Professional Qualifications Certification
The Baltimore County Fire Department has maintained a professional qualifications system since 1986, which actually predates and was the foundation for the current statewide system known as the Maryland Fire Service Personnel Qualifications System. (MFSPQB). Our current professional qualifications system is accredited and serves as an Accredited Training Review Agency (ATRA) of the MFSPQB. This allows us to review and validate our personnel based on prerequisite training, experience and competencies and to issue both state and national certifications. We are able to issue both National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board) as well as International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) credentials. The system allows fire service personnel (Career & Volunteer) to receive recognition that validates their training, experience and demonstrated competencies that match to the NFPA professional qualifications standards. These standards serve as the template for recognition and upward mobility within the fire service.
What is Baltimore County Professional Qualifications Certification?
For career personnel seeking promotional opportunities, the Office of Human Resources will publish a job announcement in advance of an application deadline for a specific promotion. This currently includes: EMT/FF, PM/FF, Fire Specialist, FADO, Lieutenant, Captain, Fire Director, Fire Battalion Chief , Fire Division Chief and Assistant Chief. Wherever these announcements reference a specific professional qualification, that is defined as a qualification that is registered within the Baltimore County Professional Qualifications Database (BCPQDB). This database is maintained within fire department administrative services and an individual is entered through the following process:
- Any successful applicant who applies through the BCOFD professional qualifications system and is certified through the same, gains both a state and national certification.
- Any personnel who have attained a state and or national certification (MFSPQB, IFSAC or Pro Qual Board) certification, may submit the same via a form #81 to the BCOFD professional qualifications system for approval.
- All personnel who have participated in this system within the BCOFD since 1986 are recognized within this system. Your county or state certificate is your validation of this certification as long as you were entered into the county database.
- Completing an FRA or MFRI training program IS NOT certification but is only training. Certification must be applied for using the appropriate application to the BCOFD professional qualifications system via a state (MFSPQB) application which is available at www.mfri.org .
- Being state or nationally certified IS NOT Baltimore County certification and that must be validated, as stated previously, by submitting credentials via a form #81 and being entered into the database if obtained outside of the BCOFD.
- When applying for certification each individual will be issued, electronically, a Form # 81A (PDF opens new window) (receipt of certification application). This receipt will be the ONLY official means to verify that an application has been received and will be used for tracking. Any disputes relative to application submission will only be considered with a valid Form #81A.(PDF opens new window)
- Once an application is approved at the monthly BCOFD professional qualifications board meeting, that certification will be entered into the county’s database (BCPQDB) and concurrently be processed by the MFSPQB to provide for certificate issuance.
- The results of all BCOFD professional qualifications board meetings (held the first Thursday of each month) will be published on the FD/FRA web site within five days of the meeting. This should be the first source of validation.
- The Fire-Rescue Academy serves as the operational component of the BCOFD professional qualifications board and may be contacted for specific information regarding certification status or issues.
How to Apply For Professional Qualification Certification:
Effective March 2007, Baltimore County career and volunteer fire personnel will use the state's professional qualification form.
Submit all applications for pro-qual using the state MFSPQB form appropriate for your level of certification. You may access the application form through the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute; look for the "Certifications" link to find the appropriate application.
- All areas noted on the MFSPQB application that require a prerequisite MUST be validated with a copy of the applicable certification or course completion documentation which must be attached to each application. Failure to do so will result in "no action" and a return of the application for compliance.
- National certifications have been issued with each Baltimore County certification since 2003. An individual may obtain a copy of their current National Certifications by linking to http://www.nfpa.org/nbfspq/ and clicking on the link to certification search. This can be printed and attached to an application to validate any prerequisite certifications.
- Course completion verification can be obtained by going to http://www.mfri.org/ and following the link to MFRI Transcripts. If you have completed a FRA program that is MFRI curriculum, then your class will appear on that transcript. (This is typical for most FRA courses since 1995.)
