DEPARTMENT OF STATE POLICE

                      FIRE FIGHTERS TRAINING COUNCIL

                               GENERAL RULES


(By authority conferred on the fire fighters training council  by  section 16 
of Act No. 291 of the Public Acts of 1966, as amended, being S29.376  of  the 
Michigan Compiled Laws)


R  29.401   Definitions.
  Rule 1. As used in these rules:
  (a) "Act" means Act No. 291 of the Public Acts of 1966,  being  S29.361  et 
seq. of the Michigan Compiled Laws.
  (b) "Council" means the fire fighters training council.
  (c) "Executive secretary" means the executive secretary of the  council.
  (d) "Fire fighter" means a member of an organized fire  department  who  is 
either an employee of the department or a volunteer.
  (e) "Staff member" means the executive secretary,  field  coordinator,   or 
curriculum writer employed full time by the council.

  History:  1979 AC.


R  29.402   Council-approved course;  instruction  hours;  recognition  of
  training by council.
  Rule 2. (1) A council-approved course shall be based  upon   all   of   the 
following:
  (a) The time required to adequately cover the subject material.
  (b) The ability of an average class to accomplish the established goals.
  (c) Its relevancy to the needs of the fire service in Michigan.
  (2) An instruction hour shall consist of 50 minutes  of  instruction   time 
and 10 minutes break time, totaling 1 actual hour.
  (3) The council shall only  recognize  training  that   is   conducted   by 
council-approved personnel.

  History:  1979 AC.


R  29.403   Curriculum; examinations.
  Rule 3. (1) An instructor, in conjunction  with   an   advisory   committee 
from the area and the coordinator, shall  determine  the   emphasis   to   be 
given to the various subjects in the curriculum which   are   necessary   for 
proper training of a new fire fighter. The emphasis to  be   given   to   the 
various subjects in the curriculum shall be reviewed and  approved   by   the 
executive secretary.
  (2) A review, mid-term, and final examination  shall  be   given   in   all 
courses. The examinations shall be approved by the council   and   shall   be 
reviewed by council staff  members  to  ascertain  if   there   is   adequate 
comprehension of the subject material tested in the examinations.
  (3) The examinations shall be conducted by  council-approved  personnel.
  (4) A 70% average is required to successfully pass the examinations.

  History:  1979 AC.


R  29.404   Attendance at training sessions; certificates.
  Rule 4. (1) A trainee shall attend all sessions unless he   has   a   valid 
reason for his absence. The instructor may, for valid  reasons,  excuse   not 
more than 10% of the total  hours  of  instruction.  An   absentee   from   a 
scheduled class session shall make up  the  absence  as   required   by   the 
instructor.
  (2) After successful completion of the program, the council shall  award  a 
certificate to a  trainee.  If  a  trainee   is   trained   in   a   240-hour 
continuous course, certificates shall not be awarded  for   the   class   IV, 
class III, or class II portions.

  History:  1979 AC.


R  29.405   Classification of fire fighters; fire inspectors; officers.
  Rule 5. (1) A class IV fire fighter is a  person   who   has   successfully 
completed the council-approved curriculum of a basic course not less  than 66 
hours in length.
  (2) A class III fire  fighter  is  a  class  IV  fire   fighter   who   has 
successfully completed the council-approved curriculum  of  an   intermediate 
course not less than 60 hours in length.
  (3) A class II fire  fighter  is  a  class  III  fire   fighter   who   has 
successfully completed the council-approved curriculum of  a  basic  advanced 
course not less than 60 hours in length.
  (4) A class  I  fire  fighter  is  a  class  II  fire   fighter   who   has 
successfully completed the  council-approved  curriculum   of   an   advanced 
course not less than 60 hours in length.
  (5) A fire inspector is a person  who  has   successfully   completed   the 
council-approved curriculum of a basic fire  inspector's   course.   A   fire 
inspector may also be a person who  has   challenged   the   council-approved 
examination and passed the examination with a score of not less than  70%.
A certificate shall be issued by the  council  upon  the   passing   of   the 
examination.
  (6) A class III officer is a class IV fire fighter  who  has   successfully 
completed the council-approved basic fire officer's  course   of   not   less 
than 40 hours in length, and has passed a  council-approved  examination  for 
this course with a score of not less than 70%. A  class   III   officer   may 
also be a person who has  challenged   the   council-approved   comprehensive 
examination for this classification and  passed  the   examination   with   a 
score of not less than 70%.
  (7) A class II officer is a class III  fire  fighter  and   a   class   III 
officer who has successfully completed  the   council-approved   intermediate 
fire officer's course of not less than 40 hours in length, and has  passed  a 
council-approved examination for this course with a score  of  not  less than 
70%. A class II officer may  also  be  a  person  who  has   challenged   the 
council-approved comprehensive examination  for   this   classification   and 
passed the examination with a score of not less than 70%.
  (8) A class I officer is a class I fire fighter and a  class   II   officer 
who has successfully completed  the   council-approved   advanced   officer's 
course  of  not  less  than  40  hours  in  length,  and   has    passed    a 
council-approved examination for this course with a score of  not  less  than 
70%. A class I officer may  also  be  a  person  who   has   challenged   the 
council-approved comprehensive examination  for   this   classification   and 
passed the examination with a score of not less than 70%.

