New Operational Firefighting qualification: Enhancing firefighter training and competence

A new Level 3 Certificate in Operational Firefighting has been launched by emergency services awarding organisation SFJ Awards.

Developed in collaboration with fire and rescue services across the country, the new certificate provides formal recognition of the knowledge, skills and competences learned by firefighters in-role.

Both whole-time and on-call firefighters are eligible for entry to the Ofqual-regulated qualification, with appraisal of learning outcomes primarily assessed in-role.

Cheshire is one of 12 fire and rescue services on the steering group supporting this project. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service Watch Manager Andy Houston said: “We are proud to have been involved in the development of this qualification, which is a significant step forward in ensuring firefighters have access to formal recognition of vocational skills and training.

“By providing a structured and standardised qualification, this certificate will help build a skilled workforce within our organisation and it will help open new career progression opportunities for both our whole-time and on-call firefighters.”

David Higham, Managing Director, SFJ Awards, adds:

“The objective of this qualification is to provide learners with the knowledge and skills required to carry out the role of an operational firefighter whether they are an on-call firefighter or whole-time firefighter.

“The certificate has been mapped to the Operational Firefighter apprenticeship standard and provides learners who are unable to complete the apprenticeship with the opportunity to receive recognition of the knowledge and skills gained through on-the-job learning and informal training.

“The SFJ Awards Level 3 Certificate for Operational Firefighting supports the standardisation and quality assurance of vocational training in fire and rescue services and provides learners a recognised and transferable record of their achievement, which in turn will support their careers well into the future.”

The certificate provides a platform for career progression and specialisation of whole-time firefighters in areas such as incident command, community safety, water rescue and breathing apparatus.

The qualification consists of four units and the total qualification time is 200 hours.

Find out more about the Level 3 Certificate for Operational Firefighting.