The following words and terms used in this chapter, have the following definitions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

1. (1) Certificate of Completion--A signed statement certifying that an individual has successfully completed a commission approved basic certification curriculum for a particular discipline, including having been evaluated by field examiners on performance skills identified by the commission. The Certificate of Completion will be on a form provided by the commission and is to be completed and signed by the provider of training and issued to the individual upon successful completion of the training. The certificate of completion must, as a minimum, identify the provider of training, the course I.D. number, the course approval number, hours of instruction, date issued, curriculum name, training officer or course coordinator, and the name of the person completing the course. The certificate of completion qualifies an individual to take an original certification examination.
2. (2) Commission--The Texas Commission on Fire Protection
3. (3) Curriculum--The competencies established by the commission as a minimum requirement for certification in a particular discipline.
4. (4) Eligibility--A determination of whether or not an individual has met the requirements set by the commission and would therefore be allowed to take a commission examination.
5. (5) Endorsement of eligibility--A signed statement testifying to the fact that an individual has met all requirements specified by the commission and is qualified to take a commission examination. An endorsement of eligibility will be issued, when appropriate, by a member of the commission staff. An endorsement of eligibility qualifies an individual to take a proficiency examination or an examination for certification status.
6. (6) Examination--A state test administered by the commission which an examinee must pass as one of the requirements for certification. Exams will be based on curricula as currently adopted in the Commission Certification Curriculum Manual. The state test can consist of only a written test or it can consist of a test that contains both a written portion and a performance skills portion. If the training program is conducted in the phase format, the examination will be based on the curriculum in place at the time of the examination.
7. (7) Examinee--An individual who has met the commission requirements and therefore qualifies to take the commission examination.
8. (8) Field examiner--An individual that has successfully completed the commission administered field examiner orientation and has received a certificate of completion from the commission. An approved field examiner must sign an agreement to comply with the commission's testing procedures. The field examiner must as a minimum, possess a Fire Instructor Certification. The field examiner must be approved by the commission to instruct all subject areas identified in the curriculum that they will be evaluating. The field examiner must work under the supervision of a staff examiner to administer commission examinations, except when evaluating performance skills during an approved basic certification school. The field examiner must receive an examiner orientation course every three years administered by a certified instructor authorized by the commission.
9. (9) Staff examiner--A member of the commission staff who has been assigned by the commission the responsibility to administer a commission examination. A staff examiner who conducts or supervises performance skill evaluations must meet the same requirements as field examiners.

Source Note:The provisions of this §439.3 adopted to be effective November 1, 1998, 23 TexReg 10901; amended to be effective May 23, 1999, 24 TexReg 3863.