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Stand Alone Courses

Stand Alone Courses are not for certification, but to enhance or develop one's knowledge and skills in a particular topic area.  They are a source of continuing or expanding education for responders.

Emergency Vehicle Driver Training (16 hours)

This course was developed  to teach the emergency vehicle operator proper driving technique, the mental as well as the physical aspects of the driving task. The course points out the long term impact of an accident involving an emergency vehicle on the operator, the emergency service organization and the community in which they serve.  Includes both classroom and practical driving course. This course has been enhanced to meet the driver-operator job performance requirements necessary to Pump and Aerial Apparatus Driver-Operator Certification.  Minimum class size is 15 students, maximum class size is 20 students.  Students are required to bring apparatus to the practical session with arrangements being made with their department Chief in advance.
Prerequisites:  Minimum of 18 years of age with a valid vehicle operator’s license. 

Flammable Gas Control (16 hours)

This course discusses the physical properties of flammable gases and the handling flammable gas emergencies with a focus on propane.  This course will provide the knowledge and skills to successfully mitigate flammable gas leaks and fires by discussing fire suppression and vapor control techniques and providing a familiarization to different gas system components.  Students will gain a knowledge base in the classroom and then conclude the course by participating in several live fire exercises.  All students must meet the prerequisites for live fire training as outlined in NFPA 1403.
Minimum class size:  15   Maximum class size:  25
Prerequisites: All Students must meet the prerequisites for live fire training as outlined in NFPA 1403.

Heartsaver CPR/AED (4 hours)

Heartsaver CPR AED is a classroom, video-based, instructor-lead course that teaches adult and child CPR and AED use, as well as how to relieve choking on an adult and child. This course teaches skills with American Heart Association’s research-proven Practice-While-Watching (PWW) technique, which allows instructors to observe the students, provide feedback and guide the students’ learning of skills.  This course may be combined with Heartsaver First Aid.
Minimum class size:  15   Maximum class size:  30

Heartsaver First Aid (4 hours)

Heartsaver First Aid is a classroom, video-based, instructor-lead course that teaches students critical skills needed to respond to and manage a first aid emergency in the first few minutes until emergency medical services (EMS) arrives. Students learn skills such as how to treat bleeding, sprains, broken bones, shock and other first aid emergencies. This course may be combined with Heartsaver CPR/AED.
Minimum class size:  15   Maximum class size:  30

Modern Fire Behavior – Flashover Recognition (8 hours)

This revised course goes beyond it’s Advanced Fire Behavior predecessor.  Today's firefighters must understand the complexities involved in the science of fire and fire dynamics.  This updated course uses evidence based information, derived from modern fire research, to highlight key educational areas.  It will provide you the tools necessary to understand modern fire propagation, fuel packages, and ventilation and how they relate to firefighter safety and tactical deployment on today’s fireground.  The course begins with a classroom presentation and concludes with a live fire exercise where you observe fire development from ignition to flashover.  The culminating live fire exercise will "flip the classroom", where the student will be able to recognize the warning signs of flashover from inside a live fire environment. 
Minimum class size:  15   Maximum class size: 18 
Prerequisites: All Students must meet the prerequisites for live fire training as outlined in NFPA 1403.

Personal Protective Equipment and Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (Firefighter I, Chapters 2 & 3) - 12 hours

After completion of this course, students will be able to describe the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that is used by firefighters, explain the importance of PPE, describe how PPE is properly maintained, identify the hazards of smoke and other toxic environments, and explain why respiratory protection is an essential need of fire service personnel.  Students will be able to describe the different types of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), identify it's limitations, explain the procedures for maintenance, inspections, refilling, and donning. Students will practice the skills of donning, doffing, performing inspections and maintenance, and operating in a SCBA.  At the conclusion of the course, the students will participate in SCBA confidence building drills inside of the Drager trailer, which is a mobile maze and obstacle course.  This course will result in a certificate of attendance and is intended as an introduction to the topic and does not result in certification.
Prerequisites:  None
Minimum Age:  18 years
Personal Protective Equipment and SCBA are required

Photovoltaic Safety for Firefighters  (3 hours)

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems are becoming more common on homes and businesses across Vermont. Building mounted PV systems present special considerations for firefighters when handling emergencies within these buildings and around these systems. This course will provide the participants with information about what firefighters need to know to safely deal with fires in buildings equipped with PV systems and other emergencies that occur around ground mounted PV equipment.

