IFSI has worked with the National Fire Academy (NFA) to strengthen our relationship and to provide more access to NFA classes by Illinois firefighters. This has taken several forms.

Courses taught by NFA instructors during IFSI events (Fire College, Winter Fire School).	NFA programs and courses taught by IFSI instructors at state locations.	IFSI programs that provide NFA and IFSI certificates.

Limited openings in classes at the NFA.	Emergency Management Institute Independent Study.

We have streamlined the registration process for the Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP). This program provides opportunities for volunteer fire officers to attend classes at the NFA in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and the majority of the costs are paid for by the feds. Qualified students can now apply directly to the NFA, rather than having to send paperwork through IFSI. The NFA reports stats back to us after the classes.

Illinois is allowed to request 9 NFA direct delivered classes each year. We host these classes at Winter Fire School and at Fire College. These are delivered by NFA contract instructors.

IFSI provides a number of NFA 2-day courses, under a grant, at no cost to fire departments. These “hand-off” courses use NFA curriculum, but are taught by IFSI instructors.

The Illinois Fire Service Institute participates in the NFA “Endorsement” program. In fact, we currently have more of our courses “endorsed” than any other state. The concept came about because the NFA recognized that some state training agencies already provide top quality courses, and there was no point in the NFA duplicating their efforts. Under this program, state training agencies can submit their own courses to an NFA review committee. The program also provides a mechanism for state training agencies to share materials with other state training agencies. Students who take these approved courses receive a joint certificate bearing both the IFSI and NFA seals.

IFSI participates in the NFA’s Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education Conference each year. This conference brings together representatives from universities, community colleges, state fire training, fire departments, the NFA and others. We are working with the NFA in formulating a true higher education upper level degree process, and a university level research mechanism and relationships for the fire service. These really do not currently exist in this country.

The National Fire Academy is limited by bed space and other constraints to 5,000 students on campus per year. They recognize that this does not begin to meet the needs of the nation’s fire service. Thus, the NFA is looking for more effective ways to reach larger numbers of students. They decided several years ago to use the state training agencies as the best mechanism to do this. IFSI is working with the NFA and other state training agencies to make top quality training and education as accessible as possible to the nation’s firefighters, and to promote true higher education and research.