Q School Scheduling
Effective Nov 2021: Q School will begin the Monday afternoon of the week scheduled. Qualification exams with written exams only will be testing on this day.
Exams that require practicals will begin Tuesday of the week scheduled.
Regardless of your exam, your test time slot may be pushed to Tuesday (AM or PM), Wednesday (AM or PM), etc. based on Delivery Agency restrictions, number of registered candidates, and staff present. You can request a specific time based on our schedule completed at 45 days out by emailing staff before the 45 day out date. Reach out to Katherine.Burton@ncdoi.gov or Paul.Ward@ncdoi.gov out for more info.
Q School Information
Candidates may register for any of the below Qualifications, Certified Fire Investigator, & Reciprocity exams and retest for failures at Q School. You will be approved or denied based on the course prerequisites. Specific qualification exam prerequisites & exam details can be found under the below tabs. Each candidate may register for multiple exams at the same location or for multiple locations.
The Q School schedule can be found below. Registration closes 45 days prior to each Qualification School. Staff will email you 30 and 15 days out as to the exact day, time and room to attend Q-School to qualify for the subject you selected.
Testing Procedures
- Student must be in attendance at the exact start time identified in the emails sent from staff members. Unexcused tardiness will disqualify the candidate from attempting the exam.
- Reciprocity will not be considered for instructor qualification.
- Re-qualification is required every five years, or as the applicable NFPA standard is revised.
- Candidates will receive two attempts at successfully completing each practical. The second attempt will directly follow the first, failed attempt.
- Policies & Procedures of testing will be read before the written exam and practical exam. Strict compliance with Policies and Procedures from the beginning of testing until the end will be expected from the candidate. Failure to comply will result in a failure grade.
- Once registered, candidates have up until their test time to cancel in order to avoid penalty. If the candidate does not cancel prior to assigned time they will be disqualified from attending any qualification school for 6 (six) months.
To view the Policies & Procedures, visit the Fire and Rescue Certification Board webpage.
Qualifications
04Q0179 - Firefighter I and II NFPA 1001 2019 edition qualification Prerequisites:
- Firefighter certified for three (3) years
- Instructor Level I certified
- Instructor Indoctrination course and/or Instructor Upgrade 2018 edition course
Qualification Testing for Firefighter:
- Written exam is 100 questions.
- A grade of 80% or greater is required for the written exam.
- Practical Skills Testing will be administered following successful completion of written testing.
- Candidates must pass all Practical Evaluations to become qualified.
- Practical skills tests will be selected at random from the list of practicals provided below. Candidate must pass Practical Skills with 70% or above.
- Candidate will also be required to grade a Practical Skills test and score 100% in accordance with NC Fire and Rescue Commission Policy for Testing.
Practical Skills
Q-School Practical Skills EFFECTIVE 2022
Required Equipment
- NFPA Approved Full Structural Firefighting Gear NFPA Approved SCBA with Spare Cylinder (current hydrostatic date) SCBA Face Piece
Reference Textbook
Jones and Bartlett: Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills and Hazardous Materials Response (Fourth Edition)
ISBN: 9781284151336 | © 2019 | 1360 pages
04Q0178 - Airport Firefighter 2019 NFPA 1003 edition qualification Prerequisites:
- Airport Firefighter certified for three (3) years
- Instructor Level I certified
- Instructor Indoctrination course and/or Instructor Upgrade 2018 edition course
Qualification Testing for Airport Firefighter:
- Written exam is 100 questions.
- A grade of 80% or greater is required for the written exam.
Reference Textbook
IFSTA: Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (Sixth Edition) ISBN: 9780879395841| © 2015 | 638 pages
04Q0180 - Dr/Op EVD NFPA 1002 2017 edition qualification Prerequisites:
- Driver Operator EVD certified for three (3) years
- Instructor Level I certified
- Instructor Indoctrination course and/or Instructor Upgrade 2018 edition course
Qualification Testing for Driver Operator EVD:
- Written exam is 50 questions.
- A grade of 80% or greater is required for the written exam.
Reference Textbook
IFSTA: Pumping and Aerial Apparatus Driver/Operator Handbook (Third Edition) Chapters 1 - 4 ISBN: 9780879395711 | © 2015 | 828 pages
04Q0181 - Dr/Op Pumps NFPA 1002 2017 edition qualification Prerequisites:
- Driver Operator Pumps certified for three (3) years
- Instructor Level I certified
- Instructor Indoctrination course and/or Instructor Upgrade 2018 edition course
Qualification Testing for Driver Operator Pumps:
- Written exam is 100 questions.
- A grade of 80% or greater is required for the written exam.
- Practical Skills Testing will be administrated following successful completion of the written exam. This testing will be administrated at the candidate's local agency at a later date, scheduled with an NC OSFM representative. This is to ensure familiarity with apparatus being used.
- A grade of 70% or greater is required for Practical Skill Evaluations.
- Candidates will be required to correctly administer a Practical Evaluation.
