire department personnel and department operations are regulated by the TCFP,
TDSHS, EPA, and TCOLE.
B. The Department also takes into consideration voluntary standards recommended
by the NFPA and ISO, and may implement these recommendations when feasible.
C. Specific requirements or recommendations relating to certification and continuing
education may be found through each agency's website.
D. Members will be provided opportunities through online training or other means to
complete required continuing education credits for certification and competency
maintenance.
E. Each member is responsible for his/her certification and competency achievement
and maintenance. Individuals who allow required certifications to lapse may face
disciplinary action, up to and including indefinite suspension.
F. Members who obtained certification under department sponsorship or who were
given hiring preference based on certification status are required to maintain the
certification(s) (including the achievement of applicable continuing education
credits and skills requirements) for the duration of their employment with the
City.
VI. Continuing Education for Regulated Certification Programs
A. The Certification & Training Group will devise annual and multi-year plans to
insure adequate credits will be offered to meet continuing education requirements
of regulated certification programs.
B. Continuing education may consist of classroom instruction, benchmark practice or
evaluations, tabletop or live drills, web -based training, conference attendance or a
combination of these activities.
C. Training must be performance-based to be utilized for continuing education
credits by all agencies except the ISO.
1. Performance based means that either a written test or skills examination
must be successfully completed, appropriately documented, filed, and the
evaluation documents be made available for audit by the regulatory
agency.
2. The ISO requires documentation of individual participation, but does not
require evaluation documentation to be presented for audits.
VII. Established Certification & Training (C&T) Programs
A. The department's certification and training programs will comply with State and
federal mandates, and will be guided by voluntary standards set by the NFPA and
ISO.
B. The following certification & training programs are established to insure
certification maintenance and the competency of the workforce:
SOG 401.03 — Certification & Continuing Education Page 2 of 8
1. Firefighter C&T (includes Probationary FF/EMT Program)
2. Emergency Medical C&T
3. Hazardous Materials C&T
4. Technical Rescue C&T
5. Occupational Safety & Health C&T
6. Officer Development C&T (includes Driver/Operator C&T)
VIII. Documentation of Trainina & Continuina Education Credits
A. Certificate Courses: When a member attends a class that issues a Certificate of
Completion, he/she must submit a copy of the certificate to the Certification &
Training Group within one week of his/her receipt of the certificate.
B. The Certification & Training Group will insure that:
1. Any overtime hours related to the class are pre -approved, entered in
Firehouse, and the applicable Section Chief(s) is prompted to approve the
hours after they have been entered in the system.
2. The certificate is entered and/or attached in all appropriate Firehouse
modules.
The certificate is properly filed in Laserfiche (Fire Internal Shared folder)
in the appropriate Certification and Training Folder.
a. If eligible for TDSHS continuing education credit, copy to medical
training file.
b. If eligible for incentive pay, copy to Fire Administration for
personnel file.
4. If a hard copy of the original certificate was submitted, return the original
to the individual via interoffice mail.
C. Monthly Training Memo Classes Requiring Rosters: Classes listed on the
monthly training memo that always require an E -Signature in Target Solutions:
1. Foundational Documents Review
2. Performance Benchmark Review/Practice
3. Map Study/District Survey
D. The Certification & Training Group will insure that:
1. Information from class rosters is entered in Firehouse in a timely fashion.
SOG 401.03 — Certification & Continuing Education Page 3 of 8
2. Deficiencies are communicated, corrected and entered in a timely fashion.
3. When all deficiencies have been corrected, a single PDF document is
created from the applicable class rosters and attached to the Firehouse
Training Record for the class.
E. Hands -On Classes Requiring Rosters:
Individuals will insure they legibly complete all required fields on class
roster forms.
2. The Lead Instructor will check the class roster to insure accuracy and
completeness and insure it is forwarded to the Certification & Training
Group in a timely manner.
The Certification & Training Group will insure that:
a. Any overtime hours related to the class are pre -approved, entered
in Firehouse, and the applicable Section Chief(s) is prompted to
approve the hours after they have been entered in the system.
b. Information from class rosters is entered in Firehouse in a timely
fashion.
F. Routine Duties: Routine duties training will be documented according to SOG
111.07 -Routine Duties Considered TrainingActivities.
IX. On-line Certification Training:
A. Members may be responsible for reimbursement of course materials and
associated fees if the certification course is not completed.
1. If a member does not return course materials, or if the materials are
returned in poor condition, he or she will be responsible for the
replacement cost of these materials.
2. If a member does not successfully complete the course, he or she will be
responsible for reimbursement of the course code fees.
If a member does not successfully pass the State skills and/or written
examination, he or she may be responsible for the subsequent fees
associated with retesting.
