The Fire Protection Bureau was originally accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) in 1995. This world-wide organization includes 114 member entities including 39 states, 10 Canadian provinces, the Republic of South Africa, Egypt, Germany, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the United Kingdom, the Canadian Armed Forces, and the United States Department of Defense.
Following an on-site visit in March 2011 by three IFSAC members, the IFSAC Board of Governors re-accredited Washington State Patrol, Fire Protection Bureau on July 8, 2011. The next site visit will occur in 2014.
Accreditation
Any department, agency, region, association, district, private vendor, or person may make application to the Fire Protection Bureau for accreditation of their fire training programs. The entity shall be assessed by a site team on criteria and processes that address administrative procedures; record keeping and reporting procedure; staffing; facilities and equipment; policies and procedures; health and safety; performance standards; curriculum; and evaluation and testing.
Accreditation is based on national and state adopted performance standards. The Fire Protection Bureau has the authority to accredit training programs and has adopted the National Fire Protection Association professional qualification standards, when there is a need and a standard is available.
Presently Accredited:
Seattle Fire Department
Bates Technical College
Island County Firefighters Association
Spokane Fire Department
Everett Community College
Thurston Consortium
King County Officers Development Academy
Port of Seattle Fire Department
Certification
Fire personnel may become certified by successfully passing a written and practical state certification test in that discipline. Certification tests for competency are provided by the Fire Protection Bureau to fire organizations, professional associations, or institutions that act as the host entity. Candidates must score 80% on the written examination, and practical skills are graded on a pass/fail basis.
If you have questions about individual certifications, reciprocity, or historical recognition, or if you would like information on Certified Testing Personnel (i.e., evaluators, proctors, etc.), please contact the Accreditation & Certification Unit at: certificationinquiries@wsp.wa.gov
Please note: If you are requesting a replacement certificate you will need to send a letter with an original signature to:
Washington State Patrol
Fire Protection Bureau
PO Box 42600
Olympia 98504.
The letter should include your full name, date of birth, last four digits of your of SSN, and mailing address, as well as the date/location/level that you tested.
Pre-requisites are defined as follows: a list of information, skills, previous requirements or certifications that candidates must have completed or mastered before entering into the state testing process for a particular level of certification.
Example # 1: Prior to Firefighter I testing, a candidate must have completed live fire training according to the NFPA standard.
Example # 2:; Prior to testing for Firefighter II, a candidate must be certified at the Firefighter I level.
Co-requisites:
Co-requisites are defined as follows: corresponding levels of certification or certifications that are dependent on each other for certification in the professional level. Co-requisites are required to be completed within a one-year timeframe of initial testing in the corresponding level.
Example #1 - Firefighter I, Hazardous Materials Awareness Hazardous Materials Operations are considered co-requisite levels. They must be completed within one year of testing. However, Hazardous Materials Awareness must be tested prior to testing for Hazardous Materials Operations. All three levels may be simultaneously tested on the same day.
Example #2 - Fire Officer I and Instructor I are co-requisite levels. They may be tested in any order, but they must both be completed within a one-year timeframe.
Hazardous Material Awareness level IFSAC certification (Note: A certificate of training does NOT meet this requirement, your certificate must have a valid IFSAC seal)
Must be 18 years of age
Must have high school diploma or other state recognized equivalent
Recommended Training:
Hazardous Material Awareness level training, NFPA 472, 2008
IFSTA Hazardous Materials for First Responders – Operations level, 4th edition
IFSTA Essentials of Firefighting and Fire Department Operations, 5th edition
DOT North American Emergency Response Guidebook, 2008 edition
IFSTA Hazardous Materials, Managing the Incident, 3rd edition
Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Response Handbook, NFPA 472 & 473, 5th edition, 2008
NFPA 472 Standard for Competency of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents – Awareness and Operations levels, 2008 edition
Live fire training and testing on vehicle fire, Exterior Class A Fire, Interior Structure Fire, Incipient Class A, B, C Fires, and Ground Cover Fire NFPA 1001, 2008 edition
Emergency Medical Care certification as a First Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic, or proof of meeting performance requirements in NFPA 1001 standard
Must be 18 years of age
Must have high school diploma or other state recognized equivalent
Co-requisites:
Hazardous Material Awareness level IFSAC certification
Hazardous Material Operations level IFSAC certification
Note: Effective June 24, 2010, Hazardous Materials Operations became a certification requirement for Firefighter I. Candidates actively testing on the Firefighter I level prior to that will not be required to obtain Operations level for Firefighter I. For those candidates that received Firefighter I certification prior to June 24, 2010 and wishing to test on Firefighter II, Operations will be treated as a co-requisite.
Recommended Training:
Firefighter I training to the NFPA 1001 standard, 2008 edition
Revised guidelines are in development for Accreditation, Certification, and Planning/Conducting Certification Examinations. For more information, contact the Professional Development & Response Section at (360) 596-3945 or ifsacquestions@wsp.wa.gov.
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The Fire Protection Bureau was originally accredited by the 
