| Mission Statement |
The Division of Personnel Standards and Education (DPSE) is responsible for promoting, encouraging, and assisting local governments in improving the levels of education and training standards for local firefighters. DPSE is responsible for the standardization and enhancement in the levels of education and training for firefighters and professionals in Illinois with the highest priorities placed on safety and career advancement. DPSE operates under the mandate of the Illinois Fire Protection Training Act (50 ILCS 740), which provides for the promotion of standards to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. While the certification program is strictly voluntary, the OSFM and DPSE highly encourages local governments to adopt and take part in our firefighter certification programs. |
| Program Goals and Objectives |
- Review current systems updating to newest and most efficient utilization of systems to initiate and streamline processing and provide the fire service with premier service.
- Raise the level of firefighter training to the highest quality by revising Administrative rules to reference new and revised NFPA Standards for certification levels.
- Approve training facilities and fire training programs at the Illinois Fire Service Institute and other training facilities that includes advanced training programs for firefighters.
- Review established reference materials and examination test banks for correlation and validation towards certification levels.
- Develop written and practical examinations for certification levels.
- Develop task books for specific certification levels.
- Develop task books and criteria for recertification requirements.
- Process certifications and recertifications for successful fire service personnel.
- Assist candidates for testing with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance.
- Increase the level of participation in the training certification programs of the division.
- More efficient accessibility to the division's database information.
- More efficient distribution of required and approved reference material and training information.
- Annually administer the Claims for Reimbursement program and assist fire departments in the development of their training programs.
- Promote fire service training by partial reimbursement of training expenses.
- Assist with the setup of fire departments' training records.
- Division personnel will interact with fire departments and training facilities to promote Division/Agency programs and assist with training information and records.
- Schedule staff to contact and promote training programs, with priority in those areas where little or no organized training is evident.
- Schedule staff to contact, promote and assist with the Volunteer Emergency Worker Tax Credit procedures.
- Identify and evaluate fire service training and testing requirements.
- Streamline training, certification, and approval procedures.
- Enhance and promote Division/Agency programs.
- Division/Agency promotion of programs by attending statewide meetings and conferences and participate in related fire service concerns and programs.
- Review and enhance avenues for IT programs and resources. Continue to enhance data systems for the updating of training, examinations, certification programs, and IT systems for promotion of training to enhance firefighter knowledge and safety.
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Public Accountability Report
