1. (a) In order to be certified as a Hazardous Materials Technician an individual must:

   1. (1) hold certification as Structural Fire Protection Personnel, Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Personnel, or Marine Fire Protection Personnel and;
   2. (2) possess valid documentation of accreditation from the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress as a Hazardous Materials Technician; or

   3. (3) complete a commission approved hazardous materials technician program and successfully pass the commission examination as specified in Chapter 439 of this title (relating to Examinations for Certification). An approved hazardous materials technician program must consist of one of the following:

      1. (A) completion of a commission approved Hazardous Materials Technician Curriculum as specified in Chapter 6 of the commission's Certification Curriculum Manual.
      2. (B) completion of an out-of-state training program that has been submitted to the commission for evaluation and found to be equivalent to or exceed the commission approved Hazardous Materials Technician Curriculum.
      3. (C) completion of a military training program that has been submitted to the commission for evaluation and found to be equivalent to or exceed the commission approved Hazardous Materials Technician Curriculum.
2. (b) Out-of-state or military training programs which are submitted to the commission for the purpose of determining equivalency will be considered equivalent if all competencies set forth in Chapter 6 (pertaining to Hazardous Materials Technician) of the commission's Certification Curriculum Manual are met.
3. (c) No individual will be permitted to take the commission examination for hazardous materials technician unless the individual documents completion of the first responder awareness and operations level training as required by Chapter 1, Basic Fire Suppression, of the commission's Certification Curriculum Manual.

Source Note:The provisions of this §453.3 adopted to be effective September 1, 1997, 22 TexReg 7904; amended to be effective August 10, 1999, 24 TexReg 6098; amended to be effective November 5, 2000, 25 TexReg 10752; amended to be effective January 30, 2002, 27 TexReg 614; amended to be effective September 2, 2003, 28 TexReg 7404; amended to be effective May 26, 2005, 30 TexReg 3038.