Please note:
To effectively participate in remote learning, students in this program must have reliable Internet access and meet these device requirements.
About the program
This eight-course (14 credit, 177 hour) Conestoga College Certificate program in Fire Service Skills is a unique credential providing prospective fire service recruits and current fire service personnel with a much sought after combination of technical knowledge and skills, along with a self-care component, designed to enhance applicant competitiveness, fire service effectiveness and operational resilience in several key areas.
Students will engage in both theoretical and practical learning through tutorials in the classroom at Doon, and via applied skills development at the state-of-the-art Waterloo Emergency Services Training and Resource Complex (WRESTRC). Students will train on the same types of equipment used across the Ontario Fire Service.
Graduates of this program will be eligible to write provincial examinations based on curriculum approved by Pro Board and the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) for Life Safety Educator, and Fire Inspector I. Pump Operations and Fire Inspector I, although not tested in this program, are both approved by Pro Board and IFSAC. These two courses are eligible to be tested once you have joined a Fire Department. Graduates will also be eligible to receive two certificates from the Mental Health Commission of Canada for both Safe Talk and The Working Mind for First Responders (formerly Road to Mental Readiness). The program will round out learner preparedness with the course, Introduction to Reflective Self-Leadership, which will help graduates to hone their capacity to contribute to today's and tomorrow's fire services.
Program information
All courses must be completed within 4 years of acceptance into the program.
Admission requirements
- Ontario College Certificate (OCC) from a Pre Service Firefighter Education and Training program, or equivalent;
or
- An employee of an Ontario Fire Service (career or volunteer) holding National Fire Protection Association certifications: NFPA 1001; NFPA 472 or NFPA 1072
- Current Standard First Aid and Level C CPR
Note re: admission requirements
- Diploma and Certificate Programs Standard Language Requirements:
- IELTS overall band of 6 with no band less than 5.5
- TOEFL iBT 80
- CAEL 70 with minimum 60 writing, no sub-test band score less than 30
- PTE Academic 51
- Conestoga English Language Test (CELT) Band 5
Admission procedures
- Submit a completed Conestoga College Program Application Form.
- Attach proof of admission requirements.
- Final selection is made following an assessment of the admission requirements.
Program requirements
- A Class DZ Licence is required for students prior to the start of the Pump Truck Operations, FIRE1410, course.
- Students are required to have HazMat Awareness and Ontario Fire College Legislation, or successful completion of an Ontario Pre-Service Fire Fighter program prior to the start of the FIRE1400/FIRE1401 courses.
Graduate opportunities
The Ontario Fire Service is facing a number of concurrent workforce capacity pressures related to demographics, job demands and economics. These are creating needs and opportunities for upskilling within the current workforce and among prospective applicants.
Graduates of this program will be able to extend and complement the learning outcomes and certifications available through Pre Service Firefighter Education and Training programs in Ontario. The program provides opportunities for learners to acquire four National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) certifications and two certificates from the Mental Health Commission of Canada: Program courses are aligned to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards: NFPA 1002 (Pump Operations); NFPA 1031 (Fire Inspector I); NFPA 1035 (Fire and Life Safety Educator); NFPA 1041 (Fire Instructor I); Safe Talk; and The Working Mind for First Responders (formerly Road to Mental Readiness).
Courses in the proposed program are aligned to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards related to the four technical skills focused courses. These are: NFPA 1002 (Pump Operations); NFPA 1031 (Fire Inspector I); NFPA 1035 (Fire and Life Safety Educator); NFPA 1041 (Fire Instructor I)
With this combination of training and credentials, tied to current and continuing pressures faced by fire services, the proposed program is uniquely positioned in Ontario to address the needs of both prospective employers and prospective applicants for fire service jobs. These graduates may be employed at municipal, provincial, and federal public service organizations including airports, fire departments, insurance companies, and other areas where fire safety is key.
For more details on related occupations, job market information and career opportunities, see the Government of Canada website:
https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/home
Program outcomes
- Communicate in both written and oral forms to support effective decision making and responses in tactical and reporting environments.
- Analyze data and make decisions supporting effective fire prevention and education and fire suppression
- Identify the tools that can be used to effectively deliver safety related messages.
- Recognize environmental hazards in order to mitigate risks.
- Explain accountabilities related to the reduction of fire risk in the community.
- Explain human behaviour during fires, and fire behaviour, fire growth characteristics, and appropriate methods of fire suppression.
- Recognize various unhealthy behaviours in yourself and others and describe various ways to keep the person safe for now.
Program related resources
Disclaimer
The College reserves the right to alter information including requirements and fees and to cancel at any time a program, course, or program major or option; to change the location and/or term in which a program or course is offered; to change the program curriculum as necessary to meet current competencies in the job market or for budgetary reasons; or to withdraw an offer of admission both prior to and after its acceptance by an applicant or student because of insufficient applications or registrations, over-acceptance of offers of admission, budgetary constraints, or for other such reasons. In the event the College exercises such a right, the College’s sole liability will be the return of monies paid by the applicant or student to the College.
Students actively registered in cohort delivered programs who take longer than the designed program length of time to complete their studies are accountable for completing any new or additional courses that may result due to changes in the program of study. Unless otherwise stated, students registered in non-cohort delivered programs must complete the program of study within seven years of being admitted to the program.