The NFPA Standards Committees update standards typically every five years to ensure that the most up-to-date information, technology, and industry standards are included in the curriculum that is produced and used in classroom delivery. To maintain accreditation with Pro Board and IFSAC, the AFC has a two-year deadline to update to these new editions. As such, we are in the process of updating the following courses to meet the new standards for NFPA 1006 (Standard for Technical Rescue Personnel Professional Qualifications) and NFPA 1033 (Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator.) The books have been finalized and are listed below. Pilot courses are planned for Spring 2023, with a tentative transition to new books, curriculum, and standards planned for Summer 2023. Technical Review Committees, along with our Certification, Curriculum, and Training personnel are working diligently to finalize curriculum and testing elements.

Changes to Rope Rescue courses:

  • Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Rope Rescue Awareness & Operations, currently “RT: Rope I,” will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications to the Awareness and Operations levels. This course will remain 40 hours after the update. The new textbook will be Jones & Bartlett’s Rope Rescue, 5th edition.
  • Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Rope Rescue Technician, currently “RT: Rope II,” will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications to the Technician level. This course will increase from 24 hours to 40 hours after the update. The new textbook will be Jones & Bartlett’s Rope Rescue, 5th edition.

Changes to Extrication courses:

Currently, we offer RT: Vehicle & Machinery Extrication I in one 40-hour course. NFPA has added a Heavy Vehicle chapter. Due to this addition, we will now offer the following separate 40-hour courses after the update.

  • Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Common Passenger Vehicle Rescue, currently “RT: Vehicle Extrication I,” will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Awareness, Operations, & Technician certifications), Jones & Bartlett’s Vehicle Rescue and Extrication, Revised 2nd Edition.
  • Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Heavy Vehicle & Machinery Rescue will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Heavy Vehicle Awareness, Operations, & Technician as well as ProBoard and IFSAC certifications in Machinery Awareness, Operations, and Technician. The new textbook will be Jones & Bartlett’s Vehicle Rescue and Extrication, Revised 2nd Edition.

Changes to WATER RESCUE courses:

  • Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Surface Water Rescue, currently “RT: Surface Water I/II,” will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Surface Water Awareness, Operations, & Technician and will remain a 24-hour course. The new text will be Jones & Bartlett’s Water Rescue, 3rd Edition.
  • Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Swiftwater Rescue, currently “RT: Swiftwater I/II,” will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Swiftwater Awareness, Operations, & Technician and will remain a 20-hour course. The new textbook will be Jones & Bartlett’s Water Rescue, 3rd Edition.
  • Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Watercraft Rescue will be a new 40-hour course resulting in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Watercraft Awareness, Operations, and Technician. The textbook will be Jones & Bartlett’s Water Rescue, 3rd Edition.

Changes to Other RESCUE Technician courses:

  • Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Cave Rescue, currently RT: Cave I/II, will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Awareness, Operations, and Technician. There is no textbook required for this course. This will remain a 40-hour course.
  • Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Confined Space Rescue, currently RT: Confined Space I/II, will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Awareness, Operations, & Technician. The new textbook will be CMC’s Confined Space Rescue Technician Manual, Revised 2nd Edition. This will remain a 40-hour course.
  • Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Structural Collapse Rescue, currently RT: Structural Collapse I/II, will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Awareness, Operations, and Technician. This will remain an 80-hour course. Curriculum changes will be announced at a later date.
  • Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Trench Rescue, currently RT: Trench I/II, will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Awareness, Operations, & Technician. The new textbook will be Jones & Bartlett’s Trench Rescue, 4th Edition. This will remain a 40-hour course.
  • Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Wilderness Rescue, currently RT: Wilderness I/II, will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Awareness, Operations, and Technician. There will be no textbook change for this course. This will remain a 40-hour course.

Changes to Investigator courses:

  • Fire Investigator, currently Fire Investigator I, will remain a 40-hour course and result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications to the Fire Investigator level. The new textbook will be IFSTA’s Fire Investigator, 3rd edition.
  • Advanced Fire Investigator, currently Fire Investigator II, will result in a certification issued by the State of Alabama. The new textbook will be IFSTA’s Fire Investigator, 3rd edition.
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