Under state law (45-11-203) no person hired after January 1, 1991, shall be employed as a full-time fire fighter by any local government fire fighting unit unless that person has completed the mandatory training requirements and has been certified by the MSCB.

The uniform training standard for all paid fire fighters consists of satisfactory completion of a training program administered by the State Fire Academy or local governments that have the proper facilities and have been certified by the MSCB. The MSCB has adopted the NFPA Fire Fighter 1001 Standard including levels I and II as the minimum qualifications required to achieve certification.

No. Fire personnel who function in a non-paid capacity as members of any Mississippi fire department are not required to be certified by the MSCB. However, such individuals may choose to voluntarily meet the MSCB testing requirements and may become eligible to receive Board certification.  

Mississippi Code 45-11-253 requires the Board to establish the minimum training standards for fire personnel and certify such persons as being qualified. The MSCB defines “fire personnel” as any person employed by a Mississippi fire department whose primary duties involve fire suppression or fire-related rescue activities. Personnel employed or assigned to driver/operator, supervisory, training, or other administrative positions do not fall within the scope of this definition and are therefore exempt from any certification requirements.

All certification requirements must be met within one year of the candidate’s original date of employment or within a cumulative amount of time not to exceed two thousand 2,800 compensated hours. This regulation applies to fire personnel who work and are paid on a part-time basis.

Maybe. Under state law, the Board may grant a candidate one extension not to exceed one year. It is the responsibility of the candidate’s fire chief (or authorized designee) to file a written request for such extension and provide evidence as to why the additional time is needed to meet certification requirements.

Yes. If a candidate is called to active duty during their one-year probationary period, then the department may request a suspension of the probationary period. This allows the candidate to use the remaining portion of their original probationary period to meet any MSCB certification requirements. If additional time is needed, the candidate’s fire chief (or authorized designee) may request an extension of up to one year.

In order to receive MSCB certification for NFPA 1001 Fire Fighter I and II, the candidate must meet all Board approve entry requirements, complete a course of training through the State Fire Academy or other approved local government entity, and successfully pass the Fire Fighter I and II (written and skills) examination administered on behalf of the Board through the State Fire Academy. 

Upon completion of an approved training program, the fire chief (or authorized designee) must forward to the Board a copy of the candidate’s original NFPA 1001 Fire Fighter I and II certificate (or) a letter of successful completion of the State Fire Academy’s Fire Fighter I and II challenge examination along with a completed MSCB “Request for Certification” form.  

No. Fire personnel who are not currently employed by a Mississippi fire department fall outside of the Board’s jurisdiction. Therefore, the MSCB cannot legally issue a state certificate or officially rule on the validity of a candidate’s certification prior to employment.

Yes. The MSCB has the authority to issue certification for other NFPA Professional Qualifications Standards and Levels. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the Board with acceptable documentation or proof of advanced credentials for a proper decision to be rendered.

An exception to this regulation exists for candidates who already possess Fire Fighter Level I certification but not Level II. Because Mississippi does not offer a stand-alone Fire Fighter II program, employed candidates may complete the level II requirement through another entity. If successful, the candidate may file for complete MSCB certification through reciprocity or challenge testing.

Any MSCB certificate issued to the NFPA 1001 Fire Fighter Standard for Levels I and II is valid as long as the member remains active within the fire service. Such certificates will expire if the member has separated from the fire service for a period of time greater than two years.

If a previously certified fire fighter has left the fire service for a period greater than two years but less than five, the individual may renew their certification by successfully completing a Board approved challenge examination. If the separation is for a period greater than five years, the individual must complete all current MSCB training and testing requirements. This regulation applies only to individuals seeking employment as fire fighters as defined by the Board title “fire personnel”.

Provided the department does not terminate or officially separate from the employee, such MSCB issued Fire Fighter I and II certificates shall remain valid throughout the entire period of active duty without regard to the time of military service or type of work performed within the military. 

Yes. Recognized as “grandfathering”, the Board has the authority to grant a certificate of equivalency for Fire Fighter I and II training received before January 1, 1991. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the Board with acceptable documentation of such training for a proper decision to be rendered.

Yes. The MSCB will grant reciprocity and direct entry into the state’s certification systems to any candidate who possesses valid certification for Fire Fighter I and II issued by any entity accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC). If the certificate was issued by an entity accredited by any other system or based on a non-accredited NFPA program, the Board will recognize the candidate’s training upon successful completion of any approved challenge (written and skills) test. All other forms of Fire Fighter certification are not recognized by the Board and would require the candidate to successfully complete an authorized course of study and examination process prior to receiving MSCB certification.

Yes. Prior to October 2005, all MSCB certificates were considered to be the property of the state. However, this regulation was changed to allow the person named on the MSCB certificate to maintain possession of the original document. Departments may (at their own discretion) release original certificates issued prior to October 2005 to their certified personnel.