Certification FAQs - individual renewals

NOTE: Please check the certification notices and alerts page for important information about the current renewal cycle.

"Paid" or "individual?"

• What's the difference between a "Paid Renewal" and an "Individual Renewal?"
• What happens if I get a job at a fire department after I have already renewed my certificate?

When to renew

• How will I know when it is time to renew?

Fees

• How much is the renewal fee?

Continuing education (CE)

• How many hours of continuing education are required to renew?
• What types of continuing education do I have to complete?
• Where and how do I get continuing education as an individual certificate holder?

Expired certificates

• What happens if I let my certificate expire?
• How long do I have until I cannot renew my certificate?

Renewal cards

• How do I get my renewal (certification) card?

---

"Paid" or "individual?"

• What's the difference between a "Paid Renewal" and an "Individual Renewal?"

  Paid renewal: If you are employed by a commission-regulated entity, your employer is responsible for your renewal. Your department will keep your continuing education records and pay your renewal fees.

  Individual renewal: If you are not employed by a regulated entity, you are responsible for documenting your CE and paying the renewal fees.

• What happens if I get a job at a fire department after I have already renewed my certificate?

  When you get a job with a regulated department, the department will notify us. We will let them know what they need to do to keep your certification current.

When to renew

• How will I know when it is time to renew?

  All certificates expire on Oct. 31 each year. We will send you a reminder postcard 60 days before the renewal deadline. It is important that we have your current mailing address. It is your responsibility to keep your contact information current. You can update your personal contact information on FIDO or by e-mail .

Fees

• How much is the renewal fee?

  If your certification is current, the annual renewal fee is $85.

  We charge a $42.50 late payment fee (for a total of $127.50) for renewals postmarked between Nov. 1 and Nov. 30.

  We charge an $85 late payment fee (for a total of $170) for renewals postmarked more than 30 days but less than one year after the expiration date.

  If your certificate has been expired for more than a year, you are not eligible to renew. You will have to re-test.

Continuing education (CE)

• How many hours of continuing education do you require?

  You must complete 20 hours of continuing education to renew all of your certificates. (If you have a Hazmat Technician certificate, you must complete an additional 10 hours, for a total of 30 hours.)

• What types of continuing education do I have to complete?

  There are two types of continuing education. Individual certificate holders can document either "Track A," "Track B" or a combination of the two.

  • "Track A" is training that repeats course material from any basic curriculum in which you hold your certification. Since we only allow four hours of "Track A" training in any one subject, you would have to document a minimum of five subjects. (Fire departments that provide this kind of training can use Form TCFP-010, Continuing Education Documentation Form or issue "certificates of completion.") We also accept copies of "certificates of completion" from websites or certified training facilities. The "certificate of completion" must have the name and signature of the commission-certified instructor who taught the class.
    
    Please refer to the appropriate chapter of the Certification Curriculum Manual to find the list of Track A subjects for the certification(s) you hold.
    
    
  • "Track B" is training to develop new skills. Examples of "Track B" training are National Fire Academy (NFA) courses, fire service-related seminars, or college courses in fire science. Submit copies of "certificates of completion" from these courses to document "Track B" courses. (We also accept copies of official college transcripts as documentation of college courses in fire science.)

• Where and how can I get continuing education as an individual certificate holder?

  As an individual certificate holder, you are responsible for finding your own continuing education. There are several places to get continuing education, including:

  • Commission-certified training facilities. Contact the commission-certified training facilities in your area for information about upcoming classes.
    
    
  • Fire departments. You can document CE you earn in a classroom by sending us Form TCFP-010, Continuing Education Documentation Form . Please note that the commission-certified instructor who taught the classes must sign the form.
    
    
  • On-line continuing education providers. You can document this kind of training by sending us a copy of your certificate of completion or a summary printed from the training provider's website. The standards division has the following contact information for online CE training providers:
    • eGenesis, Teresa James, 1-866-538-9911, www.egenesis.cc
    • FirefighterCE | CE Solutions, Lee Henry, 1-888-447-1993, www.ems-ce.com or www.firefighterce.com
    • Days Spring Associates, FAX 1-866-723-8211
    • International Association of Arson Investigators, CFITrainer.Net
    • Houston Fire Department, OnlineFireCE.com
    • Target Solutions, 10805 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92127, (858) 592-6880, www.targetsolutions.com
    • CentreLearn Solutions, LLC, 1-877-435-9309, www.centrelearn.com
    • FETN (Fire and Emergency Training Network), 1-800-624-2272, www.fetn.com
    • 24-7 Fire, (888) 240-4911, http://www.24-7fire.com , e-mail 24-7Fireinfo@hsi.com
    • Fire-CE.com, LLC, http://www.fire-ce.com
    • Kaplan Fire & EMS, 6301 Kaplan University Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309, (954) 267-3694, www.kaplansolutions.com
  • National Fire Academy (or other nationally recognized training providers). You must provide a certificate of completion to document this training. The certificate of completion must include the subject, date and number of hours completed.
    
    
  • Fire science college programs. You must send a copy of an official transcript to document completion of a college course in fire science.

  For your first year as an individual certificate holder (and your first year only), completing a basic academy in the twelve months prior to the expiration date of your first renewal period will count as CE. To document this, send us a copy of your "certification of completion" from your academy (along with your application and fee) at the time of renewal.

Expired certificates

• What happens if I let my certificate expire?

  If your certificate has been expired for less than one year, you can renew by documenting the required CE hours and paying the renewal fees and late fees.

• How long do I have until I cannot renew my certification?

  If your certificate remains expired for one year or longer, you will have to re-test before you can re-apply for certification. Please contact the commission's testing section at (512) 936-3819 for information on the examination process.

  If you are on active military duty and your certificate remains expired for over a year, you can still renew after you return. We will require you to submit a copy of your activation orders, a completed application for individual renewal, and the renewal fee.

Renewal cards

• How do I get my renewal (certification) card?

  You must have a TCFP FIDO account to get your renewal (certification) card. To get a FIDO account, you must:

  • Register with TCFP and get a Personal Identification Number (PIN). If you hold a certification from TCFP, you have a PIN. If you have not registered for a FIDO account, you may do so via the FIDO login page.
  • Have a valid e-mail address.
  • Have a password assigned to your PIN.
  • Please contact your department administration or TCFP , or call (512) 936-3858, to obtain your PIN.

  Once you have logged onto FIDO, you will be able to print your renewal (certification) card. (The certification card option is on the "Individuals" menu.)