1. (a) A training facility that provides basic instruction, for certification, to fire protection personnel in any of the following disciplines must be certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection:

   1. (1) structural fire protection personnel;
   2. (2) aircraft fire protection personnel;
   3. (3) marine fire protection personnel;
   4. (4) fire inspector;
   5. (5) arson investigator or fire investigator;
   6. (6) hazardous materials technician;
   7. (7) driver/operator-pumper.
2. (b) A certified training facility may be approved to instruct in any one or all of the basic fire protection personnel curriculums. Minimum requirements for each curriculum must be met to receive certification.
3. (c) Minimum requirements for certification as a certified training facility shall include facilities, apparatus, equipment, reference materials, and records to support a quality education and training program. The resources must provide for classroom instruction, demonstrations, and practical exercises for the trainees to develop the knowledge and skills required for basic fire protection personnel certification.
4. (d) The facilities and training shall be performance oriented, when required. Practical performance training with maximum participation by trainees shall be an integral part of the training program. The evaluation process for each phase of training will emphasize, as required, performance testing to determine if the trainee has acquired the knowledge and skills to achieve the required level of competency as required by the respective curriculum.
5. (e) It must be clearly understood that the minimum standard for training facilities is applicable only as the title implies and does not address the additional training facility resources which are required for the continuing in-service training essential to the development and maintenance of a well-coordinated and effective fire service organization.
6. (f) An organization, installation, or facility must submit a written application for certification as a certified training facility to the commission. Such application will include descriptions and addresses of physical facilities together with inventory of apparatus, equipment, and reference material to be utilized in conducting the basic curriculum as specified by the commission. It is not required that the equipment be owned by, permanently assigned to, nor kept at a training facility, but must be readily available for instructional purposes. A training facility must submit a letter of commitment with the original training facility certification application authorizing the use of resources not controlled by the training facility from the provider of said resources. Photographs of resources annotated to reflect their identity must be included with the application. When seeking basic course approvals, the facility shall certify that the resources are provided in accordance with this chapter.
7. (g) All training must be submitted to the commission for approval at least 20 days prior to the proposed starting date of the training.
8. (h) A certified training facility must submit a written request to the commission to be issued, at no charge, one Commission Certification Curriculum Manual which is to be utilized by the certified training facility instructors. The certified training facility instructors are responsible for ensuring that all subjects are taught as required by the respective curriculum. Additional copies of the Commission Certification Curriculum Manual may be purchased from the commission. Certified training facilities that renew their certification will receive appropriate updates, at no charge, to the Commission Certification Curriculum Manual.

Source Note:The provisions of this §427.1 adopted to be effective November 1, 1998, 23 TexReg 10895; amended to be effective January 1, 2000, 24 TexReg 6097.