Curriculum and Certification Updates
The Alabama Fire College is accredited by IFSAC and ProBoard to 75 levels. While these 75 levels provide an avenue for our students to achieve certification in many areas, it also comes with its own set of challenges. One being that for the AFC to maintain accreditation, we must almost continually modify our curriculum, training, and testing processes to adhere to the National Fire Protection Association standards when the NFPA standards change, which is approximately every five years.
Download a printable copyAirport Fire Fighter (Release date: June 1, 2026)
The NFPA 1010 is a standard published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) that consolidates previous professional qualification standards for firefighters into a single document. It combines NFPA 1001, NFPA 1002, NFPA 1003, and NFPA 1005 to establish criteria for various fire service personnel, including the Alabama Fire College’s Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Airport Fire Fighter, Marine Fire Fighter, and Fire Apparatus Operator: ARFF, Pumper, Aerial, and Mobile Water supply programs.
The textbook for Airport Fire Fighter will change to IFSTA’s Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting, 7th Ed.
Fire Apparatus Operator (Release date: June 1, 2026)
The NFPA 1010 is a standard published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) that consolidates previous professional qualification standards for firefighters into a single document. It combines NFPA 1001, NFPA 1002, NFPA 1003, and NFPA 1005 to establish criteria for various fire service personnel, including the Alabama Fire College’s Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Airport Fire Fighter, Marine Fire Fighter, and Fire Apparatus Operator: ARFF, Pumper, Aerial, and Mobile Water supply programs.
The textbook for Fire Apparatus Operator: Aerial, Mobile Water Supply, Pumper, and Emergency Vehicle Driver will change to IFSTA’s Pumping & Aerial Apparatus Driver/Operator Handbook, 4th Ed.
The textbook for Fire Apparatus Operator: Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting will change to IFSTA’s Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting, 7th Ed.
Fire Fighter and Volunteer Fire Fighter (Release date: June 1, 2026)
The NFPA 1010 is a standard published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) that consolidates previous professional qualification standards for firefighters into a single document. It combines NFPA 1001, NFPA 1002, NFPA 1003, and NFPA 1005 to establish criteria for various fire service personnel, including the Alabama Fire College’s Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Airport Fire Fighter, Marine Fire Fighter, and Fire Apparatus Operator: ARFF, Pumper, Aerial, and Mobile Water supply programs.
This update will also apply to Volunteer Fire Fighter, Fire Fighter I/II Recruit School, Fire Fighter I/II Bridge, and Fire Fighter Recertification.
The textbooks for these classes will change to:
IFSTA’s, Essentials of Fire Fighting, Fire Fighter I, Eighth Edition
IFSTA’s, Essentials of Fire Fighting, Fire Fighter II, Eighth Edition
Fire Support Person (Release date: June 1, 2026)
This course is based on NFPA 1010: Standard on Professional Qualifications for Firefighters, 2024 edition. This course is designed for the person who seeks the knowledge and skills to function as a role of the support person within the organization.
This course will be using IFSTA’s, Essentials of Fire Fighting, Firefighter I, Eighth Edition textbook.
For more information regarding this course please use the following link:
The Path to Certifications for Fire Support Person and Volunteer Fire Fighter
Marine Fire Fighter (Release date: June 1, 2026)
The NFPA 1010 is a standard published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) that consolidates previous professional qualification standards for firefighters into a single document. It combines NFPA 1001, NFPA 1002, NFPA 1003, and NFPA 1005 to establish criteria for various fire service personnel, including the Alabama Fire College’s Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Airport Fire Fighter, Marine Fire Fighter, and Fire Apparatus Operator: ARFF, Pumper, Aerial, and Mobile Water supply programs.
The textbook for Marine Fire Fighter will not change. It will remain IFSTA’s Marine Firefighting for Land-Based Firefighters, 3rd Ed.
Fire and Emergency Services Instructor (Potential release date: Spring 2027)
The NFPA 1020: Standard for Fire and Emergency Services Instructor, Fire Officer, and Emergency Medical Services Officer Professional Qualifications, is a standard published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) that consolidates previous professional qualification standards for firefighters into a single document. It combines NFPA 1021 and NFPA 1041 to establish criteria for various fire service personnel, including the Alabama Fire College’s Fire Officer I-IV, Fire and Emergency Services Instructor I-III, and Live Fire Instructor/Live Fire Instructor in Charge programs.
In response to the 2025 update of NFPA 1020 the Fire and Emergency Services Instructor series will be transitioning to: Jones & Bartlett’s, Fire and Emergency Services Instructor, Fourth Edition textbook. (ISBN# 9781284301250)
Fire Officer (Potential release date: Spring 2027)
The NFPA 1020: Standard for Fire and Emergency Services Instructor, Fire Officer, and Emergency Medical Services Officer Professional Qualifications, is a standard published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) that consolidates previous professional qualification standards for firefighters into a single document. It combines NFPA 1021 and NFPA 1041 to establish criteria for various fire service personnel, including the Alabama Fire College’s Fire Officer I-IV, Fire and Emergency Services Instructor I-III, and Live Fire Instructor/Live Fire Instructor in Charge programs.
In response to the 2025 update of NFPA 1020 the Fire Officer I and II courses will be transitioning to: IFSTA’s, Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer, Seventh Edition textbook. (ISBN# 9780879397760)
In response to the 2025 update of NFPA 1020 the Fire Officer III and IV courses will be transitioning to: Jones & Bartlett’s, Chief Officer, Principles and Practice, Fourth Edition textbook. (ISBN# 9781284317046)
Live Fire Instructor / Instructor-in-Charge (Potential release date: Spring 2027)
The NFPA 1020: Standard for Fire and Emergency Services Instructor, Fire Officer, and Emergency Medical Services Officer Professional Qualifications, is a standard published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) that consolidates previous professional qualification standards for firefighters into a single document. It combines NFPA 1021 and NFPA 1041 to establish criteria for various fire service personnel, including the Alabama Fire College’s Fire Officer I-IV, Fire and Emergency Services Instructor I-III, and Live Fire Instructor/Live Fire Instructor in Charge programs.
In response to the 2025 update of NFPA 1020 the Live Fire Instructor/Instructor-in-Charge course will be transitioning to: Jones & Bartlett’s, Fire and Emergency Services Instructor, Fourth Edition textbook. (ISBN# 9781284301250)
Facility Fire Brigade (Potential release date: Summer 2026)
NFPA 1081 Standard for Facility Fire Brigade Member Professional Qualifications will be updated to the 2024 Edition.
- Incipient Facility Fire Brigade Member
- Advanced Exterior Facility Fire Brigade Member
- Interior Structural Facility Fire Brigade Member
- Facility Fire Brigade Support Persons
- Facility Fire Brigade Leader
Fire Department Safety Officer (Release date: June 1, 2026)
NFPA 1550 Standard for Emergency Responder Health & Safety will be updated to the 2024 Edition.
The textbook for Fire Department Safety Officer: Health & Safety Officer will change to Jones & Bartlett’s, Occupational Safety and Health in the Emergency Services, Revised Fifth Edition
The textbook for Fire Department Safety Officer: Incident Safety Officer will change to Jones & Bartlett’s, Fire Department Incident Safety Officer, Fourth Edition