Ill. Admin. Code tit. 41, § 141.390 - Recertifications

a) The goal of the recertification process shall be to ensure continued demonstration of knowledge and skill proficiency in given areas of certification for Illinois fire service personnel.

b) All referenced recertifications shall be specific to certifications attained from the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

c) Any certification that requires a recertification shall remain valid if the recertification requirements are not completed, but shall not be considered current. Certifications that are not considered current shall be ineligible to be used as a prerequisite to obtain a higher level of certification.

d) Certifications that require recertification are:

1) Fire Investigator;

2) Arson Investigator;

e) Certifications that will require recertification beginning January 1, 2022 are:

1) Fire Apparatus Engineer

2) Company Fire Officer

3) Fire Department Incident Safety Officer

4) Fire Department Health and Safety Officer

5) Advanced Fire Officer

6) Chief Fire Officer

7) Fire Department Safety Officer

8) Fire Service Instructor I

9) Fire Service Instructor II

10) Fire Service Instructor III

11) Training Program Manager

12) Fire Inspector I

13) Fire Inspector II

14) Public Fire and Life Safety Educator I

15) Hazardous Materials Operations

16) Hazardous Materials Technician

17) Confined Space Operations

18) Confined Space Technician

19) Trench Operations

20) Trench Technician

21) Structural Collapse Operations

22) Structural Collapse Technician

23) Vehicle and Machinery Operations

24) Vehicle and Machinery Technician

25) Rope Operations

26) Fire Service Vehicle Operator

27) Rope Technician

28) Rescue Operations

29) Rescue Technician

f) Level-specific certifications issued on or before January 1, 2022 will no longer be considered current on December 31, 2025, except for Fire Investigator and Arson Investigator, which are referenced further within this Section.

g) Certifications issued on or after January 1, 2022 will no longer be considered current 4 years after their issuance date.

h) Recertification process for all levels except Fire Investigator and Arson Investigator:

1) Certifications shall remain current 4 years after their issuance date.

2) Applicants for recertification must hold a current OSFM level-specific certification.

3) Applicants for recertification must complete recertification training that follows the level-specific job performance requirements ("JPRs") in the relevant NFPA Standard within the previous 4 year certification period:

A) Documentation of successful recertification training may be demonstrated by completing the level-specific Recertification Task Book (Task Book).

B) If an applicant or fire department opts not to utilize the Task Book, documentation of successful recertification training must be maintained in the individual's training record. Training records utilized for recertification documentation, at a minimum, must include the components listed on the Task Book Proficiency Log Sheets.

4) Application for recertification:

A) If utilizing the Task Book, the Proficiency Log Sheets shall be uploaded using the PSE WebAccess Portal.

B) If not utilizing the Task Book, a completion report meeting the same criteria of the Proficiency Log Sheets shall be uploaded using the PSE WebAccess Portal.

C) In lieu of uploading either the Proficiency Log Sheets or completion report, recertification completion data shall be manually entered in the PSE WebAccess Portal.

D) The application for recertification cannot be submitted more than 12 months prior to the date upon which certification is no longer considered current.

5) The OSFM will notify the employing fire department at one year and 90-days prior to the date an individual's certification will no longer be considered current. The OSFM will grant each individual a 90-day grace period to complete the recertification requirements.

6) If recertification is not completed within the 90-day grace period, the individual may maintain current certification in the established recertification cycle if the individual completes a new Task Book within 6 months of the end of the 90-day grace period, with task dates after the date the previous certification is no longer considered current. The application for recertification must include the Proficiency Log Sheets uploaded or manually entered using the PSE WebAccess Portal. Training used in one certification cycle cannot be used towards recertification in another certification cycle. If the new Task Book is not completed within 9 months of the original date that certification is no longer current, the individual may make the certification current in a new recertification cycle by submitting proof of completion of an approved level-specific course.

7) When submitting for recertification, the Fire Chief attests that all the requirements of this Section are met and affirms that:

A) The individual seeking recertification is engaged as Illinois fire protection personnel.

