CHAPTER I: OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL
PART 141 REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PARTICIPATION AND CERTIFICATION OF FIRE PROTECTION PERSONNEL
SECTION 141.390 RECERTIFICATIONS
Section 141.390 Recertifications
a) The goal of the recertification process shall be to ensure continued demonstration of knowledge and skill proficiency in given areas of certification for Illinois fire service personnel.
b) All referenced recertifications in this Section shall be specific to certifications attained from the Office.
c) Any certification that requires a recertification shall remain valid if the recertification requirements are not completed, but shall not be considered current. Certifications that are not considered current shall be ineligible to be used as a prerequisite to obtain a higher level of certification.
d) Certifications that require recertification are:
1) Fire Investigator
2) Fire Apparatus Engineer
3) Company Fire Officer
4) Fire Department Incident Safety Officer
5) Fire Department Health and Safety Officer
6) Advanced Fire Officer
7) Chief Fire Officer
8) Fire Department Safety Officer
9) Fire Service Instructor I
10) Fire Service Instructor II
11) Fire Service Instructor III
12) Training Program Manager
13) Fire Inspector I
14) Fire Inspector II
15) Public Fire and Life Safety Educator I
16) Hazardous Materials Operations
17) Hazardous Materials Technician
18) Confined Space Operations
19) Confined Space Technician
20) Trench Operations
21) Trench Technician
22) Structural Collapse Operations
23) Structural Collapse Technician
24) Common Passenger Vehicle Rescue
25) Heavy Vehicle Rescue
26) Rope Operations
27) Fire Service Vehicle Operator
28) Rope Technician
e) Level-specific certifications issued on or before January 1, 2022 will no longer be considered current on December 31, 2025, except for Fire Investigator, which is referenced further within this Section.
f) Certifications issued on or after January 1, 2022 will no longer be considered current 4 years after their issuance date.
g) Recertification process for all levels except Fire Investigator:
1) Certifications shall remain current 4 years after their issuance date.
2) Applicants for recertification must hold a current level-specific certification issued by the Office.
A) Documentation of successful recertification training may be demonstrated by completing the level-specific Recertification Task Book (Task Book).
B) If an applicant or fire department opts not to utilize the Task Book, documentation of successful recertification training shall be maintained in the fire service personnel's training record. Training records utilized for recertification documentation, at a minimum, shall include the components listed on the Task Book Proficiency Log Sheets.
4) Application for recertification:
A) If utilizing the Task Book, the Proficiency Log Sheets shall be uploaded using the DPSE WebAccess Portal.
B) If not utilizing the Task Book, a completion report meeting the same criteria of the Proficiency Log Sheets shall be uploaded using the DPSE WebAccess Portal.
C) In lieu of uploading either the Proficiency Log Sheets or completion report, recertification completion data shall be manually entered in the DPSE WebAccess Portal.
D) The application for recertification cannot be submitted more than 12 months prior to the date upon which certification is no longer considered current.
5) The Division shall send notification to the employing fire department at one year and at 90-days prior to the date that fire service personnel's certification will no longer be considered current.
6) The Office shall grant each candidate a 90-day grace period to complete the recertification requirements. If recertification is not completed within the 90-day grace period, the candidate may maintain current certification in the established recertification cycle if the candidate completes a new Task Book within 6 months of the end of the 90-day grace period, with task dates after the date the previous certification is no longer considered current. The application for recertification shall include the Proficiency Log Sheets uploaded or manually entered using the DPSE WebAccess Portal. Training used in one certification cycle cannot be used towards recertification in another certification cycle. If the new Task Book is not completed within 9 months of the original date that certification is no longer current, the fire service personnel may make the certification current in a new recertification cycle by submitting proof of completion of an approved level-specific course.
7) When submitting for recertification, the fire chief must attest that all the requirements of this Section are met and affirms that:
A) The candidate seeking recertification is engaged as Illinois fire protection personnel.
B) Training documentation for recertification shall be maintained in the fire service personnel's fire department training records and is available for review by the Division upon request.
C) The submission of the application and Proficiency Log Sheets or completion report is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge.
h) Recertification Process for Fire Investigator.
1) Certifications shall remain current 4 years after their issuance date.
2) Applicants for recertification must hold a current Office level-specific certification.
3) Applicants for recertification shall complete recertification training that follows the established course objectives identified in NFPA 1033, totaling 100 points over the 4-year period, based on the point system on the tally sheet used by the Division. Point dissemination shall be determined by the Division.
4) Application for recertification:
A) If utilizing the Division-supplied Recertification Tally Sheet, the Tally Sheet shall be uploaded using the DPSE WebAccess Portal.
B) If not utilizing the Division-supplied Recertification Tally Sheet, a completion report meeting the same criteria of the Tally Sheet shall be uploaded using the DPSE WebAccess Portal.
C) In lieu of uploading either the Tally Sheet or completion report, recertification completion data shall be manually entered using the DPSE WebAccess Portal.
D) The application for recertification cannot be submitted more than 12 months prior to the date upon which certification is no longer considered current.
5) The Division shall send notification to the employing fire department at one year and at 90-days prior to the date that fire service personnel's certification shall no longer be considered current.
6) The Office shall grant each candidate a 90-day grace period to complete the recertification requirements. Training used in one certification cycle cannot be used towards recertification in another certification cycle. If recertification is not completed within the 90-day grace period after the date that certification is no longer considered current and the candidate desires to maintain a current certification, the candidate shall be required to complete an approved Fire Investigator course to obtain recertification.
7) When submitting an application for recertification, the chief attests that all the requirements of this Section are met and affirms that:
A) The candidate seeking recertification is employed by a local governmental agency or the Office.
B) Training documentation for recertification shall be maintained in the fire service personnel's department training records and available for review by the Division upon request.
C) The submission of the application and Tally Sheet or completion report is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge.
i) When all recertification requirements are met, a new certificate will be available on the DPSE WebAccess Portal.
j) The Office may extend deadlines for requirements of this Section for good cause shown (e.g., military deployments, medical leaves, personal emergencies, Acts of God or natural disasters, Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations, etc.).
(Source: Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 10877, effective July 11, 2024)