FPO Renewal Process

Executive Summary

General Information About Certification

Authority

Purpose of Certification

Who is a Fire Prevention Officer?

Certification Requirements

General Information About Certification Renewal

Purpose of Certification Renewal

Certification Renewal Principles

Certification Renewal Requirements

Continuous Employment

Competence to the Current Standard

Educational/Training Record

Executive Summary

In developing the renewal model, the members of the Certification Council concentrated on how fire prevention officers seeking certification renewal could document ongoing professional development and demonstrate competence to the current Ontario Fire Services Standards. In their deliberations, members tried to be sensitive to the needs of the fire service – time and cost efficiency – while maintaining the credibility of the certification program. They also considered the diversity within the fire prevention officer role and the need to address emerging issues of importance to the role.

The process for finalization of this certification renewal model included consultation with selected departments/practitioners within the Ontario Fire Service and approval from the:

Certification Council
Professional Standards Setting Body
OFM/OAFC partnership

General Information about Certification

Authority

The Office of the Fire Marshal certifies Ontario Fire Service personnel to the respective Ontario Fire Services Standards, based on criteria developed by the Certification Council, approved by the Office of the Fire Marshal and agreed to by the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs.

The Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 (FPPA), in Part III, clause 9 (2) (d) provides authority to the Fire Marshal for the training and evaluation of Firefighters.

Purpose of Certification

Certification formally acknowledges that Ontario Fire Service personnel meet the recognized job performance standards and educational/training requirements as approved by the Office of the Fire Marshal and agreed to by the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs.
Certification is not a means of determining who shall participate in the practice or profession of fire prevention and its related activities. A lack of certification is only an indication that the individual has not applied for or fulfilled the requirements of certification.

Who is a Fire Prevention Officer?

For the purposes of certification of fire prevention personnel, a fire prevention officer is a member of a municipal fire department in Ontario whose primary responsibilities include duties such as, conducting regular and specialized fire inspections, evaluating and monitoring fire safety plans, developing, conducting investigations, implementing and evaluating public education programs, performing public relations, communicating with the public, prosecuting offenders of fire and Life safety legislation and performing administrative duties.

Certification Requirements

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 current standards

General Information about Certification Renewal

There are many different factors that contribute to a fire prevention officer’s development, and each adds a different, but equally important element to the developmental process.

Training and education are critical to the certification process. In renewal, there is an emphasis on maintaining currency and developing new learning.

A candidate’s practical experience was also a key component of the certification process and it continues to be an important factor throughout the individual’s professional career.

Renewal, therefore, is a process whereby the fire prevention officer demonstrates ongoing maintenance and enhancements of competency.

Renewal is required every five years.

Purpose of Certification Renewal

The purpose of certification renewal is to confirm that the candidate continues to demonstrate competence to the current standards and has pursued ongoing professional development as approved by the Office of the Fire Marshal and agreed to by the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs.

Certification Renewal Principles

Certification renewal is based on approved, current Ontario Fire Services Standards.
Candidates shall assume responsibility for their certification and initiate renewal.
Accountability for certification renewal requirements (for example, training) shall rest with the fire department, Fire Chief and candidate.
The renewal process shall include appropriate considerations to accommodate the diverse needs of practitioners.
The renewal process shall be adaptive to the changing nature of the profession.

Certification Renewal Requirements

Certification renewal is based on a candidate’s ability to:

Demonstrate continuous employment as a fire prevention officer in a municipal fire department in Ontario
Provide documentation of yearly ongoing training to the core competencies and continuing education
Provide documentation of job-related activities
Provide proof of demonstrated competence to the current standards

Continuous Employment

A candidate must provide proof of continuous employment:

As Fire Prevention Officer in a municipal fire department in Ontario. Continuous is defined by Government human resources, as having a break in employment of not greater than 13 weeks.
The Fire Chief (or designate¹) and immediate supervisor signs the application for renewal to provide proof of continuous employment and that member has met the requirements for renewal.