Reference Textbook
IFSTA: Pumping and Aerial Apparatus Driver/Operator Handbook (Third Edition) Chapter 5 ISBN: 9780879395711 | © 2015 | 828 pages
04Q0182 - Dr/Op Aerials NFPA 1002 2017 edition qualification Prerequisites:
- Driver Operator Aerials certified for three (3) years
- Instructor Level I certified
- Instructor Indoctrination course and/or Instructor Upgrade 2018 edition course
Qualification Testing for Driver Operator Aerials:
- Written exam is 50 questions.
- A grade of 80% or greater is required for the written exam.
- Practical Skills Testing will be administrated following successful completion of the written exam. This testing will be administrated at the candidate's local agency at a later date, scheduled with an NC OSFM representative. This is to ensure familiarity withe apparatus being used.
- A grade of 70% or greater is required for Practical Skill Evaluations.
- Candidates will be required to correctly administer a Practical Evaluation.
Reference Textbook
IFSTA: Pumping and Aerial Apparatus Driver/Operator Handbook (Third Edition) Chapter 6 ISBN: 9780879395711 | © 2015 | 828 pages
04Q0183 - Dr/Op MWS NFPA 1002 2017 edition qualification Prerequisites:
- Driver Operator EVD certified for three (3) years
- Driver Operator MWS certified for three (3) years
- Instructor Level I certified
- Instructor Indoctrination course and/or Instructor Upgrade 2018 edition course
Qualification Testing for Driver Operator MWS:
- Written exam is 50 questions.
- A grade of 80% or greater is required for the written exam.
Reference Textbook
IFSTA: Pumping and Aerial Apparatus Driver/Operator Handbook (Third Edition) Chapter 10 ISBN: 9780879395711 | © 2015 | 828 pages
04Q0165 - Fire and Life Safety Educator Level 1 NFPA 1035 2015 edition
04Q0166 - Fire and Life Safety Educator Level 2 NFPA 1035 2015 edition
04Q0167 - Fire and Life Safety Educator Level 3 NFPA 1035 2015 edition
Qualification Prerequisites:
- Candidate must be certified for three (3) years in the respective areas of Fire Life Safety Educator Level I, II, or III.
- Instructor Level I certified
- Instructor Indoctrination course and/or Instructor Upgrade 2018 edition course
Qualification Testing for FLSE:
- FLSE 1, Written exam is 75 questions.
- FLSE 2, Written exam is 50 questions.
- FLSE 3, Written exam is 50 questions.
- A grade of 80% or greater is required for all written exam.
Reference Textbook
Jones and Bartlett: Fire and Life Safety Educator: Principles and Practice (Second Edition) ISBN: 9781284041972 | © 2018 | 424 pages
04Q0197 - Fire Officer Level 1 NFPA 1021 2020 edition
04Q0198 - Fire Officer Level 2 NFPA 1021 2020 edition
Qualification Prerequisites:
- Candidate must be certified for five (5) years in the respective areas of Fire Officer Level I, II, or III.
- Instructor Level II certified
- Instructor Indoctrination course and/or Instructor Upgrade 2018 edition course
04Q0198 - Fire Officer Level 2 must have 04Q0197 - Fire Officer Level 1
Qualification Testing for Fire Officer:
- Written exam is 100 questions, for Fire Officer 1 & 2
- A grade of 80% or greater is required for the written exam.
Reference Textbook
IFSTA Fire & Emergency Services Company Officer (Sixth Edition)
ISBN: 978-0-87939-650-3
04Q0186 - Hazmat Ops NFPA 1072 2017 edition qualification Prerequisites:
- Hazmat Level I/ Hazmat Ops certified for three (3) years
- Instructor Level I certified
- Instructor Indoctrination course and/or Instructor Upgrade 2018 edition course
Hazardous Material Technician Instructors will not be required to take Practical Skill Evaluations.
Study material for Hazmat Ops can be found under 'Course Materials' in the OSFM 24 Portal.
Qualification Testing for Hazmat Operations:
- Written exam is 100 questions.
- A grade of 80% or greater is required for the written exam.
- Practical Skills Testing will be administered following Successful completion of written testing.
- Candidates must pass all Practical Skill Evaluations with 80%.
- Candidates will be required to correctly administer a Practical Evaluation.
