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Permalink Reply by Tom on March 14, 2012 at 7:31pm

Here in North Carolina, you automatically get your rescue tech when you attend the firefigher academy. You come out of the academy with firefighter I and II, Rescue Tech, and EMT-Basic. If you already have your FF I and II, there are also just rescue tech classes you can take, however those are rare. Im not sure how many classes there are total, but my estimated guess would be 16 classes or so. Talk to your chief or captain, I'm sure he/she would be happy to help you and even pay for your training because most departments like to have rescue techs available. 

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Permalink Reply by Russ on March 14, 2012 at 11:18pm

i am inclined to answer by telling you its based on your training because the definition in my expierence  varies based on where you are and what types of classes you have taken

in my case i was a rescue diver (public safety diver), rope & confined space rescue tech.so i guess that makes me more of a urban search tech

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Permalink Reply by Bob Callahan on March 15, 2012 at 4:39pm

Rescue Tech in LA involves passing several certification tests including Extrication Tech, Rope Rescue Tech and Confined Rescue Tech.

 

Each of these are a seperate 40-hour class with their own written and practical testing.

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Permalink Reply by ashfire on March 18, 2012 at 9:57am

I know the Maryland Fire and Rescue Intitute offer classes in Rescue Tech in stages from one on up.

They offer a number of differnet types of classes from haz mat to fire engineering.

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Permalink Reply by Cody Patrick on March 25, 2012 at 9:32pm

Maryland (MFRI) Offers Rescue Tech Training for Vehicle and Machinery, Site Ops(Low Angle), High Angle, Swift Water, Confined Space and Trench Rescues. From there, its up to you to Pro-Board to be Certified, permitting you have the pre-reqs such as EMT, FF2 and , HazMat Ops and so fourth

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Permalink Reply by Mike "Lapo" Lapotasky on March 28, 2012 at 10:12am

In most states, in order to be a rescue technician (truly) you must be pro-board certified. In terms of FEMA USAR Task Force reqs you must be PBC, have an EMT, hazmat tech, rope tech, collapse tech, water tech, extrication tech, emergency building shoring tech, con space tech and other USAR training.

 

It takes years of training to do this. For North Carolina to call people rescue techs with no experience right out of the training academy is piss poor and scary. I also find it a little insulting. You can not even start a one-faceted confined space rescue team in that short a time period, let alone all technical rescue facets.

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