Students will only be enrolled in courses with the prior authorization of their Chief via an Academy application form. Substitute students will only be accepted with an application and letter signed by the Chief. Students who have not been confirmed into the class will not be permitted without prior authorization from SFI Laura Single or Larry Rauch, Coordinator of Safety Programs.

Students absent for the first lesson will be considered a "NO SHOW" and will be replaced unless the Academy was notified in advance, that the student will miss the first lesson, which they will have to make-up. Students not in attendance for Lesson 1 should NOT show up for any lessons until re-scheduled to do so with another class.

Students are responsible for signing the roster each night to receive credit for the lesson. Make-up students are responsible for signing the make-up roster with their original class number, in order to receive credit.

Any student arriving late to class shall report to the Instructor-in-Charge before reporting to class. Habitual tardiness will result in the student being dropped from the course and the candidate’s Fire Chief will be notified.

Students shall not leave the Academy or the Field Training Site prior to class dismissal without prior approval from the Instructor-in-Charge of the facility.

Students are required to attend ALL classes BEFORE they are evaluated or issued a certificate. Candidates have 18 months to complete the course requirements.

Students must verify location and acceptance into a make up class by contacting Senior Fire Instructor Laura Single at 201-785-6040 between 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., on the night of the lesson.

Firefighter I: Due to the fact that information given in one lesson is required to operate safely in subsequent lessons, the following lessons must be taken in their scheduled order. Lessons requiring the use of SCBA, including Lessons 19,20,21,22,32,33,34 must be taken in order. Ladder Lessons 23,24,25 & 26 also be must be taken in order. It is highly recommended that the Hose Lessons 27,28,29 be taken consecutively.

Firefighter II: Lessons 9 and 10 are the Confined Space Lecture & Practical. They must be taken in order to function safely.

Fire-Dress Code: Students shall be appropriately and neatly attired. Sleeveless shirts and shorts shall NOT be permitted for the entire duration of the course(s) including lecture classes.

Full-length trousers and shirts with sleeves are mandatory at all times for all courses, regardless of the use of bunker pants. Students arriving in sleeveless shirts or shorts will be asked to change or leave.

Police-Dress Code: Proper dress for all students is either a department uniform or a collared shirt, slacks and shoes. Additionally, female officers may wear a skirt or dress. No jeans, shorts, sweat clothes, tee shirts or sneakers are permitted. Dress may be modified by request of the instructor for hands on training courses.

EMS-Dress Code: Students must be dressed appropriately so as not to distract from the learning process. Students should be wearing comfortable slacks or jean, neat and clean T-shirts, and shoes. Students may not wear shorts, sandals, tank tops, half shirts, halter-tops, tube tops, and/or skirts. The Coordinator will have the final say as to what is appropriate.

Injuries or illness of any nature, occurring on the Academy grounds, or at a Field Training Site, must be reported immediately to the Fire Instructor-in-Charge of the class. An accident report will be filled out completely and a copy will be sent to the student’s department. Appropriate treatment and/or transportation will be provided as needed.

Students who are currently listed as “on sick leave” or “suspended” from their department shall NOT be allowed to participate in any training programs, including lectures.

Books, papers or other materials on the Instructor's desk, podium or chalkboard are for Instructor use only.

Eating and drinking are prohibited in ALL Academy classrooms and at ALL Field Training Sites. Breaks will be provided as time allows. ALL trash must be deposited in the proper receptacles.

Firefighter I, Firefighter II students may NOT take the midterm, final exam and/or practical evaluation until they have completed the program to that point. Missed lessons must be made up prior to taking the exam(s) or evaluation. Students needing to take a make-up exam must contact the Senior Fire Instructor Laura Single @ 201-785-6040 between 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., to determine scheduled test date availability. Minimum passing score is 70% on all exams.

Re-tests can be scheduled by contacting SFI Laura Single at 201-785-6040 between 2:00 pm and 11:00 pm. If a verbal exam is required, she must be notified at that time.

All Firefighter I and Firefighter II students will be afforded a maximum of three (3) opportunities to pass they’re given exam. If he/she is deficient after three attempts, the Chief of Department and Training Officer will be notified.