1. The Fire Chief may designate signing authority for the certification program/parts of the certification process through a letter from the Chief to the Certification Office. The designate must meet established criteria, such as, an understanding of the Certification Program.

The renewal process is based on a system that recognizes and gives credit for the varied training, continuing education and job-related activities of fire prevention officers across the province, making certification renewal accessible and achievable. For the details of the system, please see the chart entitled Fire Prevention Officer Certification Renewal Requirements.

It the responsibility of the Fire Chief or designee to approve training and ensure that it is:

Regular throughout the five year period
Scheduled and formalized with planned learning outcomes, delivery method and evaluation of learning
Linked to General Performance Objective in the current Standards
Meeting fire department or individual assessed needs
Done in accordance with legislation and recommended guidelines and policies, including Ministry of Labour (Section 21 Guidelines), Occupational health and Safety Act and WHMIS.
Carried out in a safe manner ensuring that a written safety plan and policy are in place, especially when teaching skills and in live-fire training.
Delivered by instructors that are qualified and who have technical expertise beyond the level they are teaching
Documented in fire department and individual training records

Comprehensive documentation of training, continuing education and job-related activities must be maintained by the candidate during the five-year renewal period and by the fire department at the time of application for certification renewal. (See the log that is provided.) The Fire Chief or his/her designate must review this documentation and attest to its accuracy by signing the application for renewal.

A representative of the OFM Certification Office may audit the candidate’s records.

Competence to the Current Standard

For certification renewal, competence to the current standards shall be based on the general performance objectives outlined in the Ontario Fire Prevention Officer Standards. Candidates shall demonstrate their ability to perform the requirements of the skills performance objectives for each general performance objective, preferably on-the-job but in a simulated situation, if necessary. The fire department shall determine how the competencies are documented. It is strongly recommended that the Job Performance Checklist be used for comprehensive documentation.

To ensure continued credibility of the certification process and program, the application for renewal requires the signatures of the candidate and Fire Chief (or designate).

Office of the
Fire Marshal

Application for
Fire Prevention Officer Certification Renewal

This information is gathered to correctly identify candidates for certification and to evaluate the certification program. Information is being collected solely for the purpose listed above in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Last name

Given names

Rank

Address: (street number and name) (apartment/unit number)

(city) (province) (postal code)

Telephone Number
(include area code)

Fax Number
(include area code)

Employer (use the four/six digit local code)

Address: (street number and name) (apartment/unit number)

(City) (Province) (Postal code)

Telephone Number
(include area code)

Fax Number
(include area code)

Confirm completion of the following criteria for certification renewal

Continuous employment as a FPO in a municipal fire department in Ontario (a break in employment of not greater than 13

Yes

No

Revised (2003) Ontario Fire Services Fire Prevention Officer Standards		Demonstrated Competence to the Standards		If a candidate did not demonstrate competence to one or more of the general performance objectives, please use the space below to state why.
1.	Conducts Fire and Life Safety Inspections	Yes	No
2.	Evaluates, Approves and Enforces Fire Safety Plans	Yes	No
3.	Develops, Delivers and Evaluates Public Education Programs	Yes	No
4.	Performs Public Relations	Yes	No
5.	Communicates with the Public through the Media	Yes	No
6.	Examines Fire Scene	Yes	No
7.	Evaluates Development Proposals	Yes	No
8.	Reviews Building Plans for Compliance with Relevant Codes and Standards	Yes	No
9.	Conducts Inspections of New or Renovated Buildings	Yes	No
10.	Issues Plan Approvals for Compliance Equivalencies	Yes	No
11.	Initiates and Participates in the Prosecution of Offenders	Yes	No
12.	Provides Technical Support and Training for Fire Department Personnel	Yes	No
13.	Performs Administrative Duties	Yes	No
14.	Maintains Professional Competency	Yes	No

I certify that the foregoing statements are true. I am aware that if any of the foregoing statements are willfully false, certification may be denied, revoked or suspended.

