Alabama Fire College Resident Division

The Resident Training Programs has the primary responsibility of providing fire service training for all courses taught at the Alabama Fire College campus in Tuscaloosa. Resident courses are normally scheduled on a yearly calendar which allows for advanced planning for personnel who may need to attend a course.

NOTE: Resident course classes are scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. with an hour break for lunch, unless otherwise noted.

State of the art facilities at the Alabama Fire College campus allow for more diverse and realistic training on various simulators. With the addition of the arson building, the forcible entry/ventilation simulator, and structural collapse simulator, the Alabama Fire College resident program is fast becoming one of the leaders in fire service education in the United States. Resident courses range from weekend classes to the ten-week, 400 hour Fire Fighter I certification program.

State law requires that all new fire fighting personnel must complete the Fire Fighter I course and pass the examination for certification within the first 12 months of employment. To be eligible to attend the Fire Fighter I course, candidates must successfully pass the Candidate Physical Ability Test or another validated physical ability test.

NOTICE: There will be a $25.00 charge per person for the CPAT Examination administered at the Alabama Fire College. You must register in advance for the CPAT Exam, and payment must be received at the time of registration.

Before attending the CPAT Examination at the Alabama Fire College you must show proof of CPAT Orientation. There is no charge for CPAT Orientation, but you must call and let us know you plan on attending. To register for the CPAT Examination, you must complete the CPAT Registration Form and submit with payment to the Alabama Fire College. If you have any questions regarding CPAT Orientation or the CPAT Examination, contact Kevin Pate.

Notice for Distinctive Firefighter License Plate Eligibility Effective December 1, 2006
Due to the changes in firefighter license plate requirements regarding the application process, the following form will need to be submitted to your fire chief for verification of firefighter eligibility. Certification of Eligibility Form 9/29/06

Test and Certification Information Sheet

General Rules and Guidelines – Resident Courses
Compliance with these rules and guidelines is the student’s responsibility. We urge you to familiarize yourself with the content; and if there is any part you do not understand, please request an explanation from a staff member.

Course Cancellation/Withdraw Policy Students who register for a course and wish to withdraw in good standing must submit a written request to be received at least two weeks prior to the beginning of class. A written withdrawal received according to the stated time limit will result in a full refund. If you fail to withdraw in the allotted time, you will be charged the full course fees. A full refund will be received automatically for courses cancelled by the Alabama Fire College.

Registration Payment Policy Official registration requires full payment of the stated fees by credit card, personal check (for personal registration) or official purchase order (for government agencies or businesses) at the time of registration. Accepted credit cards are Visa and Mastercard. By written advance notice, it may be possible to use a personal credit card to secure your registration and then substitute a check or official written purchase order for the credit card information at the beginning of class. If you do not notify us in writing that you do not wish for your credit card to be processed, we will automatically process your credit card.

No-Show Policy Students who register for a fee-waived or stipend course and then do not attend and do not withdraw according to the withdrawal policy (in writing, two weeks in advance of the start date) will be classified as a no-show in our registration records. No-show students will not be allowed to register for other fee-waived or stipend courses for a period of one year.

Class schedule - The students will be advised of the schedule and class meeting times. Special night evolutions will be scheduled for some courses.

Personal items - The Fire College will not assume any responsibility for loss, theft, or damage of personal items.

General care of the Fire College facilities - Students are required to place all refuse in the proper containers, to adhere to “No Smoking” areas, and to avoid any abuse to the Fire College’s facilities.

Parking - Students may park their vehicles in the parking lot adjacent to the main building.

Tardiness - Students must adhere to class schedules. Students are required to be punctual for all classes and class activities. Classes will begin promptly at the scheduled time unless specific instructions are given otherwise.

Absences - Unless special permission is received from the Chief of Training, students are not permitted to miss any portion of a course. Failure to comply will result in dismissal from the course. Reasonable emergency leave may be allowed for legitimate reasons. In a certification course, students must attend all classes to be certified.

Conduct and discipline - Immoral or disorderly conduct will not be condoned. Profane, obscene, vulgar or indecent language will not be tolerated. Minor infractions committed by students will be corrected by the Fire College Staff. Conduct detrimental to the Fire Service on or off campus will not be tolerated. We will investigate any complaints by motels, restaurants, or other persons. If the complaint is valid the student will be dismissed and his/her agency will be notified.

Dress - Students attending classes at the Alabama Fire College must choose their attire to be appropriate according to the circumstances. Whether a class day involves only classroom instruction or it involves outside drill field activities affects the individual choice of attire. Dressing for safety is the overriding concern.

Comfort is a consideration. When dressing for the summer season, students are reminded that short shorts, tank tops, and open-toe shoes are not permitted in classrooms or on the drill field. T-shirts or other clothing with offensive wording or artwork are not permitted. Common courtesy to other students is expected in the choice of attire.

Safety is an important consideration. Students should refer to the course syllabus (syllabus link is embedded with the description for each course) for guidance on what activities are planned for each instruction day and whether the activities are indoors or outdoors. Drill field activities will require clothing to be worn that is appropriate for the activity and the season.

Cell Phones – All cell phones must be turned off prior to entering classrooms. Use of cell phones will not be permitted during class. Leaving the classroom during class to answer repeated cell phone calls is also disruptive to the rest of the class and to the instructor. Instead, return cell phone calls during normal breaks.

Classroom demeanor - Any student who shows disrespect, makes vulgar or disruptive remarks or engages in other activity prohibited by the Fire College rules will be subject to dismissal from the course. Students are required to maintain classroom cleanliness. No tobacco products of any kind will be permitted in classrooms. No eating in classrooms. Each student is responsible for the removal of trash from his/her area.

Fee Waived Schools – The Fire College provides lodging for selected schools. This is a benefit, not a requirement. The motel is a motel, not a firefighter dormitory. ANY complaint of improper behavior related to any stipend-provided lodging will be investigated. If the complaint is valid, the student will be dismissed from the course. The individual's Chief and Mayor will be notified. The dismissed student's department will no longer be permitted any registrations in any fee waived schools.

Fire Arms – Some courses, such as Fire Investigator, are attended by law enforcement personnel who may be on duty or off duty. Alabama Fire College policy is that no firearms may be brought into the classrooms or other facilities under any circumstances.

Test and Certification Information Sheet

General Rules and Guidelines – Resident Courses Compliance with these rules and guidelines is the student’s responsibility. We urge you to familiarize yourself with the content; and if there is any part you do not understand, please request an explanation from a staff member.

General Rules and Guidelines – Resident Courses
Compliance with these rules and guidelines is the student’s responsibility. We urge you to familiarize yourself with the content; and if there is any part you do not understand, please request an explanation from a staff member.