  History:  1979 AC.


R  29.406   Training on a regional basis; exception; location of  schools.
  Rule 6. (1) With the exception  of  in-service   training,   all   training 
offered by the council shall be on a regional basis, and  all  classes  shall 
contain trainees from more than 1 department.
  (2) The council may  enter  into  an  agreement  with   a   department   or 
departments to provide training on a regional basis.
  (3) The field coordinator shall make the  final   determination   regarding 
the location of any council-approved or council-sponsored school.

  History:   1979 AC.


R  29.407   In-service training program.
  Rule 7. If 75% of the members of a department are in or  above   the   same 
classification, the department may  participate   in   the   council-approved 
in-service training program by notifying the executive   secretary   of   its 
percentage factor. Upon receipt of such information,  the  department   shall 
begin to receive drill plans and shall continue to receive drill plans  on  a 
periodic basis. The drill plan shall be  so  designed   that,   if   properly 
used, it outlines a drill 3 hours in length or 3 drills 1  hour  in   length, 
and over a period of 12 months it shall constitute a  refresher   course   in 
all categories of training required for that classification. For  example, if 
of the 100 persons in a department, 66   are   in   the   fire   fighter   II 
classification, 5 are in the fire fighter I classification, and  29  are   in 
officer II classification, the department may request drill  plans  for   the 
fire fighter II classification.

  History:   1979 AC.


R  29.408   Instructor certification generally.
  Rule 8. (1) An applicant for an instructor's   certificate   shall   submit 
all the necessary supporting information and data, on   forms   provided   by 
the council, to the executive secretary for review  and  recommendation   for 
council approval.
  (2) An applicant shall have  the  approval  and   recommendation   of   his 
agency head.
  (3) The executive secretary may, at the direction of the council,  issue  a 
provisional certification, which may be in effect  for  a   period   not   to 
exceed 6 months from the date of issuance.
  (4) Within 6  months  after  the  date  of  issuance   of   a   provisional 
certification,  a  council  staff  member  shall  evaluate   and   test   the 
applicant to determine his competence, and shall either  recommend   or   not 
recommend the applicant for "B" certification. The  executive  secretary  may 
extend this time period.

  History:  1979 AC.


R  29.409   Instructor "B" certification.
  Rule  9.  (1)  An  applicant  for  instructor   "B"   certification   shall 
demonstrate his ability to instruct  by  being  evaluated   in   a   teaching 
situation by a member of the council staff and receiving  approval  by   that 
staff member.
  (2) An applicant shall  submit  to  a  staff  member   evidence   that   he 
possesses adequate knowledge of the subject or  subjects   he   proposes   to 
teach and the methodology necessary to communicate to a class.
  (3) An applicant shall  be  capable  of  teaching  at   least   1   subject 
approved by the council.
  (4)  Upon  receiving  a  favorable  evaluation    report    regarding    an 
applicant's teaching ability, the council shall issue a  "B"  certificate.

  History:  1979 AC.


R  29.410   Instructor "A" certification.
  Rule 10. (1) An applicant for an instructor "A"  certification   shall   be 
certified as an instructor "B" and shall be qualified to  teach  the   entire 
basic fire fighter's course.
  (2) An applicant shall successfully complete  a  council-approved   course, 
not less than 40 hours in length, in teaching methodology.
  (3) An applicant shall presently be in the fire service and  shall  have  a 
minimum of 5 years of fire fighting experience.
  (4) An applicant for an instructor "A" certification shall be  evaluated in 
a teaching situation while conducting a class in 1 or more  subjects  not  in 
the basic fire fighter's curriculum.
  (5)  Upon  receiving  a  favorable  evaluation   report    regarding    the 
applicant's teaching ability, the council shall issue an  "A"  certificate to 
the applicant.
  (6) The holder of an "A" certificate shall be   considered   qualified   to 
teach any council-approved course.
  (7) In place of subrules (1), (2), and (3), an applicant may  be  tested by 
council staff personnel using an examination and criteria  approved   by  the 
council and shall achieve a minimum passing score  of  not  less  than 70%.

  History:  1979 AC.


