655 IAC 5 — ARTICLE 5. CERTIFICATION COURSE INSTRUCTION AND EXAMINATION PROCEDURES

TITLE 655 BOARD OF FIREFIGHTING PERSONNEL STANDARDS AND EDUCATION

ARTICLE 5. CERTIFICATION COURSE INSTRUCTION AND EXAMINATION PROCEDURES

Rule 1

655 IAC 5-1-1 655 IAC 5-1-1 Applicability of definitions

Rule 1. Definitions

655 IAC 5-1-1 Applicability of definitions

Authority: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5-7

Affected: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5

Sec. 1. The definitions in this rule apply throughout this article.

(Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education; 655 IAC 5-1-1; filed Aug 1, 2024, 4:17 p.m.: 20240828-IR-655240059FRA)

655 IAC 5-1-2 655 IAC 5-1-2 "Authority having jurisdiction" defined

655 IAC 5-1-2 "Authority having jurisdiction" defined

Authority: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5-7

Affected: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5

Sec. 2. "Authority having jurisdiction" means the organization, office, or individual responsible for administering a certification course.

(Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education; 655 IAC 5-1-2; filed Aug 1, 2024, 4:17 p.m.: 20240828-IR-655240059FRA)

655 IAC 5-1-3 655 IAC 5-1-3 "Advanced level instructor" defined

655 IAC 5-1-3 "Advanced level instructor" defined

Authority: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5-7

Affected: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5

Sec. 3. "Advanced level instructor" means an individual certified in Indiana in firefighting instruction at or above the level of Fire and Emergency Services Instructor II, Instructor II, or Instructor II/III.

(Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education; 655 IAC 5-1-3; filed Aug 1, 2024, 4:17 p.m.: 20240828-IR-655240059FRA)

655 IAC 5-1-4 655 IAC 5-1-4 "Job performance requirement" defined

655 IAC 5-1-4 "Job performance requirement" defined

Authority: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5-7

Affected: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5

Sec. 4. "Job performance requirement" means a professional qualification standard that must be achieved by a student in a certification course, based on a written statement describing a specific job task, lists the items necessary to complete the task, and defines measurable or observable outcomes and evaluation areas for the specific task.

(Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education; 655 IAC 5-1-4; filed Aug 1, 2024, 4:17 p.m.: 20240828-IR-655240059FRA)

655 IAC 5-1-5 655 IAC 5-1-5 "Lead evaluator" defined

655 IAC 5-1-5 "Lead evaluator" defined

Authority: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5-7

Affected: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5

Sec. 5. "Lead evaluator" means the individual who coordinates and supervises the administration of practical skills examinations.

(Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education; 655 IAC 5-1-5; filed Aug 1, 2024, 4:17 p.m.: 20240828-IR-655240059FRA)

655 IAC 5-1-6 655 IAC 5-1-6 "Lead instructor" defined

655 IAC 5-1-6 "Lead instructor" defined

Authority: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5-7

Affected: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5

Sec. 6. "Lead instructor" means the individual who manages and oversees the delivery of a certification course.

(Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education; 655 IAC 5-1-6; filed Aug 1, 2024, 4:17 p.m.: 20240828-IR- 655240059FRA)

655 IAC 5-1-7 655 IAC 5-1-7 "Proctor" defined

655 IAC 5-1-7 "Proctor" defined

Authority: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5-7

Affected: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5

Sec. 7. "Proctor" means an individual who monitors or supervises students during examinations.

(Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education; 655 IAC 5-1-7; filed Aug 1, 2024, 4:17 p.m.: 20240828-IR-655240059FRA)

Rule 2

655 IAC 5-2-1 655 IAC 5-2-1 Lead instructor qualifications

Rule 2. Personnel Qualifications

655 IAC 5-2-1 Lead instructor qualifications

Authority: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5-7

Affected: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5

Sec. 1. To qualify as a lead instructor, an individual must be certified in:

(1) Fire and Emergency Services Instructor I or as an advanced level instructor; and

(2) the subject matter for which the certification course is offered, at or above the level for which that course is offered.

(Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education; 655 IAC 5-2-1; filed Aug 1, 2024, 4:17 p.m.: 20240828-IR- 655240059FRA)

655 IAC 5-2-2 655 IAC 5-2-2 Lead evaluator qualifications

655 IAC 5-2-2 Lead evaluator qualifications

Authority: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5-7

Affected: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5

Sec. 2. To qualify as a lead evaluator, an individual must:

(1) be certified as an advanced level instructor;

(2) be certified in the subject matter for which the certification course is offered, at or above the level for which that course is offered;

(3) have prior experience evaluating practical skills; and

(4) have completed an evaluator qualification program annually, developed by the department.

(Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education; 655 IAC 5-2-2; filed Aug 1, 2024, 4:17 p.m.: 20240828-IR- 655240059FRA)

655 IAC 5-2-3 655 IAC 5-2-3 Proctor qualifications

655 IAC 5-2-3 Proctor qualifications

Authority: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5-7

Affected: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5

Sec. 3. To qualify as a proctor, an individual must have completed an annual proctor qualification program developed by the department and be:

(1) certified in Instructor I or as an advanced level instructor;

(2) a holder of an active Indiana educator license;

(3) a faculty member in postsecondary education; or

(4) a staff member of an organization administering certification courses.

(Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education; 655 IAC 5-2-3; filed Aug 1, 2024, 4:17 p.m.: 20240828-IR- 655240059FRA)

Rule 3

655 IAC 5-3-1 655 IAC 5-3-1 Lead instructor authority

Rule 3. Authority

655 IAC 5-3-1 Lead instructor authority

Authority: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5-7

Affected: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5

Sec. 1. (a) Only a lead instructor may deliver a certification course.

(b) A lead instructor may engage one (1) or more subject matter specialists to assist in the delivery of a certification course.

(c) A lead instructor may be assisted by one (1) or more additional instructors in the delivery of a certification course.

(d) An instructor assisting the lead instructor in the delivery of a certification course must be certified in:

(1) Instructor I or as an advanced level instructor; or

(2) the subject matter for which the certification course is offered, at or above the level for which that course is offered.

(Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education; 655 IAC 5-3-1; filed Aug 1, 2024, 4:17 p.m.: 20240828-IR- 655240059FRA)

655 IAC 5-3-2 655 IAC 5-3-2 Lead evaluator authority

655 IAC 5-3-2 Lead evaluator authority

Authority: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5-7

Affected: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5

Sec. 2. (a) Only a lead evaluator may supervise the administration of a practical skills examination.

(b) A lead evaluator may be assisted by one (1) or more additional evaluators, as determined and selected by the lead evaluator.

(c) An evaluator assisting the lead evaluator in the administration of a practical skills examination must be certified in:

(1) Instructor I or as an advanced level instructor; and

(2) the subject matter for which the certification course is offered, at or above the level for which that course is offered.

(Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education; 655 IAC 5-3-2; filed Aug 1, 2024, 4:17 p.m.: 20240828-IR- 655240059FRA)

655 IAC 5-3-3 655 IAC 5-3-3 Limitations

655 IAC 5-3-3 Limitations

Authority: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5-7

Affected: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5

Sec. 3. (a) An individual serving as a lead instructor or an instructor for a certification course may not also serve as a lead evaluator or an evaluator for the same certification course.

(b) An individual serving as a lead instructor or an instructor for a certification course may not serve as a proctor for the same certification course.

(c) An individual may not serve as a lead evaluator or proctor for a certification course in which an immediate family member is enrolled. For purposes of this section, the term "immediate family member" includes a:

(1) spouse;

(2) sibling;

(3) parent;

(4) child;

(5) grandchild; or

(6) stepchild.

(Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education; 655 IAC 5-3-3; filed Aug 1, 2024, 4:17 p.m.: 20240828-IR- 655240059FRA)

Rule 4

655 IAC 5-4-1 655 IAC 5-4-1 Application for certification course administration

Rule 4. Certification Courses

655 IAC 5-4-1 Application for certification course administration

Authority: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5-7

Affected: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5

Sec. 1. (a) An application for approval to deliver and administer a certification course must be submitted to the department not less than fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the commencement of the course.

(b) The application required by subsection (a) must be made in a form prescribed by the department and include the following information:

(1) Name of the course.

(2) Primary organization requesting the course;

(3) Start date and completion date of the course.

(4) Maximum number of students in the course.

(5) Course syllabus and schedule.

(6) Date and time of the written examination.

(7) Date and time of the practical skills examination.

(8) The proctor's name and contact information.

(9) The lead evaluator's name and contact information.

(10) The lead instructor's name and contact information.

(c) The department shall approve or deny a complete application required by subsection (a) within ten (10) calendar days of its receipt.

(Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education; 655 IAC 5-4-1; filed Aug 1, 2024, 4:17 p.m.: 20240828-IR-655240059FRA)

655 IAC 5-4-2 655 IAC 5-4-2 Certification course administration

655 IAC 5-4-2 Certification course administration

Authority: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5-7

Affected: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5

Sec. 2. (a) Certification course instruction and student participation must be performed safely under the certification standard.

(b) The job performance requirements for a certification standard must be completed in their entirety.

(c) Job performance requirements do not need to be completed in the order in which they appear in the certification standard.

(d) The lead instructor shall establish the instructional priority for students to complete job performance requirements.

(e) The subject matter of certification course instruction may exceed the scope of the job performance requirements set forth in the certification standard at the discretion of the authority having jurisdiction.

(f) Students are responsible for bringing necessary personal protective equipment to a certification course.

(g) The lead instructor is responsible for ensuring that students have and use the personal protective equipment necessary to engage in job performance requirements.

(h) Job performance requirements involving exposure to products of combustion must be performed in personal protective equipment.

(i) The lead instructor is not required to provide students with the personal protective equipment necessary to engage in job performance requirements.

(Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education; 655 IAC 5-4-2; filed Aug 1, 2024, 4:17 p.m.: 20240828-IR-655240059FRA)

655 IAC 5-4-3 655 IAC 5-4-3 Certification course administration procedure

655 IAC 5-4-3 Certification course administration procedure

Authority: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5-7

Affected: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5

Sec. 3. (a) Administration of each certification course by the authority having jurisdiction requires:

(1) instruction of certification course subject matter;

(2) a practical skills examination; and

(3) a written examination.

(b) A certification course in emergency response support does not require a written examination as described in subsection (a)(3).

(Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education; 655 IAC 5-4-3; filed Aug 1, 2024, 4:17 p.m.: 20240828-IR-655240059FRA)

655 IAC 5-4-4 655 IAC 5-4-4 Practical skills examinations

655 IAC 5-4-4 Practical skills examinations

Authority: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5-7

Affected: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5

Sec. 4. (a) A practical skills examination is required to test, at a minimum, each of the skill based job performance requirements included in the certification standard adopted by the education board.

(b) The content of each practical skills examination shall be obtained from the department following its approval by the education board.

(c) A practical skills examination must be successfully passed not more than one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the issuance of a certification.

(d) Practical skills examinations shall be conducted under the following procedures:

(1) Practical skills examinations are graded on a pass/fail basis.

(2) Each examinee must provide sufficient proof of identification to the lead evaluator over administration of the certification course.

(3) The lead evaluator shall:

(A) ensure the paperwork and equipment are in order before initiating and evaluating the practical skills examination;

(B) maintain a safe environment during the practical skills examination;

(C) ensure applicable safety and risk management protocols are followed;

(D) document the examinee's completion of the practical skills examination on an evaluation form provided by the department; and

(E) provide a copy of the evaluation form to the examinee following completion of the practical skills evaluation.

(Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education; 655 IAC 5-4-4; filed Aug 1, 2024, 4:17 p.m.: 20240828-IR- 655240059FRA)

655 IAC 5-4-5 655 IAC 5-4-5 Written examinations

655 IAC 5-4-5 Written examinations

Authority: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5-7

Affected: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5

Sec. 5. (a) A written examination is required to test, at a minimum, each of the knowledge based job performance requirements included in the certification standard adopted by the education board.

(b) A minimum score of seventy percent (70%) is required to pass a written examination.

(c) If an examinee fails a written examination, the examinee may reattempt to pass the written examination not more than two (2) additional times.

(d) The department shall provide information for reexamination within seven (7) calendar days if a request for reexamination is submitted.

(e) An examinee must pass the written examination within one hundred eighty (180) days after completing the certification course and practical skills examination.

(f) If an examinee fails the written examination within the period described in subsection (e), the examinee is required to retake the certification course and successfully complete the practical skills examination before reattempting the written examination.

(g) Written examinations shall be conducted under following procedures:

(1) One (1) or more proctors shall monitor each examination.

(2) Each examinee must provide sufficient proof of identification to the proctor before taking a written examination.

(3) The proctor shall record each entry to and exit from the examination room as prescribed by the department.

(4) The maximum time allowed for each written examination is three (3) hours.

(5) If more than one (1) room is being used to administer a written examination, at least one (1) proctor shall be present in each room where the written examination is being conducted during the examination.

(6) A proctor shall not discuss the contents of a written examination with an examinee.

(7) If an error or omission is found during an examination, the proctor shall report the error or omission as prescribed by the department.

(8) If an examinee is observed or otherwise found to be in violation of the security or integrity of a written examination, the:

(A) proctor shall dismiss the examinee from the written examination;

(B) examinee shall receive a score of zero (0) on the written examination; and

(C) proctor shall immediately notify the department of the misconduct as prescribed by the department.

(Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education; 655 IAC 5-4-5; filed Aug 1, 2024, 4:17 p.m.: 20240828-IR- 655240059FRA)

655 IAC 5-4-6 655 IAC 5-4-6 Examination security and integrity

655 IAC 5-4-6 Examination security and integrity

Authority: IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5-7

Affected: IC 4-21.5-3; IC 4-21.5-4; IC 22-12-7; IC 22-14-2-7; IC 36-8-10.5

Sec. 6. (a) An allegation of:

(1) cheating;

(2) a security breach;

(3) an examination administration breach;

(4) a loss of materials; or

(5) other deviations from acceptable and ethical security and examination integrity procedures;

shall be reported immediately to the department as prescribed by the department.

(b) The department may investigate an allegation reported under subsection (a) or suspected examination misconduct.

(c) On completion of an investigation under subsection (b), the department shall report the findings of its investigation to the education board.

(d) On determining a violation of acceptable and ethical security and examination integrity procedures or other misconduct has occurred, the education board may take any action under IC 4-21.5-3, IC 4-21.5-4, and IC 22-12-7, including suspension or revocation of certifications.

(e) The department, on behalf of the education board, may notify a:

(1) political subdivision that employs; and

(2) volunteer fire department that has in its membership;

an individual found to have committed a violation under subsection (d).

(Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education; 655 IAC 5-4-6; filed Aug 1, 2024, 4:17 p.m.: 20240828-IR-655240059FRA)