2. Members will sign an agreement to this affect prior to being enrolled for the
training opportunity. (see: Attachment A)
3. Exceptions to the above will require approval by the Fire Chief.
X. Responsibilities
A. Individual's Responsibilities
SOG 401.03 — Certification & Continuing Education Page 4 of 8
Fully participating in all required or department -sponsored training
activities. Full participation means:
a. Devoting complete attention and effort
b. Taking an active role in all class activities
c. Participating in the training to the best of your ability
d. Successfully completing all assignments by the specified deadline
e. Ensuring proper documentation of your participation.
2. Insuring required certifications are maintained for the duration of his/her
employment.
3. Insuring his/her competency (knowledge, skills and abilities) meets or
exceeds the performance standards set by Beaumont Fire -Rescue Services
for his/her classification and/or assignment.
B. Supervisor's Responsibilities
1. Following up as necessary to insure the certification and training needs of
subordinates are addressed so that safe and effective services are
delivered.
2. Insuring subordinates have successfully completed and properly
documented requirements listed on the monthly training memo by the
deadline specified. (5`h day of*the month Example: March training
memo requirements due by April 5th).
Insuring subordinates who are listed on the monthly training deficiency
report successfully complete and properly document required activities by
the deadline specified. (5`h day of the month following distribution of
deficiency report—Example: Deficiency report distributed April 10,
makeups due by May 5).
C. Operations Section Program Manager's Responsibilities
1. Planning and implementing multi -company drills and exercises related to
his/her program area and reporting on results.
2. Communicating regularly with the Certification & Training Group to
coordinate the development of training activities and address global
training needs relative to assigned program(s).
3. Coordinating with the Certification & Training Group on the development
of performance benchmarks related to assigned program(s).
4. Following up as necessary to insure performance expectations are
consistently achieved for all programs across the Department.
SOG 401.03 — Certification & Continuing Education Page 5 of 8
D. Certification & Training Group's Responsibilities
Working together as a team to plan, coordinate and administer quality,
uniformly delivered training programs that meet or exceed regulatory
requirements and support worker competency through efficient use of
available resources.
2. Insuring certification maintenance for all personnel is on -track, and
reporting problems to the affected individual and his/her chain of
command as soon as discovered.
3. Tracking progress towards training targets and reporting on the status of
continuing education, benchmark evaluations, certifications and drills.
4. Routinely evaluating personnel relative to performance benchmarks and
reporting on results.
5. Coordinating and assisting with multi -company drills and exercises and
reporting on results.
6. Compiling and distributing the monthly training memo no later than the 5th
of every month.
7. Compiling and distributing the monthly training deficiencies report no
later than the 10th of every month.
8. Coordinating with and assisting program managers, supervisors and
members in assessing training needs, developing programs, and assisting
in course and benchmark design.
E. Logistics Section Chief s Responsibilities
Setting training targets based on regulatory requirements, voluntary
standards and needs assessment, and determining the overall plan and
resources required to meet those targets.
2. Coordinating with Section/Deputy Chiefs, Program Managers and the
Certification & Training Group to insure training needs are addressed.
Insuring the monthly training memo is compiled and distributed in a
timely manner each month.
4. Insuring deficiency reports are compiled and distributed in a timely
manner each month.
F. Other Section Chief s & Fire Chief s Responsibilities
1. Insuring subordinates complete certification and training requirements as
specified.
SOG 401.03 — Certification & Continuing Education Page 6 of 8
2. Insuring personnel at all levels work as a team to achieve regulatory and
certification requirements, and maintain competency.
3. Taking follow up actions as necessary.
SOG 401.03 — Certification & Continuing Education Page 7 of 8
Attachment A
Beaumont Fire -Rescue Services
Online Certification Course Materials Issued/Received
I, (print name) , affirm that I have received the following:
➢ I understand that I am responsible for the replacement cost of these materials if for any
reason they are lost. I also understand that it is my responsibility to insure that these
materials are reasonably maintained and returned to the C&T Division upon completion
of the course.
Cost of course materials: $
➢ I also understand that if for any reason I do not complete the course, I am responsible
for reimbursing the department for the current cost of the course.
Cost of course code: $
➢ I understand that I will be responsible for reimbursement for fees associated with
retesting of State skills and/or written examination.
Cost of course fees: $
➢ I understand that extenuating circumstances that may exempt an individual from the
above must be approved by the Fire Chief.
Issuer's Signature:
Member's Signature:
Printed Name:
Date:
Returned To:
Date Returned:
Comments:
*When returning materials to the Training Division, always sign and ask for a
copy of this completed form!*