Did you self-study for FFI?

[SWLAFireDawg]

I was wondering if anybody else did self-study for their firefighter one certification instead of attending an academy. If so, how long did it take and do you wish you could have gone to an academy? Did it leave gaps in your knowledge base?

[mattc05]

I know people that did but heard it was hard. I am not sure how you could read and understand SCBA basics without throwing a pack on?

[BKDRAFT]

I didn't even know they offered such a thing. There is no way you could be as proficient as someone going to an actual academy.

[BKDRAFT]

I didn't even know they offered such a thing. There is no way you could be as proficient as someone going to an actual academy.

[Slaytallica45]

Here in NJ atleast I believe its not possible to do FFI "by yourself", simply because how would you complete the practical evolutions required by the state?

[SWLAFireDawg]

I guess I should clarify. I have access to all equipment needed, and have background with the PPE, SCBA, Fire Behavior, Ropes and Knots, and Hose sections from an industrial fire brigade. The parts I am new to are the Rescue and Extrication, Ventiilation, Ladders, Fire streams for structural firefighting, Fire control in structural, Forcible entry, andbuilding construction.

LSU instructors come to the parish (county) at different times of the year for certification purposes, its not like its a correspondence class. We still have to take the same state test as someone in an academy, and be as proficient in the practicals. The difference is that we set our own pace and don't have to wake up every day in fear of getting tossed from an academy for whatever reason. I work full time plus some, and volunteer with the dept, so 10 weeks at an acadmy just is not an option for me.

[jerry4184]

In PA, where I'm at, we "self studied". Basically, you have to have essentials done in Pa to take FFI anyway. So must of the classroom work for FFI, is covered in the state approved essentials class. We just worked with experienced firefighters up here, some state instructors, some FFI approved instructors, and the like, without a formal class. One department up here just worked on the stuff as part of their weekly drills.

[SWLAFireDawg]

We are also required to go through an NFPA 1403 class and certification before we can actively participate in a volunteer dept now also. That gets you the very basics of the essentials, and gets you some practical exercises in as well.

I was just curious who all has gone this route.

[BKDRAFT]

People do need to get themselves up early to be at the academy. Running, pushups, doing PT. Having drill instructors yelling in your face. This is how you learn responsibility, self discipline, and respect to name a few. Commradere, and teamwork are two other large ones. Get into a real fire academy guys. Don't do it half *** so you can get the certification. Believe me your skills will show it when your hired and you must pass a post employment rookie school. Is that when you want to see how a "real" academy works? I sure don't reccomend it.

[SWLAFireDawg]

People do need to get themselves up early to be at the academy. Running, pushups, doing PT. Having drill instructors yelling in your face. This is how you learn responsibility, self discipline, and respect to name a few. Commradere, and teamwork are two other large ones. Get into a real fire academy guys. Don't do it half *** so you can get the certification. Believe me your skills will show it when your hired and you must pass a post employment rookie school. Is that when you want to see how a "real" academy works? I sure don't reccomend it.

Good points.......but keep in mind......not everyone does it full time or for a paycheck. And we can't quit our bread and butter jobs to go to a real acadey so we can volunteer in our off time, so we are given no choice but to "half-***" it.

An academy isn't the only place where responsibilty, self-discipline, and respect can be obtained. Some of us are lucky enough to have been raised with those attributes from a very early age.

I can definitely see benefits in going to a full academy for individuals desiring a paid career in fire services though.

[Bones42]

I can definitely see benefits in going to a full academy for individuals desiring a paid career in fire services though.

Just remember, a good number of career fire departments will send you through their own academy once you are hired, regardless of whatever academy you went to before.

Firefighting is a team effort. You should learn in a "team" environment.

[Dalmatian190]

so we are given no choice but to "half-***" it.

Both you & BK need to be biffed over that one. Half *** is an attitude, and has nothing to do with how your training is provided.

The full time programs certainly have advantages, but they're not practical for very large parts of the country covered by volunteer departments. Many VFDs use the FF I certification to demonstrate their volunteers have been properly trained under OSHA or other state requirements.

I don't know how Louisana organizes their programs.

In Connecticut, such "self-study" would not be possible. The FF I programs you attend to be eligible to sit for the written and take the practical portions of the state certification test must include hands-on training, including a live burn. And the live burn is proctored (monitored) by instructors from the State.

Most of the FF I stuff is skills, and those you learn from being shown.

[jerry4184]

It's the same in PA, only, for FFI, you don't actually have to attend a FFI class per se. The essentials course, as it is now, covers your structural burn, and all required areas of the FFI program. Essentials isn't technically required to take FFI, but it is to take a state approved burn class, and without a state burn certificate, no FFI for you.

[SWLAFireDawg]

[QUOTE=Dalmatian190;758447] so we are given no choice but to "half-***" it.

Both you & BK need to be biffed over that one. Half *** is an attitude, and has nothing to do with how your training is provided.

QUOTE]

Thank you....I am aware of that. It was a remark intended to be somewhat sarcastic. I took his comment to mean that we were "half-assing" our training by not choosing to attend an academy. Perhaps it was taken the wrong way.

Either way....it is what it is.

[WaterbryVTfire]

I'm a little confused. I took FF 1 and currently in FF2. Neither seem to be an independant study course. Due to the fact there are homework assignments and hands on drills. Do states have seperate FF1 & 2 other than the IFSTA/ProBoard cert?