______________________________________________________ Signature of Individual	________________________________ Date
_______________________________________________________ Signature of fire chief or designate (mandatory)	________________________________ Date

Note: The Certification Office will notify you within thirty (30) working days of receipt of your Application for Certification Renewal if certification has been granted or has been denied, with the reason.
For Office Use Only:

Date received	Registration number
Documentation checked by secretary of Certification Office	Date Reviewed by Council Chairperson	Date forwarded to Fire Marshal
Certification number	Date mailed:	Not granted: date notification sent

Educational/Training Record

Course/Workshop/Seminar Name	GPO Number	Date Started	Date Completed	Total No. of Teaching Hours	Results	Included: Course Description/Learning Outcomes/Copy of Certificate
Ontario Police College – Critical Incident Stress seminar	06.01	Mar. 22/02	Mar. 23/02	13	Learned to identify the warning signs of CIS, mitigate the results, identify and contact community resources	Course brochure
Ontario Fire College – Fire Cause Determination	04.12	Dec. 21/01	Dec. 23/01	23	Wrote exam and received a Certificate of Achievement	Copy of course description and learning outcomes Copy of certificate

Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal – Certification Council

Office of the Fire Marshal
Certification Unit
7th Floor 5775 Yonge Street
North York, Ontario
M2M 4J1

Phone: 416-325-3142

OFM Web site: http://www.ofm.gov.on.ca

Authority

Purpose of Certification

Who is a Fire Prevention Officer?

Certification Requirements

Purpose of Certification Renewal

Certification Renewal Principles

Certification Renewal Requirements

Last name

Given names

Rank

Address: (street number and name) (apartment/unit number)

(city) (province) (postal code)

Telephone Number (include area code)

Fax Number (include area code)

Employer (use the four/six digit local code)

Address: (street number and name) (apartment/unit number)

(City) (Province) (Postal code)

Telephone Number (include area code)

Fax Number (include area code)

Confirm completion of the following criteria for certification renewal

Continuous employment as a FPO in a municipal fire department in Ontario (a break in employment of not greater than 13

Yes

No

Revised (2003) Ontario Fire Services Fire Prevention Officer Standards

Demonstrated Competence to the Standards

If a candidate did not demonstrate competence to one or more of the general performance objectives, please use the space below to state why.

1.

Conducts Fire and Life Safety Inspections

Yes

No

2.

Evaluates, Approves and Enforces Fire Safety Plans

Yes

No

3.

Develops, Delivers and Evaluates Public Education Programs

Yes

No

4.

Performs Public Relations

Yes

No

5.

Communicates with the Public through the Media

Yes

No

6.

Examines Fire Scene

Yes

No

7.

Evaluates Development Proposals

Yes

No

8.

Reviews Building Plans for Compliance with Relevant Codes and Standards

Yes

No

9.

Conducts Inspections of New or Renovated Buildings

Yes

No

10.

Issues Plan Approvals for Compliance Equivalencies

Yes

No

11.

Initiates and Participates in the Prosecution of Offenders

Yes

No

12.

Provides Technical Support and Training for Fire Department Personnel

Yes

No

13.

Performs Administrative Duties

Yes

No

14.

Maintains Professional Competency

Telephone Number
(include area code)

Fax Number
(include area code)

Telephone Number
(include area code)

Fax Number
(include area code)

Revised (2003) Ontario Fire Services
Fire Prevention Officer Standards

______________________________________________________
Signature of Individual

________________________________
Date

_______________________________________________________
Signature of fire chief or designate (mandatory)

________________________________
Date

Note: The Certification Office will notify you within thirty (30) working days of receipt of your Application for Certification Renewal if certification has been granted or has been denied, with the reason.
For Office Use Only:

GPO
Number