This 10-month certificate program provides the successful graduate with knowledge and skills in basic fire suppression principles and practices, medical first responder, fire prevention/public education, and specialty modules such as vehicle extrication and environmental hazards. Over 250 hours of skills practice and testing in simulated and controlled live fire training scenarios will be conducted in accordance with current standards indicated in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001 Firefighter 1 & 2, NFPA 1072 Awareness and Operations.
Curriculum is based on the NFPA standards and includes additional components specifically oriented to gaining employment in fire service.
Graduates of the Pre-Service Firefighter Education & Training program are eligible to participate in OFMEM Provincial Firefighter Testing to obtain their NFPA 1001 Level I and II; NFPA 1072 Awareness and Core operations certifications.
The Fire School Campus - located 14 kilometres from the main campus - is the largest live fire training centre in Canada and includes a hot tower, a search and rescue tower, a fleet of emergency response apparatus, tools and equipment, and an expansive industrial training ground, centred around a state of practice training facility.
See Course List
Admission Requirements
O.S.S.D. or equivalent, with:
- Grade 12 English C or U
- Grade 11 or 12 Mathematics C or U
- Grade 11 or 12 Chemistry C or U (recommended)
- Current Standard First Aid and CPR Level C certification (recommended)
Mature Student Assessment for this program is available in the subjects of English and Mathematics for the purpose of demonstrating proficiency in these required admission
subjects. For all other admission requirements, applicants must complete the required course(s) as listed above. For more information, please contact counselling@lambtoncollege.ca. Review the Mature Student Admission process.
Academic admission requirements can be obtained through Academic Upgrading and the Pre-Programs at Lambton College.
Technology Requirements
In order to keep pace with the requirements of each and every course in your program, it is mandatory to own a reliable laptop to complete tests and assignments.
Course List
PSF-1006: Fireground Operations I
This course is the first of three that will provide the firefighter student with the basic components of Fireground Operations. The education and training is based on the skills and knowledge required for certification as a firefighter in accordance with the NFPA 1001 (2019) Levels I and II Job Performance Requirements (JPRs) and required skills as listed by the section of the standard in the course Learning Outcomes. The student will describe, demonstrate and perform the skills and knowledge required to fulfil the course requirements in accordance with the listed sections of NFPA 1001 (2019) and the current skills and knowledge requirements. Evaluations will be conducted in accordance with the Academic Standards and Evaluation (AS&E) branch of the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshall and Emergency Management (OFMEM). Successful students will obtain both the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) certification and ProBoard certification.
PSF-1016: Environmental Protection and Rescue Operations
This module provides an overview of basic components of environmental hazards and rescue operations to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards: 1001 (2019) Firefighter Level I & II; and 1072 (2017) Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations. Students will acquire the knowledge and skills performance, in accordance with the Job Performance Requirements (JPRs) and the required skills as listed by the section of the standard in the course Learning Outcomes. Student will describe, demonstrate and perform the skills and knowledge required to fulfill the course requirements in accordance with the listed sections of NFPA 1001 (2019), and NFPA 1072 (2017) levels. Evaluations will be conducted in accordance with the Academic Standards and Evaluation (AS&E) branch of the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshall and Emergency Management (OFMEM). Successful students will obtain both the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) certification and ProBoard certification.
COM-1113: Workplace Communications
This course focuses on skills required in any organization or position: writing business documents, responding to realistic scenarios, and speaking in an organized and vibrant manner. Students will practice professional communications skills by producing, revising, and editing short business documents and engaging in verbal interactions and presentations.
PED-1123: Fire Science Fitness I
This course introduces the student to the various aspects of firefighter fitness training including both theory and practice. Special emphasis is placed on cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility. Students will examine the mental aspects of fitness training, job performance tasks, principles of fitness training, nutritional guidelines and basic strategies to maintain lifelong fitness. Various physical training techniques designed to increase or maintain the student's present level of physical fitness and enable the student to successfully pass the York University Fire Fighter Fitness/Recruit Test are engaged in.
JSS-1001: Job Search and Success
This course is designed to give the student an understanding of how to conduct a job search and how to succeed in the work place. This includes self-reflection, effectively designing a cover letter and resume, online job searches utilizing social media, behavioural based interviewing as well as marketing oneself effectively in a job interview. Job safety, successful work strategies and harassment and discrimination plan of action is also discussed.
