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1. What classes offered at NIPSTA lead to Illinois OSFM certification?

Currently, the following courses offered at NIPSTA are approved by the Illinois OSFM for certification?

• Basic Operations Firefighter

• Advanced Operation Firefighter

• Fire Service Vehicle Operator

• Fire Apparatus Engineer

• Company Fire Officer

• Advanced Company Officer

• Fire Department Incident Safety Officer

• Fire Department Health and Safety Officer

• Fire Service Instructor I

• Fire Service Instructor II

• Fire Service Instructor III

• Training Program Manager

• Hazardous Materials First Responder-Operations

• Hazardous Materials Technician

• Hazardous Materials Incident Command

• Rescue Specialist-Confined Space

• Rope Operations

• Rope Technician

• Trench Operations

• Trench Technician

• Structural Collapse Operations

• Structural Collapse Technician

• Vehicle and Machinery Operations

• Vehicle and Machinery Technician

2. Are Illinois OSFM examinations included at the end of NIPSTA courses?

In an effort to begin transitioning over to the OSFM's computer based testing initiative we will no longer be scheduling closed, end of course state exams, for tests offered at PearsonVUE facilities.

3. As a Regional Test Site, does NIPSTA have a calendar of dates for exams?

Test dates for Illinois OSFM Open Exams at NIPSTA for 2019:

February 8, 2019 (Friday)

March 15, 2019 (Friday)

April 12, 2019 (Friday)

June 14, 2019 (Friday)

July 19, 2019 (Friday)

September 13, 2019 (Friday)

October 11, 2019 (Friday)

November 8, 2019 (Friday)

December 13, 2019 (Friday)

4. Where can I find information on regional computer based (Pearson VUE) testing facilities?

The following information is available from the OSFM and posted on PSE website:

On June 1st, 2018, twenty-five state written examinations will be available to be challenged through a new, computer based, testing process. As certification programs are revised to the updated NFPA Standards, more examinations will become available.

• Examinations Available:

• Basic Operations Firefighter Complete, Mod A, Mod B and Mod C

• Advanced Technician Firefighter Complete, Mod A, Mod B

• Company Fire Officer, Advanced Fire Officer

• Airport Firefighter, Fire Investigator

• Fire Apparatus Engineer, Fire Service Vehicle Operator

• Hazardous Materials Operations and Technician

• Instructor I, II and III

• Public Fire Life Safety Educator I, Fire Inspector II, Youth Firesetter

• Rope Operations and Technician

• Trench Operations and Technician
  

Registration for computer based exams will begin June 1 with exam offerings at Pearson VUE test centers located throughout the state. Paper-and-pencil testing will continue to be offered initially but will eventually be phased out within 3 years. More detailed information regarding this process will be released at a later date.

A Request for Examination must be submitted to the DPSE to approve the individual to challenge an examination. This process will not change. Once the individual is approved by DPSE, Pearson Vue is notified. The individual will then be able to schedule the test at a Pearson Vue site. Individuals will be able to choose a specific date and time to schedule their exam. Web scheduling will be available for candidates 24/7. Email confirmations will be sent to candidates when they schedule, cancel, or reschedule an exam. Pearson Vue website address is https://home.pearsonvue.com

OSFM will pay 100% of the exam fee for a candidate's first scheduled test attempt at a Pearson VUE test center (includes pass, fail, and no-show). All exam retakes at a Pearson VUE test center will be $59, payable by the candidate or fire department, as applicable. Exam scores will be presented to candidates immediately following the exam.

Two (2) forms of identification are required at the testing center. One government issued, photo- and signature-bearing ID (passport, driver's license, etc.) and one alternate ID (for example, a credit card)

Individuals are provided with one exam authorization. Individuals must be reauthorized for each exam retake attempt by OSFM in the event that they fail the exam (this is the current Request for Exam process.) Individuals may cancel or reschedule their exam no later than 24 hours before their reservation date and time or else they will forfeit their test fee.

5. Where can I find the prerequisites for the OSFM certifications?

The most accurate location for the information on the OSFM Certifications can be found at the Illinois Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR).  

6. I have completed a course and passed the Illinois OSFM exam, why does it say that my practical is not complete?

In order to complete the certification process, your Fire Chief or your Training Officer must request that you become certified in the course you are inquiring about.  Contact your Fire Chief or Training Officer and request that they complete this request.

7. I have Hazardous Materials Technician A certification, what must I do before June 30, 2019 to remain a "Hazardous Materials Technician"?

1. As of June 30, 2019 there will no longer be a Tech A or B they will go away and everyone only certified at the A level will have to take the entire Technician class over.

2. Everyone who is currently certified Tech A and B are currently certified as a Technician

3. There is no bridge course the classes haven’t changed they have only combined to make one class.

4. The rules currently say that if you are Tech A and B certified you are a hazmat technician so the SCAC eliminated the Tech A and B certifications so that there is less confusion when you become a technician. You will have to take the entire class and pass all practical’s and exam to become a Hazmat Technician.

5. If a school or academy or whoever wants to continue with the Tech A and Tech B that is fine but they will not be eligible for certification until both are completed and the state exam is successfully passed. This means that the state will no longer except course completion rosters for Tech A and B, only one course completion roster with 80 hours of instruction will be excepted after June 30, 2019.

6. The key component to this is if you are only certified at the Tech A level and you want to be a Hazmat Technician you need to have Tech B completed and passed the exam by June 30, 2019. If you don’t want certification for Hazmat Technician that is fine but in the future you will have to take the 80 hour course to get your certification.

7. Those currently Tech A and B will not get any additional certifications they are considered Hazmat Technician now and will not be given a new certification only those moving forward that complete the 80 hour course will be given a certification stating they are Hazmat Technicians.