Hazardous Materials Practicals:
- Recognize, protect individuals, call for trained help, and secure the area of a HazMat/WMD incident. JPR 4.2.1, 4.3.1, 4.4.1
- Identify Scope and create an Incident Action Plan. JPR 5.2.1, 5.3.1
- Conduct Action Plan Implementation. JPR 5.4.1
- Conduct Emergency Decontamination. JPR 5.5.1
- Conduct Progress Evaluation and Reporting. JPR 5.6.1
- Operating in a Hazardous Material/WMD. JPR 6.2.1
- Maintain and Storage of PPE. JPR 6.2.1
- Control a hazardous material/WMD product. JPR 6.6.1
- Control a hazardous material/WMD product using a Remote Control or Emergency Shutoff. JPR 6.6.1
Reference Textbook
Jones and Bartlett:
- Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills and Hazardous Materials Response (Fourth Edition) ISBN: 9781284151336 | © 2019 | 1360 pages; OR
-
Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations (Third Edition) ISBN: 9781284140705 | © 2019 | 482 pages
Requirements for Fire Instructor qualification Prerequisites:
- Candidate must be certified as both, Instructor I and II
- Instructor Indoctrination course and/or Instructor Upgrade 2018 edition course
- Candidate must meet one of the following scenarios:
- Instructor I certified for five (5) years, Instructor II certified, and Associates Degree*
- Instructor II certified for five (5) years, and Associates Degree*
- Instructor I certified for three (3) years, Instructor II certified, and Bachelors Degree*
- Instructor II certified for three (3) years, and Bachelors Degree*
*Must be from a regionally accredited Institution.
Please complete the Instructor Qualification Application and email to your Certification Regional Specialist
Qualification Testing for Instructor I & II:
- Written exam is 100 questions.
- A grade of 80% or greater is required for the written exam.
Reference Textbook
IFSTA Fire and Rescue Instructor: Fire and Emergency Services Instructor (Ninth Edition) ISBN: 9780879396961 | © 2018 | 433 pages
04Q0177 - Marine Fire fighting for Land-Based Firefighters NFPA 1005 2019 qualification Prerequisites:
- Marine Firefighter certified for three (3) years
- Instructor Level I certified
- Instructor Indoctrination course and/or Instructor Upgrade 2018 edition course
Qualification Testing for Marine Firefighter:
- Written exam is 50 questions.
- A grade of 80% or greater is required for the written exam.
Reference Textbook
IFSTA: Marine Fire Fighting for Land-Based Firefighters (Third Edition) ISBN: 978-0-87939-641-1 | © 2019 | 367 pages
04Q0147 - Rescuer Officer qualification Prerequisites:
- Rescue Officer certified for five (5) years
- Instructor Level II certified
- Instructor Indoctrination course and/or Instructor Upgrade 2018 edition course
Study material for Rescue Officer can be found under 'Course Materials' in the OSFM 24 Portal.
Qualification Testing for Rescue Officer:
- Written exam is 75 questions.
- A grade of 80% or greater is required for the written exam.
04Q0146 - TR Vehcile NFPA 1006 2013 edition Chapter 10 qualification Prerequisites:
- TR Vehicle or TR VMR certified for three (3) years
- Instructor Level I certified
- Instructor Indoctrination course and/or Instructor Upgrade 2018 edition course
Qualification Testing for Vehicle:
- Written exam is 100 questions.
- A grade of 80% or greater is required for the written exam.
- Practical Skills Testing will be administered following Successful completion of written testing.
- Candidates must pass all Practical Skill Evaluations with 80%.
- Candidates will be required to correctly administer a Practical Evaluation.
Study material for Vehicle can be found under 'Course Materials' in the OSFM 24 Portal.
Technical Rescuer Vehicle Practicals:
- Rescue Operations 1 of 4 – Establish Hazard Zones
- Rescue Operations 2 of 4 – Fire Control
- Rescue Operations 3 of 4 – Positioning Apparatus
- Rescue Operations 4 of 4 – Scene Size Up
- Stabilization/Extrication 1 of 3 – Upright Vehicle
- Stabilization/Extrication 2 of 3 – Vehicle On Side
- Stabilization/Extrication 3 of 3 – Rescue Tools
- Victim Management 1 of 5 – Access Door Hinge
- Victim Management 2 of 5 – Access Floor Boards
- Victim Management 3 of 5 –Roof Removal
- Victim Management 4 of 5 – Access Through Trunk
- Victim Management 5 of 5 – Removing Door Latch
Any instructor who successfully completes NC Breathing Equipment School from date July 1, 2016 - forward, is eligible to attempt the written exam for Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) Certification and Qualification at OSFM Qualification School.
Candidate must score at least 80% on the written exam to pass. Passing the exam will give the student RIC certification and qualification. If the candidate fails the written exam they can sign up for the next, open scheduled qualification school.
Instructor Candidate must meet all of the following prerequisites for Rapid Intervention Crew Certification and Qualification:
- Candidate must be certified Instructor Level I
- Candidate must be a current qualified Firefighter Instructor
To register for this exam, go to OSFM24, select Q School Test Registration, Exam Type: Special Training > Exam: TRD0067 -Rapid Intervention Crew Written (BES Student’s Only).
For more information:
All TR specialty qualification written exams will be held at a regional qualification school. Practical skills for each respective qualification will be done by field delivery with an OSFM instructor.
To view more visit: Field Delivered Qualifications at Q School
All NFA Qualification exams will be held at a regional qualification school. Practical skills for each respective qualification will be done by field delivery with an OSFM instructor.
Candidate must meet pre-requisite of Instructor Level 2 certified and completion of Direct Delivery NFA course, relative to the qualification. To view more visit: NFA Qualification Testing at Q School