Michigan Certs. and IFSAC

[Captain22]

How do I know if my Michigan FFI and FFII, Hazmat Awa. and Ops. are IFSAC approved? I recently moved to Georgia to take a career positon and the instructors are asking me if my Michigan certs are IFSAC approved. If they are I'm waved from the state exam and I can get out on the floor a little quicker. I looked at the certifications and all I see is the course/ exam number and the heading from the Michigan State Police Fire Fighters Training Council. The city doesn't require me to take the MPQ/ IFSAC test if I'm already IFSAC certified. If any of you have the info I'm looking for please let me know.

[ffexpCP]

Try http://ifsac.org/

Where did you take the classes? I believe they are only IFSAC approved if the place you took the classes is accredited by them.

I currently have my paperwork in to get the IFSAC seal on my degree.

If I’m not mistaken, they have a degree and academy versions of accreditation.

[Captain22]

I took them in the Saginaw County Fire Academy. I'll check the Ifsac web site thanks.

[FireCapt1951retired]

Captain22,

I highly doubt they are approved. The Training Council in Michigan has been screwed up for many, many years. What would you expect when they have the State Police running a firefighters training council. When I retired I wanted to go back to instructing and I had given up my instructors certification back in 97. Their main reason being I was RETIRED and because I was not an active firefighter anymore, I could not even qualify to regain the cert. Didn't matter that I was an instructor for 16+ years, an academy and battalion instructor for my department, 33 years experience with certifications in rope rescue, confined space, haz-mat and trench rescue. Go figure!

[gunnyv]

Michigan has no reciprocity with anyone for FF certs. I had to go to PA to challenge the test for IFSAC to get my military certs.

Easy way to tell-either your certs have a gold sticker that says IFSAC on it, or they don't.

[Captain22]

Thanks for the info guys. The training Capt. down here advised me today my Michigan certifications were not approved. I guess Michigan is out of the loop. Probably because of their great economy. That's why I left. My new department is hiring at least 30 more for the fall academy. I tried to explain to my former brothers back in Michigan how different it is down here. When I tested here there was less than 200 who applied for 25 positions. Up in Michigan there would have been at least 1000. Anyone interested in a position keep your eye on our union site for the announcements. www.iaff574.org

Stay safe and God bless!

[OSFM1210]

I was reading your thread about certifications and accreditation. North Carolina is accredited by IFSAC. We have a great working relationship with other states and entities like DoD that come into our state requesting reciprocity for their certifications, usually, with no problems.

I understand that the State of Michigan is not interested in IFSAC or the Pro Board for accreditation at this time. There is a group that has started Pro Board accreditation, but on a small scale at this time.

If you have questions about accreditation, I will be glad to answer those questions or send you to someone that can. Email me at wayne_bailey642@hotmail.com

--W