The Fire Service College (FSC), the Home of Firefighter Development in the UK, has become the first centre in Europe to achieve Pro Board accreditation to certify to the US based National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards. The NFPA is a leading world authority on fire prevention and safety.
The specific NFPA standards that the Fire Service College can test against are:
• NFPA 1001 Standard for Firefighter Professional qualifications
• NFPA 472 Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents – Awareness Level
• NFPA 472 Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents – Operations Core with Missions Specific PPE and Product Control Levels
The accreditation is the Pro Board stamp of approval of the FSC’s test certification processes and procedures which tests the knowledge, skills and abilities of learners wishing to be certified to NFPA standards.
In recognition of the achievement, the Pro Board Chairman of Board of Directors and former President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Chief Jim Estepp, visited the FSC to present the Accreditation Certificate. He said “The use of National Fire Protection Association Professional Qualification Standards is gaining support internationally as the number of Pro Board Accredited Agencies outside of North America continue to grow. The achievement of the Fire Service College to become accredited by the Pro Board as the first such agency in Europe is a prime example of the greater acceptance of NFPA Professional Qualifications Standards and Pro Board Accreditation worldwide as the benchmark for Emergency Services credentialing. For the Fire Service College this is an accomplishment that will resonate around the world.”
Martin Thomas, FSC Managing Director said “This accreditation underlines our position as a leading provider of firefighter training both at home and abroad. It acknowledges that the FSC is working to the most widely recognised fire and prevention standards in the world – now including those of the North American Fire and Rescue Services. Pro Board approval opens up new opportunities for the Fire Service College, allowing us to extend the delivery of assessed, accredited and assured training to new and existing international customers.”
This latest development supports the FSC’s vision of becoming a true Centre of Excellence for both UK and international Fire and Rescue Services. As the Home of Firefighter Development, the FSC represents one of the world’s premier fire training venues, attracting customers from around the globe to train in a world-class facility with internationally recognised credentials.
For more information, go to www.fireservicecollege.ac.uk or www.nfpa.org
Top photo: Presenting the Certificate of Accreditation to Martin Thomas, FSC Managing Director (pictured right) Pro Board Chairman of Board of Directors and former President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Chief Jim Estepp (pictured left) said “This is an accomplishment that will resonate around the world.”
