On My Time Firefighter I&II Training Program

On My time graphic

If you would like more information or have questions about the On My Time program, please contact your Field Captain.

On My Time Handbook

October 23rd & 24th. 2023 Presentation

October 23, 2023 Webinar Recorded Presentation

On My Time Flyer

Program Overview:

The “On My Time” Firefighter I and II training program is designed for students who wish to acquire the training needed to be eligible to test for their Firefighter I and/or II ProBoard certification, but may not have the time to attend a traditionally scheduled training program. This program allows students to complete the online training requirements at their own pace and then coordinate with a State Fire Instructor to sign off on the successful demonstration of the hands-on portion of the training.

 

How does it work?

The program will combine foundational online learning, skills verification, and final certification testing. Upon completing an online course, the student will be emailed a certificate of completion, and the training will be entered into their official transcript. Once the student completes the online modules, they are ready to attend the skills portion of the program.

All the online modules of the Firefighter I & II On My Time program are available at www.nhfaemslearning.org.

 

Guidelines: What do I need to begin?

Students need an active account in our user management system, located at RespondNH.org. This will keep track of your progress and automatically issue your certifications.

  • A valid medical release form

Students shall ensure they have a valid medical release on file with the Division.  Students can verify the status of their medical release through their profile at www.RespondNH.org.

If the student needs to submit a new medical release, the form can be located at https://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/fstems/documents/FSTEMS_Medical_Release.pdf.

Once the student has completed the medical release, students can upload it at www.RespondNH.org by selecting Applications > View My Applications > Medical Release – NHFA-EMS.

Additionally, students should be working on completing the prerequisite training outlined under this online document’s Certification Testing section.

  • Contact with a State Fire Instructor

As a student or department is getting prepared for the program, they should be in contact with a State Fire Instructor to develop a plan for completing the skills portion of the training.  Please note each student must successfully complete the corresponding online course before attending the skills session.  For example, students must complete the PPE & SCBA online course before attending the PPE & SCBA skills portion. The skills portion of the training must be taught by a State Fire Instructor who is authorized by the Fire Standards and Training Commission to teach certification training programs.

This process is outlined in Administrative Rule Fire 404 to teach them the skills portions of the module using the standard evolutions outlined in the Firefighter I/II 2019 edition of the curriculum.

Note, there are prerequisites for testing, including completion of FEMA coursework outside of the OMT program. Students will need to complete three online incident command courses, which are available for free at the FEMA website.

Once logged on there, navigate to “Independent Study” at the top of the page to find the IS-100, IS-200 and IS-700 courses.

See additional information below in the Certification Testing section.

Program Materials:

Textbook

The current textbook for the 2019 Edition of Firefighter I & II is the Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefighter I&II 2019 edition. Students and departments can find this book available at many online retailers.

Standard Evolutions

For the skills portion of the program, students, departments, and State Fire Instructors can find the current Firefighter I & II 2019 Edition of the standard evolutions at https://nhfa-ems.com/curricula/.  The standard evolutions outline the specific skills and training evolutions required for the curriculum.

There is no prescribed delivery order for the Firefighter I and/or II modules. However, the skills verification forms outline the recommended order of delivery for each of them.  This recommended delivery sequence is designed to have each module build on the skills of the previous module(s).

 

Who is a State Fire Instructor?

A State Fire Instructor is a person who has met all the requirements outlined by the Fire Standards and Training Commission (FSTC) to be eligible to teach FSTC-approved training.  This differs from attending the instructor training program and becoming certified at the Fire and Emergency Service Instructor I level.

Becoming certified as Instructor I is the first step in becoming a State Fire Instructor.  For more information on becoming a State Fire Instructor, please contact fireemsinstructors@dos.nh.gov.

If you have a question about the status of a State Fire Instructor, please contact your Field Captain for additional information.

Once the student has successfully completed the skills portion of the program and the State Fire Instructor has submitted the required documentation, the student will be issued a certificate of completion via email, and the training will be entered into their official transcript.

 

State Instructor Responsibilities:

Outlined below are the steps the State Fire Instructor needs to know to ensure the student is successful.

