Indiana § 22-14-2-7 - Firefighting training and education programs; certification; fee

§ 22-14-2-7. Firefighting training and education programs; certification; fee

Sec. 7. (a) This section does not limit the powers, rights, duties, and other responsibilities of municipal or county governments or impose requirements affecting pension laws or any other laws.

(b) This section does not require a member of a fire department to be certified. However, under the authority provided in subsection (c), the education board may, by rule, establish a program requiring certification of fire service personnel or nonfire service personnel.

(c) The education board may establish a program to be administered by the department to:

(1) certify firefighting training and education programs that meet the standards set by the education board;

(2) certify fire department instructors who meet the qualifications set by the education board;

(3) direct research in the field of firefighting and fire prevention and accept gifts and grants to direct this research;

(4) recommend curricula for advanced training courses and seminars in fire science or fire engineering training to public and private postsecondary educational institutions;

(5) certify fire service personnel and nonfire service personnel who meet the qualifications set by the education board;

(6) require fire service personnel certified at any level to fulfill continuing education requirements in order to maintain certification; or

(7) contract or cooperate with any person and adopt rules under IC 4-22-2, and as authorized under IC 36-8-10.5-7, to carry out its responsibilities under this section.

(d) The education board may impose a reasonable fee for the issuance of a certification described in subsection (c). The department shall deposit the fee in the fire and building services fund established by IC 22-12-6-1.

(e) The education board is the ultimate authority for orders issued by the department under this section.

As added by P.L.245-1987, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.170-1996, SEC.1; P.L.30-2001, SEC.1; P.L.22-2005, SEC.41; P.L.101-2006, SEC.35; P.L.2-2007, SEC.308; P.L.78-2013, SEC.9; P.L.249-2019, SEC.30; P.L.93-2024, SEC.165; P.L.238-2025, SEC.68.