GED-XXX3: General Education Elective
PSF-2006: Fire Ground Operations II
This course is the second of three that will provide the firefighter student with the basic components of Fireground Operations. The education and training are based on the skills and knowledge required for certification as a firefighter in accordance with the NFPA 1001 (2019) Levels I + II and NFPA 1006 (2013) Chapter 5 Job Performance Requirements (JPRs) and required skills as listed by the section of the standard in the course Learning Outcomes. The student will describe, demonstrate and perform the skills and knowledge required to fulfil the course requirements in accordance with the listed sections of NFPA 1001 (2019) and the current skills and knowledge evaluations conducted in accordance with the Academic Standards and Evaluation (AS&E) branch of the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshall and Emergency Management (OFMEM). Successful students will obtain both the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) certification and Pro Board certification.
PSF-2016: Fire Ground Operations III
This course is the third of three that will provide the firefighter student with the basic components of Fireground Operations. The education and training is based on the skills and knowledge required for certification as a firefighter, in accordance with the NFPA 1001 (2019) Level I and II, Job Performance Requirements (JPRs) and required skills as listed by the section of the standard in the course Learning Outcomes. The student will describe, demonstrate and perform the skills and knowledge required to fulfill the course requirements in accordance with the listed sections of NFPA 1001 (2019). Successful students will be eligible to obtain both the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) certification and ProBoard certification through evaluations conducted in accordance with the Academic Standards and Evaluation (AS&E) branch of the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management (OFMEM).
PSF-2023: Firefighter Emergency Patient Care
This course provides an overview of the Ontario emergency medical care system (EMS) and specific roles of members of the emergency response team. Content will cover common medical/trauma conditions, related patient care and associated situational management. Emphasis will be on the specific role and responsibilities of the firefighter emergency patient care responder and the teamwork essential to the effectiveness of the EMS response. Included will be legislation, regulations, standards and established policies, procedures and protocols as well as the role of members of the emergency response team and the specific role of the firefighter emergency care responder in accordance with current Canadian Red Cross First Responder program standards.
PED-2123: Fire Science Fitness II
The focus of this course is to help prepare the student for the severe physical demands of fire fighting. Various methods of training will be incorporated in order to improve the student's fitness level. A progressive program of cardiovascular, flexibility, muscular strength and endurance will be implemented. There will be an emphasis on muscular strength/endurance and flexibility training throughout the course.
PSY-1213: Behaviour Health for First Responders
The current climate in first response demands that service providers be proactively prepared with a keen awareness of the demands of the job both personally and professionally. Students who take this course will develop essential self-awareness skills, enhance their knowledge of mental health issues in themselves and others, learn to foster collegiality through team work, and augment their understanding of the impact of workplace dynamics on one's mental health. Successful completion of the course will result in improved resiliency to meet the demands of a career in first response.
PSF-3009: Provincial Testing and Skills Evaluation
This course provides the student with an opportunity to review knowledge and skills from the entire Pre-Service Firefighter Education & Training (PFET) program in preparation for testing by the Academic Standards and Evaluation branch of the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshall and Emergency Management (OFMEM). Successful students will obtain both the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) certification and ProBoard certification. The course also includes an opportunity for participation in the Community Awareness Emergency Response (CAER) day public education event. This course also will allow the student to challenge the testing required for certification as a First Responder though the Canadian Red Cross.
Program Maps
Current Students
Current students can view program maps from previous years on the mylambton website.
You will need to login with your C# and password in order to access your program map.
Employment Opportunities
Typical opportunities that are available to graduates of this certificate program include positions in municipal fire departments, in the fields of fire suppression and fire prevention.
In order to be eligible for consideration for employment in a municipal fire department within the Ontario fire service, you are required to:
- Work on rotating shifts, including nights, weekends and holidays
- Speak, read and write English fluently and communicate clearly and precisely in high pressure situations
- Have a current Standard First Aid certificate and a valid CPR level BLS (Basic Life Support)
- Be 18 years of age or older at the time of application and possess O.S.S.D. Grade 12 or academic equivalency
- Be legally entitled to work in Canada (citizen/landed immigrants) and free of any criminal convictions for which a pardon has not been granted
- Some fire departments require candidates to meet the NFPA 1582 Vision Standards while others will set their own hiring criteria