  1. Verify each student has a valid medical release on file. This can be verified by having each student print out their certification transcript or by having the student show them their online profile on respondnh.org.
  2. Verify each student has completed the corresponding online course. This can be verified by having each student print out their training transcript or by having the student show them their online profile on respondnh.org.
  3. Conduct the skills portion of the module in accordance with approved Standard Evolutions. The Standard evolutions can be found at https://nhfa-ems.com/curricula/
  4. Once the student has met the competencies of the Standard Evolution, the State Fire Instructor shall document the completion of training on the appropriate skills verification form. These forms can be found at the links below.  Final documentation is important to ensure the students receive credit for the training that has been completed.
  5. The State Fire Instructor shall verify and include the student’s name, EMS License number or NELP number on the form to ensure training is properly documented. The student can find this information under their profile at RespondNH.org.
  6. The State Fire Instructor shall initial each skills module the student has successfully completed. Students do not need to complete all the modules to receive credit for their completed ones.
  7. The State Fire Instructor needs to sign and list their name and instructor number, which can be found under their profile at RespondNH.org.
  8. Once the form is completed and signed, the State Fire Instructor shall submit the completed form to fstems@dos.nh.gov.

 

Certification Testing:

Once the student has completed all the online and skills modules for either Firefighter I or Firefighter II and has met the program’s prerequisites (outlined below), they are eligible to sit for the certification exam.  Students should contact the Division at 603-223-4200 to register for monthly testing when they are prepared to test.

Requirements for testing Firefighter I

  • Valid Medical Release
  • Successful completion of all Firefighter I online and skills modules
  • Valid Professional Rescuer CPR certification
  • Valid First Aid Certification
  • ICS100, ICS200 and ICS700
  • Certification in Hazardous Materials Awareness
  • Certification in Hazardous Materials Operations

Requirements for testing Firefighter II

  • Valid Medical Release
  • Certification in Firefighter I
  • Successful completion of all Firefighter II online and skills modules
  • Valid Professional Rescuer CPR certification
  • ICS100, ICS200 and ICS700

Upon completing the written and practical examination, the student will be issued their Firefighter I or Firefighter II certification.

FAQ

Flexibility is at the heart of the program. The time it takes to complete the entire program will vary depending on your availability, scheduling of practical skills evaluation, etc. You can begin taking the online portion immediately. You should be prepared to dedicate time to thoroughly study and prepare yourself for the demands of the program.

There is no prescribed delivery order for the Firefighter I and/or II modules. However, the skills verification forms outline the recommended order of delivery for each of them.  This recommended delivery sequence is designed to have each module build on the skills of the previous module(s).

All the online modules of the Firefighter I & II On My Time program are available at www.nhfaemslearning.org

The academy’s online learning academy, which hosts the On My Time modules and other courses, is working in partnership with RespondNH to provide our users with a more streamlined online learning experience. 

The online learning academy is where you will take your online coursework. RespondNH is the student management system that manages certificates, licensing, and other aspects related to your education, training, and licensing in New Hampshire. It is where you will be able to see your course completion certificates and a transcript of all training that you have taken through the Division.

You must provide documentation of a current first aid certification from a nationally recognized training organization. Examples include, but are not limited to, the American Red Cross, American Heart Association (AHA), and Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI).

You must take three specific incident command courses- ICS100, ICS200 and ICS700. These Federal Emergency Management Agency independent study courses can be found on the FEMA Emergency Management Institute website at: https://training.fema.gov/is/

Remember, completing the program requires taking a certification test. You need the following to test for Firefighter I:

  • Valid Medical Release
  • Successful completion of all Firefighter I online and skills modules
  • Valid Professional Rescuer CPR certification
  • Valid First Aid Certification
  • ICS100, ICS200 and ICS700
  • Certification in Hazardous Materials Awareness
  • Certification in Hazardous Materials Operations

You need the following to test for Firefighter II:

  • Valid Medical Release
  • Certification in Firefighter I
  • Successful completion of all Firefighter II online and skills modules
  • Valid Professional Rescuer CPR certification
  • Valid First Aid Certification
  • ICS100, ICS200 and ICS700
  • Certification in Hazardous Materials Awareness
  • Certification in Hazardous Materials Operations

The approved textbook is Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefighter I & II (2019 edition) and is a required part of this program. Students must have the availability of a copy.

The online modules work in conjunction with required reading and practical hands-on skills training. Online assignments consist of interactive presentations and knowledge check quizzes. You must complete all portions of the interactive presentations. You must score an 80% or better on all knowledge check quizzes.

There are various instructional programs available nationwide for first aid training. Examples include, but are not limited to, American Red Cross, American Heart Association (AHA), and Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI).

ICS100, ICS200 and ICS700 are available for free online through FEMA They cover the Incident Command System.

No. Completing all the requirements of the On My Time program enables a student to take a national certification test. Upon successful completion of the certification examination, certification will be issued to the student.