4765-20-06. Firefighter, fire safety inspector, and hazard recognition officer examinations  


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  • (A) The initial examinations required for a firefighter certificate shall consist of a knowledge examination and a practical skills examination as approved by the executive director, with the advice and counsel of the committee.

    (1) The knowledge examination for a firefighter certificate shall meet the following:

    (a) The knowledge examination shall be taken at the level of firefighter certification sought;

    (b) A passing score of at least seventy per cent on the knowledge examination is required for certification;

    (c) The knowledge examination required for certification shall be passed within three attempts;

    (d) If the applicant is unable to pass the knowledge examination within three attempts, the applicant shall complete a new course of instruction as set forth in Chapter 4765-24 of the Administrative Code and meet all criteria for a firefighter certificate as provided in rule 4765-20-02 of the Administrative Code.

    (2) The practical skills examination shall consist of skills testing applicable to the level of firefighter certificate sought and shall meet the following:

    (a) The practical skills examination shall be administered by a chartered program;

    (b) The practical skills examination shall be evaluated by a practical skills evaluator;

    (c) The practical skills examination shall be based on a pass or fail grading system;

    (d) The applicant shall pass each skill in its entirety. Failure to pass any portion of a tested skill requires re-testing of the entire skill.

    (e) A maximum of three attempts per skill is permitted, with no more than two attempts occurring on the same day;

    (f) If the applicant is unable to pass the practical skills examination within three attempts, the applicant shall complete a new course of instruction as set forth in Chapter 4765-24 of the Administrative Code and meet all criteria for a firefighter certificate as provided in rule 4765-20-02 of the Administrative Code.

    (3) An applicant shall successfully pass the practical skills examination as set forth in paragraph (A)(2) of this rule prior to attempting the knowledge examination as set forth in paragraph (A)(1) of this rule.

    (B) The reinstatement examinations required for a firefighter certificate shall consist of a knowledge examination and a practical skills examination as approved by the executive director, with the advice and counsel of the committee. Time lines for reinstatement requirements for a firefighter certificate are set forth in rule 4765-20-08 of the Administrative Code.

    (1) The knowledge examination for reinstatement of a firefighter certificate shall meet the following:

    (a) The knowledge examination shall be taken at the level of firefighter certification sought;

    (b) A passing score of at least seventy per cent on the knowledge examination is required for certification;

    (c) The knowledge examination required for reinstatement shall be passed within three attempts;

    (d) If the applicant is unable to pass the knowledge examination within three attempts, the applicant shall complete a new course of instruction as set forth in Chapter 4765-24 of the Administrative Code and meet all criteria for a firefighter certificate as provided in rule 4765-20-02 of the Administrative Code.

    (2) The practical skills examination for reinstatement of a firefighter certificate shall consist of skills testing applicable to the reinstatement level sought and shall meet the following:

    (a) The practical skills examination shall be administered by a chartered program;

    (b) The practical skills examination shall be evaluated by a practical skills evaluator;

    (c) The practical skills examination shall be based on a pass or fail grading system;

    (d) The applicant shall pass each skill in its entirety. Failure to pass any portion of a tested skill requires re-testing of the entire skill;

    (e) A maximum of three attempts per skill is permitted, with no more than two attempts occurring on the same day;

    (f) If the applicant is unable to pass the practical skills examination within three attempts, the applicant shall complete a new course of instruction as set forth in Chapter 4765-24 of the Administrative Code and meet all criteria for the firefighter certificate as provided in rule 4765-20-02 of the Administrative Code.

    (C) The initial examinations required for a fire safety inspector certificate shall consist of a knowledge examination and a practical skills examination as approved by the executive director, with the advice and counsel of the committee.

    (1) The knowledge examination for a fire safety inspector certificate shall meet the following:

    (a) A passing score of at least seventy per cent on the knowledge examination is required for certification;

    (b) The knowledge examination for fire safety inspector shall be passed within three attempts;

    (c) If the applicant is unable to pass the knowledge examination within three attempts, the applicant shall complete a new course of instruction for fire safety inspector as set forth in rule 4765-24-14 of the Administrative Code and meet all criteria for a certificate of fire safety inspector training as provided in rule 4765-20-03 of the Administrative Code.

