The Illinois Fire Service Institute ((IFSI) achieved a five-year re-accreditation from Pro Board. The award was presented at the Pro Board’s annual meeting in San Diego in mid-January. IFSI’s Deputy Director, Jim Keiken and Kurt Glosser, Program Director for Curriculum and Testing were in San Diego to receive the official notice.
The Pro Board is internationally-recognized as a means to acknowledge professional achievement in the fire service and serves to standardize responder training around the world. Pro Board certificates are similar to those of the National Registry for Emergency Medical Technicians. Currently there are 72 agencies that are accredited by Pro Board around the world. IFSI is the only organization in Illinois recognized by Pro Board. Today, IFSI has 19 Pro Board accredited classes. IFSI’s classes were first accredited in 2009.
“The Pro Board accreditation signifies that our classes meet national NFPA standards and that students are getting the best training possible,” Brian Brauer, Associate Director for IFSI said. Brauer also serves on The Pro Board’s advisory committee.
Also, at the annual meeting of the Pro Board Advisory Committee, IFSI Associate Director Brian Brauer was elected to represent the 72 Pro Board Accredited Entities from around the world to the Board of Directors of the Pro Board. Brauer will serve a three-year term as Advisory Committee Chair, one of eight voting members of the Board of Directors.
The Illinois Fire Service Institute is the statutory State Fire Academy for Illinois. In addition to training provided at its Champaign campus, the Institute offers one-day hands-on classes for fire departments at Regional Training Centers and local fire stations across the State. The mission of the Illinois Fire Service Institute is to help firefighters do their work through training, education, information and research.
