Subdivision 1. Examination; requirements.

(a) The board must appoint an organization that is accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress to prepare and administer firefighter certification examinations. Firefighter certification examinations must be designed to ensure and demonstrate competency that meets the NFPA 1001 standard or a national standard in areas including but not limited to:

Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 299N.04

  • Fire department: means a regularly organized fire department, fire protection district, or fire company regularly charged with the responsibility of providing fire protection to the state or a local government and includes a private nonprofit fire department directly serving a local government. See Minnesota Statutes 299N.01
  • Firefighter: means a volunteer, paid on-call, part-time, or full-time firefighter serving a general population within the boundaries of the state. See Minnesota Statutes 299N.01
  • Person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44

(1) fire prevention;

(2) fire suppression; and

(3) hazardous materials operations.

(b) Certification must be obtained by the individual demonstrating competency in fire prevention and protection under the NFPA 1001 standard.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any requirement imposed by a local fire department for more comprehensive training.

Subd. 2.Eligibility for certification examination.

Except as provided in subdivision 3, any person may take the firefighter certification examination who has successfully completed the following:

(1)(i) a firefighter course from a postsecondary educational institution, an accredited institution of higher learning, or another entity that teaches a course that has been approved by the board; or (ii) an apprenticeship or cadet program maintained by a Minnesota fire department that has been approved by the board; and

(2) a skills-oriented basic training course.

Subd. 3.Certain baccalaureate or associate degree holders eligible to take certification examination.

A person with a baccalaureate degree or an associate degree in applied fire science technology from an accredited college or university, who has successfully completed the skills-oriented basic training course under subdivision 2, clause (2), is eligible to take the firefighter certification examination notwithstanding the requirements of subdivision 2, clause (1).