What Counts for Professional Qualifications Certification:
The following correlation sheets explain what knowledge is necessary to obtain professional certification. Correlation sheets explain job performance standards (JPR's) as delineated in the current edition of the specific NFPA professional qualifications standard. These JPRs are reviewed/updated every five years at which time a new edition of the standard is issued. Within 18 months of the standard change the BCOFD professional qualifications board must adopt the new edition of the standard. These correlation sheets allow you to validate your previous training and experience against the specific JPR's. The program breakdown explanation provides instructions on how to complete the process. Submitting training and experience to validate your completion of a JPR to meet the standard is known as "program breakdown certification" or Option II certification. If there are titles that are not here, then no correlation sheets currently exist for that title.
- Fire Officer I, NFPA 1021, 2009 edition Correlation (PDF)
- Fire Officer II, NFPA 1021, 2009 edition Correlation (PDF)
- Fire Officer III, NFPA 1021, 2009 edition Correlation (PDF)
- Fire Officer IV, NFPA 1021, 2009 edition Correlation (PDF)
- Fire Inspector I, NFPA 1031, 2009 edition Correlation (PDF)
- Fire Inspector II, NFPA 1031, 2009 edition Correlation (PDF)
- Fire Inspector III, NFPA 1031, 2009 edition Correlation (PDF)
- Fire Investigator, NFPA 1033, 2009 edition Correlation (PDF)
- Public Fire and Life Safety Educator I, NFPA 1035, 2005 edition Correlation (PDF)
- Public Fire and Life Safety Educator II, NFPA 1035, 2005 edition Correlation (PDF)
- Public Fire and Life Safety Educator III, NFPA 1035, 2005 edition Correlation (PDF)
- Public Information Officer, NFPA 1035, 2005 edition Correlation (PDF)
- Public Safety Telecommunicator I, NFPA 1061, 2007 Correlation (PDF)
- Public Safety Telecommunicator II, NFPA 1061, 2007 Correlation (PDF)
How Can I Get Certified without a Certification Specific Course?
The Training and Education for Certification (TEC) manuals delineate how you can obtain credit through non-certification specific courses. The following TEC manuals explain non-certification specific courses, which will count towards professional certification. If there are titles that are not here, then no TEC manuals are currently available for that title. Directions for using the TEC manuals are in the attached Breakdown Guidelines.
- Fire Officer I, NFPA 1021 Chapter 4 (2009 ed.) Standard Breakdown Guide (PDF)
- Fire Officer II, NFPA 1021 Chapter 5 (2009 ed.)Standard Breakdown Guide (PDF)
- Fire Officer III, NFPA 1021 Chapter 6 (2009 ed.)Standard Breakdown Guide (PDF)
- Fire Officer IV, NFPA 1021 Chapter 7 (2009 ed.)Standard Breakdown Guide (PDF)
- Fire Inspector I, NFPA 1031 Chapter 4 (2009 ed.)Standard Breakdown Guide (PDF)
- Fire Inspector II, NFPA 1031 Chapter 5 (2009 ed.)Standard Breakdown Guide (PDF)
- Fire Inspector III, NFPA 1031 Chapter 6 (2009 ed.)Standard Breakdown Guide (PDF)
- Fire Investigator, NFPA 1033 Chapter 4 (2009 ed.)Standard Breakdown Guide (PDF)
- Public Information Officer, NFPA 1035 Chapter 8 (2005 ed.)Standard Breakdown Guide (PDF)
- Public Fire & Life Safety Educator I, NFPA 1035 Chapter 5 (2005 ed.)Standard Breakdown Guide (PDF)
- Public Fire & Life Safety Educator III, NFPA 1035 Chapter 7 (2005 ed.)Standard Breakdown Guide (PDF)
Certification Review Board Minutes
If you have submitted an application to the Baltimore County Professional qualification Review Board, link to the following minutes for results:
- Certification Review Board Meeting - September 1, 2011
- Certification Review Board Meeting - August 4, 2011
- Certification Review Board Meeting - July 7, 2011
- Certification Review Board Meeting - June 2, 2011
- Certification Review Board Meeting - May 5, 2011
- Certification Review Board Meeting - April 6, 2011
- Certification Review Board Meeting - March 3, 2011
- Certification Review Board Meeting - February 3, 2011
- Certification Review Board Meeting - January 6, 2011
- Certification Review Board Meeting - November 4, 2010
- Certification Review Board Meeting - October 7, 2010
- Certification Review Board Meeting - September 2, 2010
Revised September 6, 2011
