South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Print this page.
IFSAC
Fire Service Professional Certification
In March 1993, the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) initially accredited the South Carolina Fire Academy in five separate occupational certification areas for municipal fire service personnel. Accredited certification levels for Industrial Brigades were added in March 1996, and Airport Firefighter was accredited in November 1997. Fire and Life Safety Educator was added in February 2000, and Hazardous Materials Operations and Fire Inspector-I accreditations were received in 2003. In September 2004, accreditation was received for Driver/Operator-ARFF. Current certification levels available through the SCFA include:
- NFPA 472 - Hazardous Materials Awareness
- NFPA 472 - Hazardous Materials Operations
- NFPA 1001 - Firefighter I
- NFPA 1001 - Firefighter II
- NFPA 1002 - Driver/Operator Pumper
- NFPA 1002 - Driver/Operator Aerial Driver
- NFPA 1002 - Driver/Operator Mobile Water Supply
- NFPA 1002 - Driver/Operator-ARFF
- NFPA 1003 - Airport Firefighter
- NFPA 1021 - Fire Officer I
- NFPA 1021 - Fire Officer II
- NFPA 1031 - Fire Inspector I
- NFPA 1035 - Fire and Life Safety Educator I
- NFPA 1035 - Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Specialist I
- NFPA 1041 - Fire Instructor I
- NFPA 1041 - Fire Instructor II
Membership in IFSAC currently consists of more than 60 organizations, including 41 states, the U.S. Department of Defense and armed forces branches, the Canadian Department of Defense, several Canadian provinces, the British Fire College, the South African Fire Service Institute and the Australian Fire Trainers Association. South Carolina is one of only three states not grandfathered into the system.
The practical and written portions of certification exams are administered in connection with Fire Academy training programs.
During the year, separate written certification testing is offered throughout the state. Due to the need for verification of prerequisite courses, pre-registration is required. Walk-in registration is not allowed for written certification exams. Certification is offered to eligible South Carolina public fire service members at no cost.
Fire Academy personnel are appreciative that its certification system has been accredited by an international group of fire service professionals. This accreditation guarantees that training and certification testing conducted by the South Carolina Fire Academy has met national standards, and the services that Fire Academy students receive meet the highest caliber and represent the most current training requirements.
Reciprocity and Equivalency
The SCFA offers reciprocity and equivalency in certain occupational areas for certifications achieved through other fire training agencies. This program is available only to current, active members of South Carolina fire departments. To be eligible the certification must be in one of the accredited occupational levels offered by the SCFA.
Reciprocity
Reciprocity is the awarding of certification, with no required testing, to those who have been certified at an occupational level by another IFSAC accredited entity. The certification must be in one of the occupational levels offered by the SCFA.
The following items are necessary to apply for reciprocity:
- Completed reciprocity/equivalency request form
- Letter from your S.C. fire chief, on department letterhead, verifying your membership in a S.C. fire department
- Copy of IFSAC accredited certificates with readable seal numbers or a transcript from the issuing agency showing certification levels and seal numbers
Equivalency
Equivalency is the awarding of program credit (e.g. Firefighter I) to individuals certified or trained at an occupational level to a national standard by an entity not accredited by IFSAC. In order to receive transcript credit and certification to one of these levels, an applicant, upon approval by the Certification and Accreditation Supervisor, must challenge the written examination for that level. In some cases skills testing may also be required. Please note the SCFA does not offer equivalency at the course or subject level unless it is part of a curriculum that leads to certification in one of the accredited occupational levels offered by SCFA.
The following items are necessary to apply for equivalency:
- Completed reciprocity/equivalency request form
- Letter from your S.C. fire chief, on department letterhead, verifying your membership in a S.C. fire department
- Copy of certificates or a transcript from the issuing agency showing training courses completed.
- Documentation of hours, objectives, methods of evaluation and NFPA standards met. This information can generally be obtained from a course outline, schedule or syllabus.
For more information, contact the Certification and Accreditation supervisor via email at aj.esposito@llr.sc.gov or by phone at (803) 896-9881.
Reciprocity / Equivalency Form
