Attendance Requirement
Firefighter academy course schedules are extremely tight, encompassing a great deal of information in a relatively short period of time, and requiring students to dedicate themselves and their time to this intense curriculum. Therefore, attendance is critical and mandatory for successful completion.
Firefighter recruits may be absent from a maximum of three weekday classroom sessions. Recruits may not be absent from weekend practical skills sessions. Firefighter recruits who are absent from three weekday classes and/or one weekend practical skills session will be dropped from the academy immediately and provided with an opportunity to enroll in the next upcoming recruit academy. The recruit training officer and fire chief will be notified immediately.
Recruits will be excused from this requirement in the event of a true emergency such as illness, injury, death in family, loss of transportation, and other major disrupting events which are unforeseen and unplanned. Exceptions will be reviewed on a single case basis by the recruit academy coordinator, the recruit training officer, and the respective fire chief.
Any absences must be acknowledged and approved by the recruit’s fire chief or training officer with notification to the academy coordinator. Missed class sessions must be made up under the direction of the recruit’s training officer. Notification of completion shall be made by the training officer within two weeks of the missed class. Recruits becoming ill or injured while off duty shall contact the recruit academy coordinator immediately and provide their name, contact information, and emergency situation details. A recruit becoming ill or injured while on duty shall inform the recruit academy coordinator immediately.
Recruits who become activated by the National Guard or Reserve shall be excused from the class/course and reenrolled, without penalty, upon their return.
Recruits who attend all the classes and skills sessions will receive a Certificate of Completion. Recruits who do not attend all classes and skills sessions will receive a Certificate of Participation. Recruits who do not receive a Certificate of Completion may not be eligible to take the IFSAC Firefighter I Certification Exam.