Law and Security Administration - Durham CollegeSecurity Education in CanadaCrime and Fire Programs -- Community College Programs
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Law and Security Administration - Durham College Durham College's 1-year (3-semester) Firefighter - Pre-service Education and Training Certificate provides students with the knowledge and skills required to pursue careers as firefighters, or related positions, for fire departments in Ontario. The Program 'is based on the current Ontario Firefighter Standards and' has been developed in partnership with the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC).and Ontario Fire Marshal (OFM). As such, the Program ensures that students have the theoretical foundation and practical Firefighting skills that serves the needs of learners, local fire services, and the Province through a curriculum that is current and relevant, and which produces consistent results throughout Ontario. Students will have the opportunity practice their fire fighting skills through 'simulated and controlled live fire training scenarios on-campus and at a local fire service training facility.' Furthermore, students will be able to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world situations via a fire pre-service practicum at a relevant setting, usually a fire department. Graduates of the Program will be 'eligible to write the Ontario Fire Marshal provincial test.' To successfully complete the Program, students must not only complete all required classes, labs, and field placements but also participate 'in after class hours for self-practice is an essential component for success.' Graduates of the Program can pursue various career and/or further educational options in the Firefighting industry. Career-wise, graduates will be equipped with the knowledge and skill that will enable them to be candidates for various professional, full time employment in Firefighting throughout Ontario, and other places where the Certificate is valid. Firefighters may work in a wide range of environments like airports, forests and parks, hazardous materials units, hospitals, industrial fire and safety, municipal fire departments, private industry, and other industrial, rural, urban, and suburban areas and settings. The environment in which firefighters work will often determine the exact duties they will perform, and some firefighters may develop specialization in an area of Firefighting. For example, those working in forest land tend to focus on fire prevention by, among other ways, surveying the land for fire hazards and fires and quickly organizing responses to the latter when they do occur to limit their spread and damage. Through further training, firefighters may become fire investigators who attempt to reconstruct the origin and cause(s) of a fire. Investigators will usually collect evidence and witness accounts which they then use to produce reports about said fire; in cases where the law may become involved, investigators may be called to testify in court. Firefighting can be a strenuous and physically and mentally demanding career. Firefighters tend to work long and varied hours, and may be called upon to respond to emergencies at anytime during a 24-hour period, including on holidays. Moreover, Firefighting is a dangerous profession with risks for death and/or injuries and/or health problems from things like flames, falling objects, hazardous materials, and imploding structures. When firefighters are not combating fires or attending to other emergency situations directly, they are often at fire stations waiting to be called to duty or performing drills, among other things, or they may be actively engaged in promoting fire prevention. Graduates can also pursue further training in fire fighting or related areas at various institutes and colleges in Ontario, and anywhere else where the Certificate is recognized. To be eligible for admission to the Program, regular applicants must either an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, Academic And Career Entrance Program (ACE), Basic Training for Skills Development (BTSD), or General Educational Development (GED) and senior level (Grade 11 or higher) subject credits, including General (G), Advanced (A), OAC, College Preparation (C), University/College Preparation (M), University Preparation (U) or Postsecondary (college or university), including Grade 12 English, Grade 12 Mathematics, Grade 11 or 12 Biology, and Grade 11 or 12 Chemistry. Applicants who do not have the aforementioned credentials and who are 19 years of age or older by the commencement of the Program may apply under "mature student status." Furthermore, applicants 'with post-secondary credits may be considered for advanced standing on an individual basis.' If a Program becomes oversubscribed, that is, the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of available seats, the College will prioritize applicants thusly: 'permanent residents of Ontario, permanent residents of other provinces and territories in Canada, applicants from other countries.' Upon acceptance to the Program, students must 'attend a compulsory information session,' attain Level "C" CPR basic rescuer and standard first aid certification, complete and submit an Entry Immunization Form, and undergo a criminal record check. Students with a criminal record may be unable to find a work experience placement, and the latter is required for graduation. Students must also complete and submit 'current, (within 6 months) valid York University Firefighter Fitness Evaluation' before 'the start of Semester 2 (January).' All costs associated with any of the aforementioned requirements 'is the responsibility of the student.' The College is considering adding 'a firefighter profile assessment, physical fitness assessment and a minimum G license' as requirements 'for admission to the 2007-2008 academic year.'
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