R  29.411   Recognition of training conducted  by  certified  instructors;
  exceptions.
  Rule 11. The  council  shall  recognize  all  training   conducted   by   a 
certified instructor, except for justifiable reasons,  including,   but   not 
limited to, any of the following:
  (a) Inability to convey the subject matter of training to  the  trainee  or 
trainees.
  (b) Intoxication, or being under the influence of  a  controlled  substance 
while teaching.
  (c) Failure to instruct as the lesson plan indicates.
  (d) Failure to comply with instructions given by  the  coordinator.   These 
instructions shall be in writing and based on the  policies  and   procedures 
established by the council.
  (e) Teaching a subject not approved by the council.
  (f) Conviction of a felony or a high misdemeanor.

  History:  1979 AC.


R  29.412   Retention of certification by instructor.
  Rule 12. (1) An instructor shall  retain  certification   if   he   teaches 
council-approved courses in some manner for not less than 24  clock  hours in 
a continuous 24-month period.
  (2) If training is in classes other than  in   council-sponsored   schools, 
the training may be reported to the council,  on  forms   provided   by   the 
council, not less than every 6 months.
  (3) If an instructor fails to comply with subrule (1) of  this  rule,   the 
instructor may be recertified  by  the  council  only   after   the   council 
receives a  favorable  evaluation  report  regarding   the   applicant.   The 
instructor shall be evaluated within 90 days of  the   council   meeting   in 
which this action is taken.
  (4)  Special  provision  may  exist  which  allows    for    a    continual 
certification of instructors  in  the  department   of   natural   resources, 
department of state police, fire marshal division, and  public  utilities.

  History:  1979 AC.


R  29.413   Training schools; facilities; separations; approval.
  Rule 13. (1) A fire fighter training school shall  have   available   rooms 
and  facilities  in  order  to  efficiently  carry  out   its   program    of 
instruction.
  (2) If separations are required in the  program   of   instruction,   drill 
areas, apparatus, equipment, and supportive services shall  be  available.
  (3) A training school may be approved by the   executive   secretary   upon 
the recommendation of a coordinator. The council  reserves   the   right   to 
overrule the decision of the executive secretary.

  History:  1979 AC.


R  29.414   Recognition of training given by other states.
  Rule 14. (1) The council may recognize training  given   to   trainees   by 
agencies  of  other  states,  if  all  of  the   following   conditions   are 
satisfied:
  (a) The training is in a state-authorized or approved course.
  (b) The training is given by a state-authorized instructor.
  (c) The state agency supervises the instruction.
  (d) The instruction is based on manuals available  from  the  international 
fire service training association or equivalent training materials.
  (e) A lesson plan for each subject is  available   to   all   participating 
states for examination and review.
  (f) A copy of the training record of the individual is  forwarded  to   the 
office of the state fire fighter training agency of the   state   where   the 
person has applied for recognition. The record shall  reveal  the   subjects, 
dates of training, and number of hours of training in  each   category.   The 
requests for the record shall be made by the individual to  the   agency   in 
the state that the individual is leaving, and the transcript  shall  be  sent 
directly from that office to the fire fighter training agency  of  the  state 
the person is entering.
  (2) The presentation of records exchanged pursuant to  subrule  (1)   shall 
not automatically result in certification by this state. Each  case  shall be 
considered individually and the person  in  question  may  be   required   to 
demonstrate manual skills and to submit to a written  or   oral   examination 
given by a staff member of the  council.  An  explanation   of   the   manual 
skills performed and a copy of the written or oral   examination   shall   be 
approved by the executive secretary.

  History:  1979 AC.


R  29.415   Driver requirements.
  Rule 15. (1) Subrules (2) to (4) of this  rule  set   forth   the   minimum 
basic  driver  requirements  for  members  of    legally    organized    fire 
departments to be certified by the council  in  lieu   of   the   endorsement 
required by section 312e of Act No. 300 of the Public  Acts   of   1949,   as 
amended,  being  S257.312e  of  the  Michigan   Compiled   Laws.   Continuing 
education is necessary,  and  it  is  the  responsibility   of   local   fire 
department officials to constantly train their personnel  in  equipment   and 
environmental changes. These requirements  do  not  limit   the   extent   of 
training required by the administration of a local department.
  (2) A driver shall  have  a  valid  operator's   or   chauffeur's   license 
pursuant to Act No. 300 of the Public Acts  of  1949,   as   amended,   being 
S257.1 et seq. of the Michigan Compiled Laws.
  (3) A driver shall have satisfactorily  completed   the   approved   driver 
certification course as established by the council.
  (4) Pending full  compliance  with   driver   certification   requirements, 
provisional, temporary authority to drive is granted until  July 1,  1981.

  History:  1981 AACS.