Independent Study Program

Participants in the self-study course will be required to complete all readings, worksheets, quizzes, practicals, and required meetings with-in one year of hire. If the recruit fails to complete all requirements with-in one year, they will be placed on probation until completion of the course or for a maximum period of six months. If the recruit has not completed the requirements by the sixth month of probation, they will be subject to disciplinary action.

The Training Division will provide recruits with reading and written assignments to be completed by the recruit.

The division will also schedule one (1) practical skill testing night per quarter. The practical testing will be divided into two groups, Practicals A and Practicals B. Practical test session A and B will occur once each in a sixth month period. Depending on the number of ISC participants, skill testing may be scheduled on an individual basis, and or be evaluated by other qualified members of the District as determined by the Division Chief and or Captain of the Training Division.

Recruits that begin the self-study course will be required to meet with a Training Division Officer to be issued course material, and requirements.

Recruits will be required to schedule a time to take required quizzes. All quizzes must be a 70% or higher to be considered passing.

Upon successful completion of all assignments, quizzes, and practicals, and after a minimum of six months, the recruit should be reviewed for advancement to firefighter.

Qualifications for Self-Study Course:

Applicants must be unable to attend traditional recruit sessions due to work, childcare, etc. The self study course is not intended as a primary option. Those that have a conflict in the regularly scheduled recruit sessions may make their case known to the Chief, Assistant Chief, or Division Chief of Training. The situation will be evaluated, and a determination will be made. The applicant will then be notified.

Detailed Description:

Reading Assignments:

The training division will provide recruits with various reference materials for reading. The reading assignments shall be used by the recruit to meet lesson objectives. Each reading assignment will have a corresponding chapter review worksheet. Recruits will be required to complete all worksheets. The recruit will be provided with training division contact information for times that additional resources are needed for explanation.

Module Reviews:

The training division will provide recruits with module review worksheets to complete after reading assignments. The recruit will be required to complete and submit all module reviews . The worksheets will not be scored and counted in an overall student percentage. The training division will use the review worksheets to ensure that the desired information is being interpreted by the recruit. A completed review worksheet must be submitted to the Training Division Captain before the recruit can take the module quiz. Example: John Doe completes reading assignment for module 10; Doe then completes the review sheet and submits it to the Training Division Captain. John Doe would now be eligible to quiz module 10 after the work is reviewed.

Module Quizzes:

The recruit will be required to complete required quizzes. Before a recruit can take a chapter quiz they must complete the following.

Submit the corresponding module chapter review worksheets to the division no later than five (5) days prior to the date that they wish to schedule the quiz.

Contact the administrative office during business hours and schedule a testing session. Testing sessions can take place during business hours under the supervision of designated staff, or before officer training sessions on the fourth Wednesday of each month.

Recruits should consider scheduling three to five quizzes per session, but there is no minimum required to test.

Module quizzes must have a minimum score of 70% to pass. The recruit may take a module quiz a second time if the first attempt is unsuccessful. If the first attempt is unsuccessful, the recruit will have the option to re-test at that time, or to reschedule a testing time. If the module quiz is failed twice, the Division Chief of Training will determine the appropriate counsel or training for the given module.

Practical Testing:

The recruit will be required to complete practical skill evaluations for the modules that require them. The training division will provide one practical testing night per quarter. Practical sessions will scheduled at the beginning of each year, and provided to the participant during the introductory session. The practicals will be divided into two groups, Practicals A and Practicals B. The recruit will have to attend one Practical A session and one Practical B session to complete all required practicals. Practicals A and B will be provided once each every sixth month rotation.

Example: (not actual groupings)

Practicals A: Practicals B:

Modules- 4,7,11 Modules- 12,13,16,

If a practical testing session is cancelled by the training division, the session will be rescheduled for the following month. If a recruit is unable to attend the rescheduled session, the recruit should meet with the Division Chief of Training to determine the appropriate course of action.

Traditional Recruit Students

Traditional recruits that are delayed in the completion of the recruit course due to hire date or course schedule rotation can request to participate in the self-study course. The Training Division will review the request and determine if the self-study course will benefit the recruit’s completion of the course.

Self-Study and Pre-Existing Certifications:

Recruits that provide appropriate state firefighting certifications, and qualify for the self-study option, can participate in those required modules as a self-study student.

Self-Study Course Performance

The Training Division will monitor the progress and performance of recruits participating in the self-study course. If the recruit is not showing satisfactory progress in the self-study course, the Chief, Division Chief of Training and the recruit will meet and determine a method for the recruit to meet the desired standards.

Recruit Status to Firefighter Status:

Recruit firefighters will remain as recruits for a minimum of six months. The self-study course may allow for early completion of the recruit courses. Early completion will not change the recruit status. A minimum of six months is required to ensure that all recruits are exposed to as many learning situations as possible before they are re-classified as firefighters.