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Location:  Certification > Company Officer Certification

COMPANY OFFICER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

Company Officer Program Brochure (pdf 134kb)
Company Officer Qs and As

Application Form
Commitment to Participate Form

The Ontario Company Officer Certification Program was launched on May 6, 2003 at the 51st Annual Meeting, Educational Seminar and Trade Show of the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs.

Certification is based on the candidates ability to:

• Meet established educational/training qualifications
• Provide proof of current employment in a municipal fire department in Ontario
• Meet job experience requirements
• Demonstrate competencies to the standard

There are six critical elements to the Company Officer Certification Program.

• Certification is a voluntary process for individuals.
• Certification is based on the current Ontario Company Officer Standards.
• There is a three-year Window of Opportunity (May 1, 2003 to May 1, 2006) for Company Officers employed in a municipal fire department in Ontario as of April 30, 2003, when the certification program was launched. In the Window of Opportunity, Company Officers are given credit for their academic achievements and years of experience. Alternate ways of completing the academic requirements are offered.
• Certification is term specific. Company Officer certification is valid for five years.
• There will be a renewal process after initial certification.
• The certification fee for those who certify through the Window of Opportunity has been waived.

Information about the Company Officer Certification Program is available through locally conducted information sessions, a brochure, articles in the Messenger and a video. Information is also available by contacting the OFM Certification Office at 416-325-3142.

Company Officer 'Window of Opportunity'

Company Officers employed in a municipal fire department in Ontario as of April 30, 2003, when the Company Officer Certification Program was introduced, are eligible to certify through the Window of Opportunity. The three-year window exists from May 1, 2003 to May 1, 2006.

In the Window of Opportunity, Company Officers have options for achieving academic equivalency.

For those Company Officers that qualify, the OFC will offer Company Officer Update Courses to enable candidates to meet the academic requirement. During the Window of Opportunity, these courses will be offered only to members of fire departments that have declared for certification. The course addresses the gap in learning outcomes between the old program and the current Company Officer Diploma Program.

Options exist to qualify for entry into the Update Course, such as successful completion of the previous Fire Protection Technology Diploma Program, successful completion of a challenge exam, or determination of equivalent education/training and job experience.

Graduates of the Update Course will receive a Certificate of Equivalency, representing the completion of the academic component of certification.

To demonstrate competency to standards, a candidate must complete the Job Experience Requirement Performance Checklist within the three-year period.

Company Officer Regular Route:

Company Officers employed after May 1, 2003 when the Ontario Company Officer Certification Program was introduced are eligible to certify through the regular route.

To meet the academic requirement, a candidate is required to successfully complete the Company Officer Diploma Program at the Ontario Fire College.

To meet the job experience requirement, a candidate must be a member of a municipal fire department in Ontario and have a minimum of three years in the Company Officer role.

To demonstrate competencies to standards, a candidate must complete the Job Experience Requirement Performance Checklist.