    (2) The practical skills examination for fire safety inspector shall meet the following:

    (a) The practical skills examination shall be administered by a chartered program;

    (b) The practical skills examination shall be evaluated by:

    (i) A fire safety inspector instructor trained as a practical skills evaluator; or

    (ii) A fire safety inspector who is also a fire instructor trained as a practical skills evaluator, when a fire safety inspector instructor is not available;

    (c) The practical skills examination shall be based on a pass or fail grading system;

    (d) The applicant shall pass each skill in its entirety. Failure to pass any portion of a tested skill requires re-testing of the entire skill;

    (e) A maximum of three attempts per skill is permitted, with no more than two attempts occurring on the same day;

    (f) If the applicant is unable to pass the practical skills examination, the applicant shall complete a new course of instruction for fire safety inspector as set forth in rule 4765-24-14 of the Administrative Code and meet all criteria for the fire safety inspector certificate as provided in rule 4765-20-03 of the Administrative Code.

    (D) The reinstatement examination required for a fire safety inspector certificate shall consist of a knowledge examination and practical skills examination as approved by the executive director, with the advice and counsel of the committee.

    (1) A passing score of at least seventy per cent on the knowledge examination is required for certification.

    (2) The knowledge examination required for fire safety inspector shall be passed within three attempts.

    (3) If the applicant is unable to pass the knowledge examination within three attempts, the applicant shall complete a new course of instruction for fire safety inspector as set forth in rule 4765-24-14 of the Administrative Code and meet all criteria for a fire safety inspector certificate as provided in rule 4765-20-03 of the Administrative Code.

    (E) The initial examinations required for a hazard recognition officer certificate shall consist of a knowledge examination and a practical skills examination as approved by the executive director, with the advice and counsel of the committee.

    (1) The knowledge examination for a hazard recognition officer certificate shall meet the following:

    (a) A passing score of at least seventy percent on the knowledge examination is required for certification;

    (b) The knowledge examination for hazard recognition officer shall be passed within three attempts;

    (c) If the applicant is unable to pass the knowledge examination within three attempts, the applicant shall complete a new course of instruction for hazard recognition officer as set forth in rule 4765-24-14 of the Administrative Code and meet all criteria for a certificate of hazard recognition officer as provided in rule 4765-20-03 of the Administrative Code.

    (2) The practical skills examination for hazard recognition officer shall meet the following:

    (a) The practical skills examination shall be administered by a chartered program;

    (b) The practical skills examination shall be evaluated by:

    (i) A fire safety inspector instructor trained as a practical skills evaluator; or

    (ii) A fire safety inspector who is also a fire instructor trained as a practical skills evaluator, when a fire safety inspector instructor is not available;

    (c) The practical skills examination shall be based on a pass or fail grading system;

    (d) The applicant shall pass each skill in its entirety. Failure to pass any portion of a tested skill requires re-testing of the entire skill;

    (e) A maximum of three attempts per skill is permitted, with no more than two attempts occurring on the same day;

    (f) If the applicant is unable to pass the practical skills examination, the applicant shall complete a new course of instruction for hazard recognition officer as set forth in rule 4765-24-14 of the Administrative Code and meet all criteria for the fire safety inspector certificate as provided in rule 4765-20-03 of the Administrative Code.

    (F) The reinstatement examination required for a hazard recognition officer shall consist of a knowledge examination and a practical skills examination as approved by the executive director, with the advice and counsel of the committee.

    (1) A passing score of at least seventy percent on the knowledge examination is required for certification.

    (2) The knowledge examination required for hazard recognition officer shall be passed within three attempts.

    (3) If the applicant is unable to pass the knowledge examination within three attempts, the applicant shall complete a new course of instruction for hazard recognition officer as set forth in rule 4765-24-14 of the Administrative Code and meet all criteria for a hazard recognition officer certificate as provided in rule 4765-20-03 of the Administrative Code.


Effective: 4/1/2019
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 10/1/2022
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4765.55
Rule Amplifies: 4765.55
Prior Effective Dates: 01/24/2008, 04/07/2014, 01/01/2018