Topics include an introduction to photovoltaics and electrical theory, recognition of PV systems and components, general PV system operation, common safety labeling, tactical considerations, disconnecting means, fire suppression and ventilation issues, and the hazards associated with fire service operations in the area of a PV system.
Minimum class size:  15  Maximum class size:  varies based on venue capacity

Lithium-Ion Battery Awareness - (3 hours)

Lithium-ion batteries are becoming commonplace on the roads, in industrial settings, and in the residential fire environment, and pose unique challenges to the fire service. This 3-hour course introduces students to how lithium-ion battery systems work, how they fail, and how they burn. It provides students with tactical guidance for safely and effectively dealing with fires in electric vehicles, energy storage systems, e-mobility devices, and other applications of lithium-ion battery technology.

Traffic Incident Management (TIM) - (4 hours)

Three injury crashes occur every minute in the United States, putting nearly 39,000 incident responders potentially in harm's way every day. Congestion from these incidents often generates secondary crashes, further increasing traveler delay and frustration. The longer incident responders remain at the scene, the greater the risk they, and the traveling public, face. A cadre of well-trained responders helps improve traffic incident response. Better incident response improve the safety of responders and drivers, reduces crashes that occur because of incident-related congestion, decreases traffic delays caused by incidents, and can cut incident response time.

The National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training was created by responders for responders. This course provides first responders a shared understanding of the requirements for safe, quick clearance of traffic incident scenes; prompt, reliable and open communication; and motorist and responder safeguards. First responders learn how to operate more efficiently and collectively.

This training covers many TIM recommended procedures and techniques, including TIM fundamentals and terminology, notification and scene size-up, safe vehicle positioning, scene safety, command responsibilities, traffic management, special circumstances, and clearance and termination.  This training was developed through the second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) 

Minimum class size:  15   Maximum class size:  varies

Ventilation (Firefighter I, Chapter 15) - 8 hours

This course explains the purpose and importance of ventilation.  It describes when to perform ventilation, where to ventilate, and how to perform ventilation operations, and stresses the importance of coordinating ventilation with other fire suppression activities.  Topics include fire behavior and building construction as it relates to ventilation, how to perform the various types of ventilation within a structure, and the effects of ventilation on heat, smoke, toxic gasses, and fire development.  This course includes skills practice including negative-pressure ventilation, positive-pressure ventilation, hydraulic ventilation, roof ventilation with a power saw, and performing readiness checks on power saws.
Prerequisites:  None
Minimum Age:  18 years due to the use of power equipment
Personal Protective Equipment and SCBA are required
Minimum class size:  15  Maximum class size:  25

Water Rescue Safety & Awareness - (4 hours)

The Water Rescue Safety and Awareness course is part of a series of courses designed to develop and enhance your skills as a rescuer. These programs are delivered both in the field and as residential offerings at the Vermont Fire Academy to allow you the opportunity to continue your education and training as a rescuer.  This course is designed to introduce Firefighters and EMS personnel to water rescue at the awareness level of response. The course is an informational course with no hands on training component; it is not intended to provide instruction in water rescue skills. To be able to perform water rescues, personal should obtain hands on training such the Water Rescue Operations or Swift- Water Technician level courses.  The overall objective of this course is to enhance the safety of the first responders at water rescue incidents by increasing their knowledge of the hazards of water rescue and the techniques and equipment needed to manage those hazards. At the completion of this course, the student shall have:  an awareness of the risks in water incidents, the ability to recognize hazards at water incidents, knowledge of the VFA water rescue training program, the ability to identify local water rescue resources, the ability to identify basic shore based rescue techniques, the ability to identify water rescue equipment, and an awareness of the risks in water incidents.
Minimum class size:  15   Maximum class size:  varies

Wildland Fire Control (9 hours)

