Fire Fighter Evaluation and Certification

The FCO Evaluation and Certification program allows fire fighters to measure their skills and knowledge against recognized international standards. Many fire departments also use Certification when assessing fire fighters for advancement or when hiring new members.

Saskatchewan follows National Fire Protection Association Standards for the professional qualification of fire fighters. The Office of the Fire Commissioner is accredited under the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) to certify fire fighters under selected NFPA Standards.

Fire fighters who want to gain certification are known as participants. A candidate challenges the standard or standards they wish to complete. Certification is gained through a combination of recognized prerequisites, written evaluations and practical skills evaluation. Each standard has a different set of prerequisite, theory and skills requirements.

Certification and training are separate matters. How a fire fighter prepares for certification is an individual choice. Some candidates attend formal training at recognized fire colleges, others train with their department; some prepare on their own. No matter how you get ready the evaluation process is consistent for every candidate challenging a standard.

Gaining certification can mean a great deal of training, study and preparation. The Evaluation and Certification Guide is a comprehensive document which details what is required for each standard. Once you review the Guide you can Contact Us with any questions.