Fred Piechota, Chairman

ProBoard Advisory Committee

The following is a report of the NFPA Professional Qualifications Technical Correlation Committee Meeting held in Denver, Colorado on May 17, 2005:

Update from the Technical Committees

NFPA Standard 1006 – Rescue Technician (search on NFPA.org for information on 1006)

The Standard is going into a new revision cycle. It is anticipated that the Standard will undergo a complete revision. Confusion exists between the current Standard 1006 and NFPA Standard 1670, Operations and Training for Technical Search and Rescue Incidents. The Committee will attempt to address the confusion by including an “Operations” level within the revised 1006. The Committee is considering recommending that the name of the Standard be changed to Professional Qualifications of Technical Rescuers.

NFPA Standard 1037 – Fire Marshal (search on NFPA.org for information on 1037)

Work on the development of the Standard continues. The Committee has decided to present the various disciplines within the Standard in a menu format similar to NFPA Standards 1002 and 1006.

Incident Management

A Committee has been established to develop a new Standard (un-numbered at this time) to specify Professional Qualifications for Incident Management. The current focus is on an all hazard, all agency approach that would be based upon and would complement the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

Other Business

Discussion was held regarding a meeting to be held between various interested parties (i.e. IAFC, CFOD, NVFC, EFO, State Directors of Fire Training) and the NFPA 1021 Committee to consider and discuss differences and similarities between the Fire Officer Professional Qualifications Standard and the Chief Fire Officer Designation process. (CFOD web page)

A motion was approved to recommend to the Standards Council that a new project be undertaken to develop a Professional Qualifications Standard for Safety Technician. An additional motion was approved to request that all Individual Qualifications be removed from NFPA 1521 and be placed into the new Professional Qualifications Standard and that all references to Safety Officer be replaced by Safety Technician.

It was reported that a request has been received to develop a Professional Qualifications Standard for Fire Service Chaplain.

 A question was raised concerning whether certification in accordance with the Pro Qual Standards should be valid indefinitely. Additional discussion raised the point of whether that question should be considered by the Technical Committees, the Authority Having Jurisdiction, or the Accrediting Bodies. No further action was taken.

The next meeting the TCC will be held on November 9 in San Antonio.