This course is designed specifically for Vermont firefighters, both career and volunteer.  Although much of the material covered is standard basic training for wildland firefighters in all of the Northeastern states, reference is made to conditions specific to Vermont.  Topics include wildland fire behavior, fire suppression methods and tactics, and wildland tools.  Information will be provided on fireline construction, anchor points, and direct and indirect attacks.  There is a practical skill component where participants will receive hands-on training on the use of wildland tools, water handling equipment, personal protective equipment, safe work practices, construction of a hand-dug fireline, and mop-up considerations.
Prerequisites:  None
Personal Protective Equipment is required including work pant, boots, hardhat, gloves, and eye protection.  Structural Firefighting PPE is not acceptable.
Minimum class size:  15   Maximum class size:  varies


National Fire Academy Courses

Decision Making for Initial Company Officers - National Fire Academy Course (16 hours)

Decision Making for Initial Company Operations is designed to develop the decision making skills needed by Company Officers (COs) to accomplish assigned tactics at structure fires. All activities and scenarios used in this course are based on structure fires. As a Company Officer (CO) with the real possibility of being the first to arrive at an incident, the CO’s initial decisions will have an impact throughout the entire incident. It is vital that they be able to make good management decisions that have a favorable impact on the eventual outcome. In addition to a possible role as the initial Incident Commander (IC), the CO may well be assigned a subordinate position within the ICS organization. COs need to have a clear understanding of the system, the position they are assigned, and their role in the organization if they are to function effectively and help make the system work.

This course is specifically designed for newly appointed Company Officers, for firefighters who may have acting Company Officer responsibilities or who want to become a Company Officer. This course is an excellent review for experience Company Officers.
Minimum class size:  15   Maximum class size:  varies

Health and Safety Officer - National Fire Academy Course (16 hours)

This 2-day course examines the Health and Safety Officer's role in identifying, evaluating, and implementing policy and procedures that affect health and safety aspects for emergency responders. Risk analysis, wellness and other occupational safety issues will be the main emphasis of this course.

Target Audience: Individuals who have department-level health and safety responsibilities. Persons attending this course should have a working knowledge of the Incident Command System, as taught by NFA, applicable NFPA and OSHA requirements and recommendations, and responsibility for setting policy for the department on such issues.
Minimum class size:  15   Maximum class size:  varies

Incident Safety Officer - National Fire Academy Program (16 hours)

The goal of this course is to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the Incident Safety Officer (ISO) during incident operations and training evolutions. This course is an incident-specific, scenario-oriented course designed to teach students what an ISO needs to know at an incident. The course uses instructor-led discussion, multimedia activities, and small group discussions to convey instructional points.  This course is designed for fire and emergency medical services (EMS) responders who may be designated by the Incident Commander (IC) as an ISO while working within an Incident Command System (ICS). These assignments may occur during firefighting, EMS, special operations incidents, and training evolutions.  The completion of ICS 100 & 200 is recommended prior to taking this course.
Minimum class size:  15   Maximum class size:  varies

Initial Fire Investigation for First Responders (16 hours)

This course is designed specifically to provide a clear definition of the role of the first responder in arson detection and provide essential knowledge to enable them to recognize the potential of intentionally set fires, preservation and protection of evidence, and proper reporting of information to appropriate officials. By strengthening the partnership between first responders and investigators, the chances for successfully solving arson-related crimes will increase. The course includes topics such as fire behavior, critical observations of the first responder, fire causes, scene security and evidence preservation, legal considerations, and documentation of findings.  This course is designed for all fire and emergency services personnel who might conduct preliminary investigations into the origin and cause of fires.  Interested students are encouraged to complete Initial Fire Investigation for First Responders (Q0379) available through NFA Online at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/training/nfa/courses/online.html prior to participating in this classroom based course.
Minimum class size:  15   Maximum class size:  varies

Leadership I for Fire and EMS:  Strategies for Company Success (16 hours)

This two-day course presents the Company Officer (CO) with the basic leadership skills and tools needed to perform effectively in the fire service environment. The course includes techniques and approaches to problem-solving, ways to identify and assess the needs of the CO's subordinates, methods for running meetings effectively in the fire service environment, and decision-making skills for the CO.  This course targets line fire officers, unit commanders, or program supervisors; fire or rescue personnel due for promotion/appointment to officer rank or supervisory position within six months; training officers, staff or administrative officers of fire and rescue organizations.  Prerequisites: None. Minimum class size:  15.   Maximum class size:  varies.

