Holland College | Basic Firefighting receives international accreditation
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Basic Firefighting receives international accreditation

The Holland College Atlantic Police Academy's Basic Firefighting program has received accreditation by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress, a credential recognized throughout North America.

The Basic Firefighting program, which is 22 weeks long, is offered in PEI at the Atlantic Police Academy in Slemon Park, Summerside; and in New Brunswick at the Maritime College of Forest Technology in Fredericton. The first nine weeks of the program are comprised of classroom work, followed by four weeks of practical and applied skills training in the PEI Firefighter Training Centre in Milton, PEI. Fire cadets are housed in the police academy's residence, Holland House, during their four weeks or practical training.

Following the four weeks at the PEI Firefighter Training Centre, fire cadets receive eight weeks of on-the-job training in actual fire departments across the region. The final week of the course is comprised of testing in preparation for graduation. At the end of the program, qualified students receive their Holland College Certificate in Basic Firefighting ? Level I & II.

Ivan Curley, Program Development Officer and Fire Chief at the Atlantic Police Academy, sees the accreditation as a crucial element of the program's success.

"The accreditation of the program by IFSAC means that when our fire cadets graduate, they will be able to apply for jobs anywhere in Canada or the US as a professional, full-time firefighter. The accreditation ensures students and potential employers that the program adheres to strict standards recognized across the continent."

The International Fire Service Accreditation Congress is a peer-driven, self-governing system of both fire service certification programs and higher education fire-related degree programs. The mission of IFSAC is to plan and administer a high quality, uniformly delivered accreditation system with an international scope. The Degree Assembly of the IFSAC accredits fire science or related academic programs at colleges and universities. An IFSAC accreditation indicated that course offerings, institutional support and qualified faulty are working together to accomplish their educational mission. Accreditation is granted only after a review by a panel comprised of representatives from other member organizations.

For more information about this release, please contact:
Michelle Gallant, Media and Communications Officer
Tel: 902-629-4270
Date: Thursday, May 25, 2006