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    The Committee on Accreditation meets via teleconference every two months to conduct regular business.  In addition, approximately once a year the COA meets in person in order to deal with issues that are more time consuming or difficult to deal with than a teleconference will allow. The annual face-to-face meeting of the COA was held on Wednesday and Thursday July 21 and 22, 2004 in Windsor Locks CT. 

Many thanks to Mr. Fred Piechota for taking care of the logistical issues of this meeting. The meeting was well attended and very productive.

 
Regular Business
Transfer of Accreditation
The International Code Council (ICC), after a site visit by Fred Piechota and George Luther, was approved to assume the accreditation held by BOCA, as BOCA has become a part of ICC.
Re-accreditations
Three reaccreditations were approved after site visits and associated reports were filed.  
  • Alabama Fire College
  • Fire Etc. - Alberta Canada
  • New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Fire Standards and Training and Emergency Medical Services
Annual Accreditation Reauthorizations
  • Arkansas
  • Georgia
  • Justice Institute of British Columbia
  • Great Oaks Institute of Technology
  • International Association of Arson Investigators
Extensions of Accreditation to new standards or levels
  • Colorado Metropolitan Certification Board - Fire Instructor II & Fire Officer III
  • California Specialized Training Institute - NFPA 472 - Tank Car Specialty, Cargo Tank Specialty, and Intermodal Tank Specialty
  • Bucks County Community College - Fire Inspector II
  • West Virginia University Fire Service Extension - Fire Instructor III
  • Utah Fire & Rescue Academy - Wildland Fire Fighter II, Fire Investigator, Fire Officer II & Rescue Technician – Vehicle & Machinery, Rope, and Confined Space
Interested Agencies
There are four agencies who have expressed interest and who have indicated that they are working on applications for accreditation.  
  • New Jersey Division of Fire Safety
  • Nevada
  • Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety
  • Western Michigan University
Conversion Request
The COA considered a request to convert the Commonwealth Ports Authority Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting Department from a delegated authority under Hawaii Department of Transportation to an accredited agency.  A Delegation of Authority site visit was conducted in October 2001 by the COA. The COA requested the Commonwealth Ports Authority Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting Department to file an application for accreditation as a matter of record. Action tabled until the next COA meeting, and after the requested application has been received.
Reports
Report on NFPA Technical Correlating Committee Meeting
Chairman Elmore reported that the TCC is making an effort to change the Pro Qual standards to more uniform language that would be used from standard to standard. Accredited Agencies have noted difficulties evaluating some of the JPRs. The TCC is asking the agencies to list any JPRs that are difficult to measure, and the TCC will attempt to resolve these issues.
Website Report
Mr. O’Connell requested that agencies review their page on the ProBoard web site for accuracy and forward any changes that may need to be made to the web page. [email]
Program Manager’s Report
Mr. Trebisacci provided the COA with an activity and financial update of the program and discussed the new web-based National Registry initiative.
Accreditation Manager’s Report
Chairman Elmore discussed the following issues:
  • Proposal from Thomson Delmar Learning to include Pro Board skill sheets in their publications. The COA encouraged Delmar to continue its efforts, but decided not to become active in the process. 
  • A concern from Rick Connelly regarding Exam Prep publication from Dr. Ben Hirst
  • The new COA-7DOD form
  • Plans to make the National Registry web-accessible
  • A PTS, Inc. partnership with Jones & Bartlett for Fire Instructor and Fire Officer tests
COA Workshop
The COA spent a day and a half reviewing ProBoard documents, procedures, and requirements in an effort to ensure comprehensive, consistent and fair evaluations of agencies seeking accreditation, re-accreditation, and extensions of accreditation.  The results of this self evaluation and recommended changes will be presented at the Advisory Committee meeting in December.
Some of the areas that were addressed are :
  • Identification of mandated items required for accreditation
  • Establishment of  data elements for required Certification Methodology Matrix
  • Establishment of a sample "Certification Methodology Matrix" form
  • Review and update of  the Application for Accreditation and Accreditation Self-Study Documents
Other
The next COA Telephone Conference Call Meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, September 15, 2004 at 1:30 p.m. (EST). If you have an item to be placed on the COA agenda please contact Chairman Elmore.

Mr. Dunkle reported on ASTM/DHS efforts to write new WMD and CBRNE standards for personnel responding to a act of terrorism.  He recommended that the COA and Accredited Agencies stay current with these efforts in regard to possible Pro Board adoption of such new standards.
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