Section 141.308  Fire Officer I

The Office recognizes three levels of Fire Officer:  Fire Officer I, II, and III.  These three levels meet and exceed the four levels of Fire Officer identified in NFPA 1021.  The Office does not recognize Fire Officer as a rank because it is not possible to insure that every rank used by local fire or allied field agencies to identify employees would be consistent throughout the State.  The Office defines the Fire Officer I as an individual having the responsibilities of Company Officer.

a)         Prerequisites

1)         Certification as Firefighter III (see Section 141.304) and as Fire Service Instructor I (see Section 141.318).

2)         Engagement in firefighting in an organized Illinois fire department as a fire protection person or trainee according to the Act as attested to by the employing Fire Chief of the individual seeking certification.

3)         Attainment of four years minimum current fire service experience in a fire department or as current full time staff instructor of the Fire Service Institute.

4)         Successful completion of the required three-semester credit (40 student-contact hours minimum) courses or equivalent (see Section 141.120).  A course taken for certification credit of 40 student contact hours (minimum) can be used for only one area of career hierarchy.

5)         Experience Requirements

A)        Candidates for Fire Officer I certification must have a minimum of one year current experience as a Provisional Fire Officer I (see subsection (a)(5)(B)) or Fire Officer I trainee.  The Office defines a Fire Officer I trainee as a person possessing Firefighter III certification assigned to supervise one or more companies (a company is a crew of fire protection personnel).  The Certified Instructor and employing Fire Chief must document this current experience as a Provisional Fire Officer I or Fire Officer I trainee.

B)        Until such time as the experience requirement is satisfied, the Fire Officer I candidate will receive a certificate attesting to his/her Provisional Qualification as a Fire Officer I.  Provisional Qualification can only be given after completion of all required courses.  Provisionally qualified status allows the individual to participate in Fire Officer II courses and training.  Provisionally qualified status does not certify the individual as a Fire Officer I.

C)        For purposes of figuring the year of experience, the applicant must have been assigned to Fire Officer I duties at least 80% of the time based on a 120 workday period (i.e., 96 days of 120 days).

6)         Application for Certification/Validation-Attestation.

b)         Reimbursement may be received for training costs for a Fire Officer I (see Subpart E).

c)         Credit for equivalent courses may be available in accordance with Section 141.120.

d)         Instructors for Fire Officer I courses must meet the requirements of Section 141.115(c).

e)         Facility Certification and Delivery Systems

Educational institutions and fire service organizations desiring to offer the Fire Officer program will be required to receive approval from the Office.  Approval requires:

1)         Facility approval in accordance with Sections 141.100 and 141.110.

2)         Course approval in accordance with Section 141.115.

3)         End-of-course examinations in accordance with Section 141.230.

4)         All courses will be delivered under the auspices of approved institutions, which are identified as follows:

A)        All Fire Officer I and II courses may be delivered by any accredited college or university in Illinois.

B)        All Fire Officer III courses may be delivered by colleges or universities accredited in Illinois to offer baccalaureate degrees.

C)        The following fire service organizations may receive approval from the Office to deliver specialized courses:

i)          The Illinois Fire Chiefs Association (IFCA).

ii)         The Illinois Fire Inspectors Association (IFIA).

iii)         The Illinois Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI).

iv)        The Illinois Firefighters Association (IFA).

v)         The Associated Firefighters of Illinois (AFFI).

vi)        The Illinois Association of Fire Protection Districts (IAFPD).

vii)        The Illinois Professional Firefighters Association (IPFA).

viii)       The Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA).

5)         All organizations and institutions desiring to offer programs and/or courses shall meet all requirements established by the Office regarding curricula, student control, examinations, financial records maintenance and instructor's qualifications in Sections 141.100, 141.110, 141.115, 141.125 and 141.230.

f)          State Certification Written Examination

To be certified as a Fire Officer I, one of the following means of examination must be successfully passed, with proof of course completion and passage submitted to the Office:

1)         Written examination administered by the training facility.  Examinations must be approved by the Office as meeting the criteria in Sections 141.115 and 141.230.

2)         Written examination administered by the Office in accordance with Section 141.200.

3)         Examinations shall be taken either by subject area or entire certification requirements.