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    Become An Instructor

    Instructor Expectations

    Local-level instructors accredited by the State Fire Academy adhere to our ideals of honestly courtesy, personal accountability, capability, accuracy, and the exchange of knowledge.

    Code of Professionalism (PDF)
    Instructor Policy

    Instructor Code of Ethics

    Instructors should adhere to the following principals:

    • Instruct courses in accordance with State Fire Academy and educational training agency policy, guidelines, and regulations. 

    • Present only principles, practices and information that represent accepted state and national standards in emergency service. 

    • Promote health and safety standards that ensure the protection of everyone participating in the training.
    •  Attend recognized training courses, seminars and/or conferences at least once a year to increase knowledge and improve instructional skills.

    •  Offer and promote attitudes that will improve municipal fire and emergency service policies, procedures, and performance. 

    • Perform all work assigned by State Fire Academy and/or the respective educational training agency, in accordance with established rules and regulations. 

    • Accept compensation from one employing agency only. 

    • Recommend and/or evaluate a prospective instructor objectively and without prejudice when requested to do so. 

    • Report unethical, illegal, unfair or inappropriate actions of an instructor to the State Fire Academy and the respective educational training agency. 

    • Refrain from political partisanship when instructing. 

    • Always appear well-groomed and properly attired.

    • Act in a professional manner immediately before, during, and immediately after training sessions. 

    • Evaluate student competency in a training session by maintaining personal attention to the student's skill ability.

    • Refrain from using, and prohibit the use of tobacco, drugs, or alcohol while instructing in a classroom or during any training exercise. 

    • Carefully choose words and tone of voice, making every effort to avoid emotional discussions immediately before, during, and immediately after training sessions. 

     

    Live Fire Trainings

    Trainings involving live fire can be as dangerous as a real emergency event. Such trainings must be handled with the appropriate care and preparation.

    Live Fire Safety
    • Keep in mind that profanity is not appropriate or condoned.  

    • Submit paperwork and reports in a timely fashion. 

    • Make notification and submit proper paperwork when accidents/near-miss incidents occur during a training session. 

    • Assist organizations in preparing and submitting the required paperwork for a structural burn session, in an acquired structure in accordance with the structural burn/live fire policy. 

    • When necessary, administer discipline in a manner that promotes student growth and will not embarrass or humiliate the student before their peers. Disciplinary actions shall be made part of appropriate student/class records. 

    • Participate in continued professional development education that meets State Fire Academy requirements.