Leadership III: Strategies for Supervisory Success - National Fire Academy Course (16 hours)

This 2-day course provides the company officer with the basic leadership skills and tools to perform effectively in the fire service environment. The course covers when and how to delegate to subordinates, assess personal leadership styles through situational leadership, discipline subordinates, and apply coaching/ motivating techniques.  Prerequisites:  None.  Minimum class size:  15   Maximum class size:  varies.

New Fire Chief:  Challenging Issues (16 hours)

This course is designed to develop the managerial, administrative and leadership skills necessary for the first time fire chief and chief officer who desire a leadership position in their department. This course addresses critical knowledge and skills pertaining to the responsibilities of a fire chief including such topics as local politics and the role of the chief officer, liability and risk management, resources and items of knowledge needed to become a first time leader in a new position in their agency.

The primary candidates for this course include new or emerging chief officers in a volunteer or combination fire department or emergency service organization. The secondary candidate is a person who is a new career chief, department leader or emerging leader of fire department or emergency service organization. This course is open to all interested emergency services personnel including volunteer, career, and allied professionals, the class is intended primarily for those who have served or will begin to serve soon in leadership positions and who seek to learn more effective ways of managing and leading their agency.
Minimum class size:  15   Maximum class size:  varies

Preparation for Initial Company Operations - National Fire Academy Course (16 hours)

(Formerly Managing Company Tactical Operations: Preparation (MCTO:P)) This course is designed to develop a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a Company Officer in preparing their company for incident operations. In addition, to clarify the transition from firefighter to company officer and the new roles relating to leadership and safety. This course is designed for company officers, acting company officers, or senior firefighters responsible for the management of a single fire company at an emergency incident. Those officers who are responsible for company readiness, personnel safety, and leadership as it relates to company operation.

Target audience is company officers, acting officers, or senior firefighters who command a fire company during emergency operations. Those officers who are responsible for maintaining skills and company readiness.
Minimum class size:  15   Maximum class size:  varies

Residential Sprinkler Plan Review (16 hours)

This course looks at the following as the primary guidance for the approval of residential sprinkler systems:  National Fire Protection Association 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, NFPA 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes,  NFPA 13R, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Low-Rise Residential Occupancies,  International Residential Code Standard P2904, Manufacturer's Data Sheets, the ability to read and interpret the design is an essential element of preventive fire safety.

This course is appropriate for building and fire code officials whose responsibility it is to review and approve residential sprinkler plans. Such officials include fire inspectors, fire marshals, and building code inspectors with at least one year of experience on the job. The audience should have an understanding of the history of water-based fire protection systems and methods used to verify hydraulic calculation.  Prerequisites:  None.  Class Minimum: 15. Class Maximum: varies

Strategies and Tactics for the Initial Company Officer - National Fire Academy Course (16 hours)

This 2-day National Fire Academy course is designed to meet the needs of Company Officers responsible for managing the operations of one or more companies during structural firefighting operations. STICO is designed to develop the management skills needed by company officers to accomplish assigned tactics at structure fires.
Minimum class size:  15   Maximum class size:  varies

Training Operations for Small Departments - National Fire Academy Course (16 hours)

This 2-day course is designed to provide students with some basic tools and skills to coordinate training in a small fire/EMS organization. A training function in a smaller department typically may include conducting training drills and coordinating training with a nearby larger city or State training function.Course content includes Leadership issues in fire service training, such as why and how the local training officer must be a catalyst for change, and personal motivators within the department. Identifying the legal issues affecting the training function, including an understanding of a standard of care, and the impact of OSHA and NFPA standards. Safety considerations in training. Marketing training internally. Identifying ways to justify training needs. Resolving training conflicts using appropriate conflict resolution techniques. Selecting and evaluating training curriculum and materials from outside sources. Effective delivery and evaluation of training.

Target audience is fire and rescue personnel who coordinate training in small departments. Volunteer firefighters and officers who instruct in small fire and rescue departments. Fire personnel serving on training committees. Training officers in volunteer fire departments.NOTE: Students who have taken NFA's Challenges for Local Training Officers through the Volunteer Incentive Program are not encouraged to take NFA's Training Operations in Small Departments.
Minimum class size:  15   Maximum class size:  varies