The Fire Technology program offers a variety of continuing education courses to provide career firefighters opportunities for advanced Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) certifications with flexible course curriculum and scheduling.

In coordination with the Galveston County Fire Fighter’s Association (GCFFA), continuing education courses are offered to assist local volunteer firefighters in obtaining State Firefighters’ and Fire Marshals’ Association (SFFMA) certifications.

Professional Development courses are available for students who need continuing education hours to maintain firefighter certification or to complete TCFP skills test.

Courses are also available for industry to satisfy OSHA training requirements.

Texas Commission on Fire Protection Courses for Certification

The College of the Mainland (COM) Fire Technology Program is a certified training facility by the TCFP and is approved to offer the following courses for certification:

  • Basic Fire Suppression
  • Driver/Operator-Pumper
  • Driver/Operator-Aerial
  • Fire Instructor I, II, III
  • Fire Officer I, II, III, IV
  • Basic Fire Inspector
  • Fire Investigator
  • Hazardous Material Awareness-Level and Operations-Level Responder
  • Hazardous Material Technician
  • Hazardous Materials Incident Commander
  • Incident Safety Officer

These courses satisfy TCFP curriculum and skills requirements for certification.

Students that successfully complete a course receive a course completion and are eligible for the associated certification examination, provided they satisfy TCFP testing requirements. Students that pass the examination are eligible to apply for certification from the TCFP.

Note: Certain certification examinations have additional TCFP requirements that students must satisfy in order to be eligible for the examination.

Classroom or Internet Training Options

Curriculum for TCFP courses for certification may be offered as traditional classroom training, Internet training through the COM’s Blackboard Learning System, or a combination class room and Internet training.

Course Offerings and Schedule

Course offerings are based on demand and will be listed in the CE Course Schedule and Web Advisor. Course schedules may be customized for specifically for fire department work schedules.

Fire Department Contract Sections

TCFP courses for certification are available to local fire departments on a contractual basis with customized scheduling to meet the department’s work and training schedule. As noted above, curriculum may be offered as traditional classroom based, Internet, or a combination of classroom and Internet training. Contact the Director of Fire Technology for information or to schedule a course.

Professional Development

Professional Developments courses offer 20 hours of training in selected topics to meet continuing education requirements in order to maintain certification with the TCFP. Upon completion of the course, students will be issued a course completion that can be submitted to the TCFP as documentation of training. Contact the Director of Fire Technology to schedule this course.

This course may also be offered to complete TCFP skills test in order to qualify students for certification examination. Contact the Director of Fire Technology to schedule this course.

Volunteer Firefighter Programs

SFFMA Firefighter I, SFFMA Firefighter II

These courses satisfy State Fire Fighters’ and Fire Marshals’ Association (SFFMA) Firefighter I and II curriculum and skills for certification with the SFFMA. Curriculum is offered as a combination classroom and Internet training.

Students successfully completing the course are eligible to test for SFFMA Firefighters I or II as applicable. Contact the Director of Fire Technology for additional information.

Summer Smoke

Summer Smoke is offered in coordination with the Galveston County Fire Fighters Association (GCFFA) and consists of courses with varied hours designed to meet SFFMA training requirements. Courses are listed in COM’s CE Schedule.

Courses offered each summer vary to meet specific requests from GCFFA member fire departments to satisfy training requirements. The following courses are currently available:

Rope and Rappel

Covers SFFMA, Section 28, Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Rope and Rappelling and provides the basic knowledge for individuals who will be using ropes for hauling, securing and preparing for additional rope rescue classes.

PUMP OPERATIONS

20 Hours Classroom and Hands-on-Training

Satisfies SFFMA Section 10, NFPA 1002, Standard for Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications. Departments are recommended that they send several students with the apparatus needed for the training.

SEAR (Search Escape and Rescue)

Covers advanced interior firefighter survival techniques, including hazards and obstructions, communication needs, overhead storage, “secret spaces”, reading conditions, Mayday procedures, hazards involved in rescue, entanglement issues, and RIT responsibilities. This course is TEEX approved.

CPR – American Heart Association, Health Care Provider Card

Provides the instruction needed to meet the requirements for a Health Care Provider CPR card, including use of an AED and basic first aid.

Incident Safety Officer

40 Hours Classroom Training

Satisfies the Texas Commission on Fire Protection curriculum requirements for Incident Safety Officer. Students successfully completing the course will be eligible for the TCFP certification examination for ISO if they satisfy TCFP testing requirements. Topics cover the curriculum in the TCFP Curriculum Manual for ISO, which include the duties and responsibilities of the ISO in emergency and non-emergency situations.

Note: Students may utilize TCFP course completions to apply for the equivalent certification with SFFMA.

Emergency Vehicle Operation Course(EVOC)

16 hour Classroom and Hands-on-Training

Satisfies Section 01, Driving Application of Category 10, Water Supplies, NFPA 1002, Standard for Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications by VFIS. Fire apparatus will be provided for training, however fire departments are encouraged to provide apparatus to be utilized by firefighters from their department.

Traffic Incident Management

8 Hours Classroom Training

The National TIM Responder Training Program was developed by responders for responders, and was designed to promote consistent training of all responders to achieve the three objectives of the TIM National Unified Goal (NUG): Responder Safety, Safe, Quick Clearance, Prompt, Reliable, Interoperable Communications. The target audience for this course is all TIM disciplines, including: Communications, Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Fire/Rescue, Law Enforcement, Towing and Recovery, and Transportation/Public Works.

SFFMA Special Topics

Hours and Type of Instruction as Needed

Customized courses designed to satisfy SFFMA topics requested by local volunteer fire departments to meet certification requirements.

Note: All Summer Smoke courses are physically intensive. Students must be in good physical condition and capable of fulfilling the requirements for interior fire suppression and rescue. Students are required to bring and don NFPA approved structural firefighting PPE and utilize NFPA approved SCBA and fire service hand tools. Due to the physically intensive nature of these courses, there is always a possibility of minor injuries and damage to gear.

For additional information, contact the GCFFA Training Coordinator, Stan Kozlowski at skozlow404@aol.com or the Director of Fire Technology.

Industry Training

The Fire Technology program offer courses to local industry on a contractual basic that satisfies OSHA training requirements. The following courses are available:

  • Hazard Recognition, 40 Hours
  • HAZWOPER, HAZWOPER Refresher, 40 Hours
  • Hazardous Materials Technician, 24 Hours
  • CPR, AED, First Aid, 8 Hours

Course curriculum is based on applicable OSHA Standards. Course schedules may be designed for a particular company’s work schedule. Contact the director of Fire Technology for details or to schedule a course.