Professional qualifications for Fire Officer II are
identified in NFPA 1021 (2003 edition). The Office does not recognize Fire
Officer as a rank because it is not possible to ensure that every rank used by
local fire or allied field agencies to identify employees would be consistent
throughout the State. Individuals may certify as Fire Officer II until June 30,
2019, at which time the certification will no longer be issued and the
individual will be required to successfully complete the requirements, if he or
she so desires, to qualify for certification as an Advanced Fire Officer. The
Office defines Fire Officer II as an individual having the responsibilities
above company officer, but less than the responsibilities of the Fire
Administrator, Fire Chief, head of the department, etc.
a) Prerequisites
1) Certification as a Fire Officer I and as a
Fire Service Instructor II .
2)
Engagement as Illinois fire protection personnel, as attested to by the
employing Fire Chief of the individual seeking certification.
3) Attainment of 5 years minimum current fire
service experience in a fire department or as a current fulltime staff
instructor of the Fire Service Institute.
4) Successful completion of the identified 3
semester credit courses (40 student contact hours minimum) or equivalent,
according to Section
141.120.
A course taken for certification credit of 40 student contact hours (minimum)
can be used for only one area in the career hierarchy.
5)Passage of the required State written
examinations for the 3 semester credit courses.
6) Experience Requirements
A) Candidates for Fire Officer II
certification must have a minimum of one year current experience as a
Provisional Fire Officer II (see subsection (a)(5)(B)) or a Fire Officer II
trainee. The Office defines a Fire Officer II trainee as an individual
possessing Fire Officer I certification assigned to Fire Officer II duties. The
Certified Instructor and Fire Chief must document this current experience as a
Provisional Fire Officer II or Fire Officer II trainee.
B) Until such time as the experience
requirement is met, the Fire Officer II candidate will receive a certificate
attesting to his/her Provisional Qualification as a Fire Officer II.
Provisionally qualified status allows the individual to participate in Fire
Officer III courses. Provisionally qualified status does not certify the
individual as a Fire Officer II. Provisional Qualification can only be given
after completion of all required courses.
C) An individual must be a certified Fire
Officer I to receive a Provisional Fire Officer II certification.
D) For purposes of figuring the year of
experience, the applicant must have been assigned to Fire Officer II duties at
least 80% of the time based on a 120 workday period (i.e., 96 days of 120
days).
7) Application
for Certification/Validation-Attestation.
b) Reimbursement may be received for training
costs for a Fire Officer II (see Subpart E).
c) Credit for equivalent courses may be
available in accordance with Section 141.120.
d) A qualified instructor for this level must
be a certified Fire Service Instructor II.
e) The course and facility must be approved
by the Division as specified in Subpart B.
f) Exception to Experience Requirements
During Transition to Advanced Fire Officer. A qualified individual who has
completed the course requirements for Fire Officer II, but has not attained the
experience requirements of subsection (a)(6), may complete the Phase 3 Task
Book for Advanced Company Officer (see Section 141.315(a)(4)(D) ) in lieu of
the experience requirement to receive Fire Officer II certification prior to
June 30, 2019.
