1. (a) The effective date of this chapter shall be March 1, 2006. Training programs that are intended to satisfy the requirements for fire service instructor certification that are started on or after the effective date of this chapter must meet the curriculum and competencies based upon NFPA 1041. All applicants for certification must meet the examination requirements of this section.
2. (b) Prior to being appointed to fire service instructor duties, all personnel must complete a commission approved fire service instructor program and successfully pass the commission examination pertaining to that curriculum.
3. (c) An out-of-state, military, or federal instructor training program may be accepted by the commission as meeting the training and experience requirements for certification as a fire service instructor if the training has been submitted to the commission for evaluation and found to be equivalent to or to exceed the commission-approved instructor course for that particular level of fire service instructor certification.
4. (d) An individual who holds a bachelors degree or higher in education from a regionally accredited educational institution or a teaching certificate issued by the Texas State Board of Education is considered to have training equivalent to the commission's curriculum requirements for Instructor I, II and III training.
5. (e) Individuals who hold Basic Fire Service Instructor or Basic Fire Education Specialist certification on the effective date of this chapter will, upon renewal, be renewed as a Fire Service Instructor I.
6. (f) Individuals who hold Intermediate Fire Service Instructor or Intermediate Fire Education Specialist or Associate Instructor certification on the effective date of this chapter will, upon renewal, be renewed as a Fire Service Instructor II.
7. (g) Individuals who hold Advanced Fire Service Instructor or Advanced Fire Education Specialist certification on the effective date of this chapter will, upon renewal, be renewed as a Fire Service Instructor III.
8. (h) Individuals who hold Master Fire Service Instructor or Master Fire Education Specialist certification on the effective date of this chapter will, upon renewal, be renewed as a Master Fire Service Instructor III.
9. (i) Personnel holding any level of fire service instructor certification must comply with the continuing education requirements specified in §441.21 of this title.
10. (j) A program that has been accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) shall be considered for evaluation for equivalence to the commission's requirements for the corresponding level of certification.

Source Note:The provisions of this §425.1 adopted to be effective March 1, 2006, 30 TexReg 7234.