Accreditation manager flags practical-skills gaps, ARFF delays and wildland concerns; commission authorizes MOU for Fort Campbell class and a targeted fix plan

Accreditation manager Greg Palmer presented an audit-style summary of program-level deficiencies the commission must correct to remain in compliance with IFSA C and ProBoard accreditation requirements.

Major findings - In-house practical skills and proctor oversight: Palmer said the commission lacks a uniform mechanism to approve or credential the individuals who proctor and sign off practical skills in the field. With roughly 6,700 departments in Tennessee there are many delivery variations; accreditation requires consistent governance. - ARFF (aircraft rescue and firefighting): Palmer reported that ARFF practical skills on the commission website use a 2015 practical-skills edition; the 2019 edition should have been implemented and the program is behind. That status raised concerns because reciprocal certifications may be relied upon by other jurisdictions or military installations. - Wildland 1/2: Palmer said wildland standards and online-course verification do not consistently demonstrate that required JPRs (job performance requirements) were met; Tennessee and Utah are among the few states offering IFSA C/ProBoard wildland credentials and the commission must decide whether to keep, pause, or refocus that program. - Low volumes for some programs: Some certifications have very low issuance numbers; the commission may need to prioritize resources and decide whether to continue offering all levels.

Commission directions and actions - Evaluator credential program: Commissioners directed staff to draft a program that would credential evaluators (proctors) who may sign practical skills. The proposed model: an evaluator credential tied to the evaluator’s own certific ation levels (an evaluator may sign only for disciplines they themselves hold). The commission suggested offering a trainer/evaluator course that regional coordinators could deliver and that would be recorded in Acadis. - Fort Campbell (ARFF) MOU and September class: The commission authorized staff to pursue a memorandum of understanding with Fort Campbell and to permit the ARFF class scheduled for September to proceed under a formal MOU. Commissioners further directed staff to treat that class as an opportunity to observe and confirm whether JPRs were being met. After the September class the commission agreed to pause further ARFF activity until the program-level fixes are in place, unless a prompt fix is implemented. - Wildland review and temporary extension: Commissioners directed staff to compare existing practical JPRs against the new test bank and report back; staff said it could complete a JPR comparison within about 45 days. If the updated JPRs match prior practicals, staff will validate existing student practicals; if not, staff will advise next steps.

Why this matters Palmer warned that accrediting bodies have sanctioned other jurisdictions that failed to align delivery and testing to standards; a lack of corrective action risks the commission’s dual-accreditation status and could force the rescission of certifications previously issued.

Next steps and timeline - Accreditation manager to draft an evaluator credential program and an implementation plan; staff to return to the commission in October with a proposed curriculum and rollout schedule. - Draft MOU for September ARFF class and allow class to proceed subject to MOU terms; pause ARFF certifications after that class if program-level corrections are not in place.