Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tom Williams on October 28, 2010 at 11:16am

Good Morning Caroline,

Back years ago when I got my instructors cert. here in the bluegrass state, I was required to go thru a 40 hour methodology class which included doing a 15 minute presentation at the end. From there the state requires you teach a minimum of 32 hours every 3 years to maintain your cert. Since then they have updated the requirements for an instructor by requiring you be a minimum of FF1 to go along with the methodology class. Good luck on getting instructor's cert.

Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on October 28, 2010 at 12:05pm

"Fire service instructors are responsible for helping prevent on the job accidents by motivating, preparing, applying and evaluating firefighter students to enable them to deal with the myriad of incident types they may be faced with."

When you say FF class instructor, do you mean general firefighting academy type skills? My concern here right up front is that you want to become someone with a lot of education to teach, but... what about some job experience to go along with the teaching part?

I hate instructors who seem to know everything but have no whiskers to back up what they are teaching... Don't be this type of person. Become a subject matter expert, research the hell out of it and get really good at whatever it is you are trying to learn and teach. Having only one-year volunteer firefighter experience doesn't really afford one much of a chance to even think about teaching fire science. Don't you agree?

My assumption here is that you will slowly gain job experience, and as you learn the job, you will be able to teach the things that you learned to others. This is how you start out to become an instructor in this trade. Once you have on the job training under your belt, and you have mastered all of the skill sets needed to understand fully the job of a firefighter, then you need to think about furthering your education toward fire science instructor stuff. You have to know your job first before teaching it to someone else.

With that said, and to answer your question regarding state requirements, California firefighters are required to take two forty-hour classes to be considered a fire science instructor. Fire Instructor I status is achieved after taking Fire Instructor 1-A and 1-B. 1-A focuses on didactic lesson plan development or a more "classroom" style of distributing information to students. 1-B deals with teaching manipulative skills.

If you are interested in furthering your instructor education, there are two additional levels of instruction. Fire Instructor II involves , 2-A, 2-B, 2-C and 2-D. Group dynamics, developing testing questions and promotional examinations, audio visual / multi-media and assessment labs are the main topics with a lot of meat and potatoes thrown in. Once you complete these 40-hour class segments (you are now up to 240 hours...) and if you want to teach Instructor 1-A and 1-B, you can take the final two classes, Fire Instructor 3-A and 3-B to certify as a Master Fire Instructor III.

You are looking at a total of 320 hours of training to become a Master Instructor, which I did years ago and never regretted. I used these skills to develop fire science curriculum involving the state firefighter I and II programs, hazardous materials technician and specialist programs and teaching Uniform Fire Code at code hearings nationally.

Key point here Caroline and others reading this response, know your subject matter very well before endeavoring to teach it or as I prefer to say... do your homework.

TCSS,
CBz

"failure to prepare is preparing for failure... be prepared!"

Permalink Reply by M.J. 6821 on October 28, 2010 at 1:01pm

Like I have heard and seen many times before "those who can, do and those that can't, teach" I would respect and listen to someone who has actually done and experienced what they are teaching compared to someone that says "Well I was taught this in college I havent done it but was taught it so it must be the right way"

Permalink Reply by Chris on October 28, 2010 at 2:00pm

In NC when I got my instructor,to be a fire instructor you had to have your FF I & II and a 70 hr methodology class with 3 presentation that could not be fire related. You have to be an instructor for 5 years before you can apply to be a live burn instructor.

Permalink Reply by Jim Vieira on October 29, 2010 at 4:08pm

Awhile ago, my Chief asked people in the Department to attend a NFPA 1041 instructors class. I did and basically havent had to use the skills that I learned to teach a Firefighter leve I and II classes. When we are handed the curriculum for these classes, all of the classes are all laid out for us and we dont have to create a lesson plan. I tried to teach the new firefighters in a way to keep them interested in the subject matter by cracking some jokes, and keeping them tuned in by sharing my personal experiences ( since I have 35 years worth). Depending on who is in the class, sometimes my methods are borderline unethical regarding my jokes or language, but either way they seem to have fun and absorb what I am telling them.

Permalink Reply by Caroline on October 29, 2010 at 5:16pm

Thanks for all the replies guys!
As it is I am nowhere near ready to be an instructor, as I would hope to get at least 10 years of experience under my belt.
(9 more to go?...!)
Ideally, I'd like to design a course that meets state requirements. It's the teaching part I'm really into. I want to approach the subject matter in a way that will benefit the fire service better. The class I'm in now is a really good example of how I'd like to teach.
I'm currently taking FFI and looking to take FFII, Survival, whatever I am required to take and any fire science courses offered at my school of choice.
I think what will happen is this year I'll finish FF I & II and then move straight to fire science courses when I intend to attend school. (2012) Survival and any additional courses would come after college.
All the while I'd remain in my department, getting the experience part.

Thanks for the responses & support everybody!