1. (a) Training programs that are intended to satisfy the requirements of this section must meet the curriculum, competencies, and hour requirements of this section. All applicants for certification must meet the examination requirements of this section.

2. (b) In order to be certified by the commission as a Basic Fire Inspector an individual must complete a commission approved fire inspection training program and successfully pass the commission examination as specified in Chapter 439 of this title (relating to Examinations for Certification). An approved basic fire inspection training program shall consist of one of the following:

   1. (1) completion of the commission approved Basic Fire Inspector Curriculum, as specified in Chapter 4 of the commission's document titled "Commission Certification Curriculum Manual," as approved by the commission in accordance with Chapter 443 of this title (relating to Certification Curriculum Manual); or
   2. (2) successful completion of an out-of-state training program which has been submitted to the commission for evaluation and found to meet the minimum requirements as listed in the commission approved Basic Fire Inspector Curriculum as specified in Chapter 4 of the commission's document titled "Commission Certification Curriculum Manual"; or
   3. (3) successful completion of the following college courses: Fundamentals of Fire Protection 3 semester hours; Fire Protection Systems 3 semester hours; Fire Prevention 3 semester hours; Building Code 3 semester hours; Building Construction 3 semester hours; Hazardous Materials I 3 semester hours; Fundamentals of Speech 3 semester hours. Total semester hours 21* *NOTE: Building Code and Building Construction may be combined into a single three semester hour class. If this is the case, the total semester hours may be reduced to 18; or

   4. (4) successful completion of a minimum of 240 hours of instruction in a National Fire Academy resident program for fire inspection. The resident program must include the basic course, Fire Inspection Principles (80 hours), and a minimum of 160 hours of instruction in at least two of the following courses:

      1. (A) Fire Prevention Specialist II (80 hours); or
      2. (B) Plans Review for Inspectors (80 hours); or
      3. (C) Code Management: A Systems Approach (80 hours); or
      4. (D) Management of Fire Prevention Programs (80 hours); or
      5. (E) Strategic Analysis of Fire Prevention Programs (80 hours).
3. (c) National Fire Academy resident courses of equal or greater class hours that replace a course discontinued by the National Fire Academy may be used towards requirements for certification in place of the discontinued course.
4. (d) A person who holds or is eligible to hold a certificate upon employment as a part-time fire inspector may be certified as a fire inspector, of the same level of certification, without meeting the applicable examination requirements.

Source Note:The provisions of this §429.3 adopted to be effective November 1, 1998, 23 TexReg 10896.