There are several certification and recertification requirements for

firefighters in New Jersey from various agencies. Synopses of them

are listed below:

Required for all responders:

• Bloodborne Pathogens Training: Training required by and must meet N.J.A.C. 12:100-4.2. Initial training and annual refresher training no set hours for either. Initial and Refresher Training must cover all topics in 29 CFR 1910.1030 and to keep proficiency. NJ Department of Health and Senior Services.  (609) 984-1863  http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/peoshweb/peoshact.htm
•  Right to Know Training: Initial training and refresher training every two years. Training required by and must meet N.J.A.C. 8:59-6. Initial training four hours and refresher training two hours. NJ Department of Health and Senior Services. (609) 984-2202 http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/rtkweb/
• Hazardous Materials Training: Awareness and Operations. Initial and refresher training. Includes SCBA. Training required by and must meet 29 CFR 1920.120. Initial Awareness training eight hours. Refresher training has no set hours, but must cover topic in sufficient depth to keep proficiency. Initial Operations training 12 hours. Annual refresher training has no set hours, but must cover topic in sufficient depth to keep proficiency. US Department of Labor. http://www.osha.gov/index.html
• Confined Space Training: Departments with the potential for confined space work must have initial training required by and must meet NJAC 12:100-9. Initial training and refresher training no set hours. Must cover topics in 29 CFR 1910.146. Refresher training when procedures or confined spaces change. US Department of Labor.  http://www.osha.gov/index.html
• Incident Management System Training: Firefighter I Certification required. All fire service personnel are required to complete the two-hour introductory ICS Orientation (I-100) by February 17, 1999. Supervisory personnel are required to complete additional ICS Basic (I- 200) by February 17, 2000. Training required by and must meet NJAC 5:73-6.1. IMS Orientation (I-100) initial training two hours. IMS Basic (I-200) initial training 12- 16 hours. No refresher training required. NJ Division of Fire Safety. (609) 633-6321 http://www.state.nj.us/dca/dfs/bfds.htm

Instructor Certification:

• Instructor Requirements: Firefighter I certification required. Instructors who actually teach live fire training for any fire department or fire academy must be certified to at least Fire Instructor Level I and Live Burn Instructor and Smokehouse/SCBA Instructor. The instructor in charge of the evolution must be certified as a Fire Instructor II. Required by NJAC 5:73-1.6. Initial training General Safety Course, 16 hours; Instructional Techniques for Company Officers, 12 hours; Live Burn, eight hours; SCBA Smokehouse, eight hours. Recertification requirements set a three-year cycle for recertification. Instructor Level I or Level II requires 15 hours of training within the cycle. Live Burn and Smokehouse/SCBA requires 0.25 hours of training within the cycle. (609) 633-6321 http://www.state.nj.us/dca/dfs/bfds.htm

Optional Certifications:

• Fire Inspector Certification: Initial training 90 hour Fire Inspector Course. In order to certify you must pass the BOCA fire inspector test. Recertification 20 hours (2.0 CEUs) every three years. NJAC 5:71-4. NJ Division of Fire Safety.  (609) 633-6321  http://www.state.nj.us/dca/dfs/bfds.htm
• Fire Official Certification: Fire Inspector Class required for certification. Initial training 30-hour initial training. 10 hours (1.0 CEUs) plus Fire Inspector 2.0 CEUs every three years to recertify. NJAC 5:71-4. NJ Division of Fire Safety. (609) 633-6321 http://www.state.nj.us/dca/dfs/bfds.htm
• Emergency Medical Technician - Basic: Initial training 110 hours. Recertification 48 hours in a three year period. 24 hours core and 24 hours elective. NJ Dept of Health and Senior Services, Office of Emergency Medical Services. Defibrillation: Initial Training about 6 hours. Annual recertification about two hours. Refresher no less than every 90 days about 1 to 2 hours. NJ Department of Health and Senior Services, Office of Emergency Medical Services. (609) 633-7777 http://www.state.nj.us/health/ems/emseducation.htm
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Initial training four hours. Refresher training two hours every two years. American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
• http://www.americanheart.org/ http://www.redcross.org/  

            Courtesy of the NJ Division of Fire Safety