B) Training documentation for recertification shall be maintained in the individual's fire department training records and available for review by Division staff upon request.

C) The submission of the application and Proficiency Log Sheets or completion report is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge.

8) An individual who possesses the highest level of certification within specific disciplines and wants that certification to remain current, will only be required to recertify at the highest level. Once recertified at the highest level, all lower level recertifications will automatically be processed and approved.

9) Recertification Requirements for Rescue Operations. An individual who possesses a Rescue Operations certification may complete the recertification requirements outlined in the level- specific JPRs in the relevant NFPA Standards in lieu of completing each rescue operations-level requirements for recertification.

A) Documentation of successful recertification training may be demonstrated by completing the Task Book.

B) If a fire department opts not to utilize the Task Book, documentation of successful recertification training must be maintained in the individual's training record.

C) Training records utilized for recertification documentation, at a minimum, must include the components listed on the Task Book Proficiency Log Sheets.

10) Recertification Requirements for Rescue Technician. An individual who possesses a Rescue Technician certification may complete the recertification requirements outlined in the level- specific JPRs in the relevant NFPA Standards in lieu of completing each rescue technician-level requirement for recertification.

A) Documentation of successful recertification training may be documented by completing the Task Book.

B) If an applicant or fire department opts not to utilize the Task Book, documentation of successful recertification training must be maintained in the individual's training record.

C) Training records utilized for recertification documentation, at a minimum, must include the components listed on the Task Book Proficiency Log Sheets.

i) Recertification Process for Fire Investigator and Arson Investigator.

1) Certifications shall remain current 4 years after their issuance date.

2) Applicants for recertification must hold a current OSFM level-specific certification.

3) Applicants for recertification must complete recertification training that follows the established course objectives identified in NFPA 1033, totaling 100 points over the 4 year period, based on the point system approved by the Division. Point dissemination will be determined by the applicable State Certification Advisory Committee.

4) Application for recertification:

A) If utilizing the Division-supplied Recertification Tally Sheet, the Tally Sheet shall be uploaded using the PSE WebAccess Portal.

B) If not utilizing the Division-supplied Recertification Tally Sheet, a completion report meeting the same criteria of the Tally Sheet shall be uploaded using the PSE WebAccess Portal.

C) In lieu of uploading either the Tally Sheet or completion report, recertification completion data shall be manually entered using the PSE WebAccess Portal.

D) The application for recertification cannot be submitted more than 12 months prior to the date upon which certification is no longer considered current.

5) OSFM will notify the employing fire department at one year and 90-days prior to the date an individual's certification will no longer be considered current. The OSFM will grant each individual a 90-day grace period to complete the recertification requirements. Training used in one certification cycle cannot be used towards recertification in another certification cycle.

6) If recertification is not completed within the 90 day grace period after the date that certification is no longer considered current and the individual wants to maintain a current certification, the individual will be required to complete an approved Fire Investigator course to obtain recertification.

7) When submitting an application for recertification, the Chief attests that all the requirements of this Section are met and affirms that:

A) The individual seeking recertification is employed by a local governmental agency or the Office.

B) Training documentation for recertification shall be maintained in the individual's department training records and available for review by Division staff upon request.

C) The submission of the application and Tally Sheet or completion report is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge.

8) For individuals who possess both Fire Investigator and Arson Investigator certifications and who recertify at either level, the dates that certification is no longer considered current will be changed for both levels to the latter date.

j) When all recertification requirements are met, a new certificate will be available on the PSE WebAccess Portal.

k) The Office may waive the requirements or extend deadlines of this Section for good cause shown (e.g., military deployments, medical leaves, personal emergencies, Act of God/natural disaster, Governor's Emergency Proclamation, etc.).

Notes

Ill. Admin. Code tit. 41, § 141.390

Added at 45 Ill. Reg. 11584, effective 8/31/2021