Verbal exams will only be given at the Firefighter I and Firefighter II levels only. Students may request a verbal exam, one week prior to the scheduled date of the exam by contacting the Senior Fire Instructor Single @ 201-785-6040 between 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

No one other than the Instructor and student(s) taking the test will be allowed in the room while the exam is being administered. The only exception is in the event that a student requires an interpreter, who must be provided by the student’s fire department.

Firefighter I and Firefighter II students MUST return the IFSTA 200 manual issued by the Academy, at their final written exam (Fire I Lesson 30; Fire II Lesson 17). Failure to do so will result in an "incomplete" and the student will NOT be allowed to take the test.

All manuals must be returned no later than December 1st of the year the class was started. A manual will be re-issued, upon request, when the individual begins attending make-up lessons the following year. Initial Company Tactical Operations students must return the issued manual at the last lesson.

Firefighter I and II students must complete all lessons prior to attending the evaluation. ANYONE MISSING LESSONS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO EVALUATE.

Firefighter I and II students are required to pass ALL stations at the evaluation.

"Consultation notices" will be written for anyone who knows enough to pass a station, but may need more work in a particular area. The local Fire Chief and Training Officer will be notified of these areas. It is recommended that they re-train at the local level, or attend a pre-scheduled class after confirming with SFI Laura Single.

Anyone who does not pass a station(s) will be considered “deficient”. The local Fire Chief and Training Officer will be notified of the area(s) that was “deficient”. In the event that the student is deficient, they will be required to re-train and re-evaluate. They must attend re-training for the appropriate lesson (3-hour block) for the station(s) that he/she was deficient. After completion of this training, he/she will be required to attend the next scheduled Evaluation date to be re-evaluated at the station(s) that he/she was deficient in.

If a Firefighter I student is deficient at four (4) or more stations he/she will NOT be permitted to re-train or re-evaluate. The Academy will recommend that he/she take the program again in its entirety, including all lessons, written exams and practical evaluation. A new application, signed by the Chief or Training Officer, will be required if the student wishes to attend the classes again.

Firefighter II students who are deficient at three (3) or more stations, he/she will NOT be permitted to re-train or re-evaluate. The Academy will recommend that he/she take the program again in its entirety, including all lessons, written exams and practical evaluation. A new application, signed by the Chief or Training Officer, will be required if the student wishes to attend the classes again.

In the event that the student attends re-training but still does not pass the station(s), they will be given one more opportunity to re-train and re-evaluate as outlined above. After three (3) evaluation attempts, including the initial evaluation, it will be recommended that they take the entire program again.

The week after successful completion of the evaluation, the Academy will send a Training Report to the FD Training Officer indicating the student’s completion or any other requirements that may need to be met (i.e. missed lessons, final exam, CPR card, etc.).

Firefighter I and Firefighter II students must NOT have facial hair, other than a mustache, for the ENTIRE duration of their assigned program.

As per PEOSHA Section 29 CFR 1910.134(e)(5)(i) "Facial hair that lies along the sealing area of a respirator, such as beards, sideburns, moustaches, or even a few days growth of stubble, is not permitted on employees who are required to wear respirators that rely on a tight face piece fit to achieve maximum protection. Respirators shall not be worn when conditions prevent a good face seal. Such conditions may be the growth of a beard, sideburns, a skull cap that projects under the face piece, or temple pieces of glasses."

As per OSHA CFR 29 1910.134(g)(1) “The employer shall not permit respirators with tight-fitting face pieces to we worn by employees who have: (i)(A) Facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the face piece and the face or that interferes with valve function; (i)(B) Any condition that interferes with the face to face piece seal or valve function”

Therefore, anyone who has a beard or excessive facial hair shall NOT be permitted to participate in any evolutions that require the use of self-contained Breathing Apparatus. This is per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 and NFPA Std 1500, Std. on F.D. Occupational Safety & Health, sec. 5-3.10.

Students attending any course that requires the use of SCBA and/or live fire training, including but not limited to Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Propane, Flashover, and Automobile Fires, who has facial hair (mustache or beard) that extends below the lower edge of their lower lip shall not be permitted to participate or receive credit for the class, including lectures.

Any firefighter participating in live fire training, must wear an OSHA approved hood.

Visitors are prohibited from entering the Fire Training area without an Academy personnel escort.

All visitors must report to the Senior Instructor Supervisor in the Administration Building.