The West Virginia University Fire Service Extension has received reaccreditation status from the Pro Board Fire Service Professional Qualifications System.

According to Mark Lambert, director of the WVU Fire Service Extension, the certification allows firefighters in the state to have nationwide accreditation.

“This Pro Board certification is offered exclusively in West Virginia by WVU,” said Lambert. “Both volunteer and paid firefighters can earn college credit or use their certifications to work anywhere in the country.”

Pro Board is a nine-member national professional qualifications board that assesses agencies or organizations for accreditation under the National Fire Protection Associations standards. The WVU Fire Service Extension undergoes on-site inspection and Pro Board reevaluation once every five years. More than 30 years ago, the agency was one of the first to seek accreditation, and has been successful ever since.

“This certification speaks volumes about the quality and commitment coming from firefighters trained in this state,” said Brian Grieco, WVU Fire Service Extension adjunct instructor. “The same organization that trains the Department of Defense—the largest fire department in the world—is training our professional, volunteer and military firefighters.”

To assess accreditation potential, Pro Board inspects site premises, assesses operating procedures and testing materials, performs test item analysis and initiates both written tests and field testing.

According to Grieco, it’s not just an entry level certification—Pro Board accreditation evolves with each organization.

“This process has different stages,” said Grieco. “As we continue to grow, so will available certification levels for our department and firefighters.”

The Pro Board Committee on Accreditation has approved the West Virginia University Fire Service Extension’s Pro Board reaccreditation for the following levels of National Fire Protection Association 1001:

• Firefighter I, Firefighter II, 2013 edition
• NFPA 1002: D/O Pump, D/O Aerial, 2009 edition
• NFPA 1021: Fire Officer I, Fire Officer II, 2009 edition
• NFPA 1041: Fire Instructor I, Fire Instructor II, 2012 edition
• NFPA 472: Haz Mat Awareness, Haz Mat Operations – CORE, Haz Mat Mission Specific Competencies Personal Protective Equipment, Product Control, Air Monitoring, Mass Decontamination, Technical Decontamination, Haz Mat Technician, 2013 edition

To learn more about WVU Fire Service Extension, visit fireservice.ext.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

bd/07/22/15

CONTACT: Cassie Thomas, WVU Extension Service
304.293.8735, Cassie.Thomas@mail.wvu.edu

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