Qualification developed with UK fire and rescue services

SFJ Awards has introduced a Level 3 Certificate in Operational Firefighting, providing formal recognition for firefighters’ skills and knowledge.

Developed in collaboration with fire and rescue services across the UK, the Ofqual-regulated qualification is open to both whole-time and on-call firefighters.

Learning outcomes will be assessed primarily in-role, aligning with existing training structures.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is among 12 services involved in the qualification’s development.

Andy Houston, Watch Manager at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are proud to have been involved in the development of this qualification, which is a significant step forward in ensuring firefighters have access to formal recognition of vocational skills and training.”

Qualification mapped to apprenticeship standards

The certificate aligns with the operational firefighter apprenticeship standard, offering an alternative route for those unable to complete the full apprenticeship.

David Higham, Managing Director of SFJ Awards, said: “The objective of this qualification is to provide learners with the knowledge and skills required to carry out the role of an operational firefighter whether they are an on-call firefighter or whole-time firefighter.”

Higham added that the certificate supports the standardisation and quality assurance of vocational training, giving firefighters a transferable record of their skills and experience.

Supporting firefighter career progression

The qualification provides opportunities for further training and career development in areas such as incident command, community safety, water rescue, and breathing apparatus.

Houston said: “By providing a structured and standardised qualification, this certificate will help build a skilled workforce within our organisation and it will help open new career progression opportunities for both our whole-time and on-call firefighters.”

Qualification structure and requirements

The SFJ Awards Level 3 Certificate in Operational Firefighting consists of four units, with a total qualification time of 200 hours.

More information about the qualification is available on the SFJ Awards website.

SFJ Awards Level 3 Certificate in Operational Firefighting: Summary

SFJ Awards has launched a Level 3 Certificate in Operational Firefighting, developed in collaboration with UK fire and rescue services.

The qualification provides formal recognition of firefighters’ skills and is open to both whole-time and on-call personnel.

It aligns with the operational firefighter apprenticeship standard and serves as an alternative route for those unable to complete the apprenticeship.

The certificate supports standardised vocational training and offers career progression opportunities in specialisms such as incident command and water rescue.

The qualification consists of four units, requiring a total of 200 hours to complete.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is among 12 services involved in its development.

SFJ Awards states that the qualification provides a structured approach to recognising on-the-job learning.

More details are available on the SFJ Awards website.