4765-20-22 Fire training certificates and fire instructor certification cycles and continuing education requirements.

(A) This rule shall apply to individuals applying for initial certification, equivalency or reinstatement of a fire training or fire instructor certificate.

(B) A firefighter certificate shall expire on the individual's birthday in the third year, except as provided in paragraph (C) of this rule. In order to be eligible to renew the firefighter certificate, the individual shall complete continuing education, in accordance with rule 4765-20-13 of the Administrative Code, for a reduced amount of thirty-six hours.

(C) A firefighter certificate issued to an individual who also holds a current first responder or EMT certificate to practice shall expire on the same date as the certificate to practice. In order to be eligible to renew the firefighter certificate, the individual shall complete continuing education, in accordance with rule 4765-20-13 of the Administrative Code, for the following reduced hours and certification cycle:

(1) Twelve months or less, no continuing education is required;

(2) More than twelve months but less than twenty-four months, eighteen hours of continuing education is required;

(3) Twenty-four months but less than thirty-six months, thirty-six hours of continuing education is required;

(4) Thirty-six months or more, fifty-four hours of continuing education is required.

(D) Except as provided in paragraph (E) of this rule, a fire safety inspector certificate shall expire on the same date as the individual's firefighter certification, or on the individual's birthday in the third year if the individual does not possess a current firefighter certificate. In order to be eligible to renew the fire safety inspector certificate, the individual shall complete continuing education, in accordance with rule 4765-20-16 of the Administrative Code, for a reduced amount of twenty hours.

(E) A fire safety inspector certificate issued to an individual who also holds a current first responder or EMT certificate to practice, but does not hold a firefighter certificate, shall expire on the same date as the certificate to practice. In order to be eligible to renew the fire safety inspector certificate, the individual shall complete continuing education, in accordance with rule 4765-20-16 of the Administrative Code, for the following reduced hours and certification cycle:

(1) Twelve months or less, no continuing education is required;

(2) More than twelve months but less than twenty-four months, ten hours of continuing education is required;

(3) Twenty-four months but less than thirty-six months, twenty hours of continuing education is required;

(4) Thirty-six months or more, thirty hours of continuing education is required.

(F) A fire instructor or fire safety inspector instructor certificate shall expire on the same date as the individual's firefighter certification, or fire safety inspector certificate if the individual does not hold a current firefighter certificate. In order to be eligible to renew the instructor certificate, the individual shall complete continuing education, in accordance with rule 4765-21-04 of the Administrative Code, for the following reduced hours and certification cycle:

(1) Twelve months or less, no continuing education or instruction of a fire service training or continuing education program is required

(2) More than twelve months but less than twenty-four months, two hours of continuing education and eight hours of instruction of a fire service training or continuing education program is required;

(3) Twenty-four months but less than thirty-six months, four hours of continuing education and sixteen hours of instruction of a fire service training or continuing education program is required;

(4) Thirty-six months or more, six hours of continuing education and twenty-four hours of instruction of a fire service training or continuing education program is required.

(G) An assistant fire instructor certificate shall expire on the same date as the individual's firefighter certification. In order to be eligible to renew the assistant fire instructor certificate, the individual shall complete continuing education, in accordance with rule 4765-21-04 of the Administrative Code, for the following reduced hours and certification cycle:

(1) Twelve months or less, no continuing education or instruction of a fire service training or continuing education program is required;

(2) More than twelve months but less than twenty-four months, two hours of continuing education and two hours of instruction of a fire service training or continuing education program is required;

(3) Twenty-four months but less than thirty-six months, three hours of continuing education and four hours of instruction of a fire service training or continuing education program is required;

(4) Thirty-six months or more, six hours of continuing education and eight hours of instruction of a fire service training or continuing education program is required.

(H) Once a mutual expiration date is established for all EMS and fire certificates, all certificates will expire on the individual's birthday in the third year.

Effective: 01/01/2011
R.C. 119.032 review dates: 01/23/2013
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: R.C. 4765.55
Rule Amplifies: R.C. 4765.55