Testing for the various courses provided by the TFDTC shall adhere to strict procedures. The Course Coordinator is responsible for the security of the exam material and proper testing procedures to prevent cheating.

All exams will be drawn from a bank of questions, that have been validated for the current IFSTA curriculum. Exams will compiled by the, Chief of the Department, Deputy Chief, or the Administrative Specialist.

Access to the test data bank shall be limited to the Chief of the Department, Deputy Chief, and Administrative Specialist. The test bank shall be stored on a secured computer. Copies of certification exams shall be maintained in a secured area by the Division Chief of Special Services at all times.

Copies of exams shall be limited to the number of students in the course. All exams shall be accounted for at the end of the examination period. One copy of the certification exams shall be maintained in the course file for documentation and reference. All other certification exams shall be destroyed at the end of the course. Daily, chapter, and skills exams are not included in the policy.

Only TFDTC qualified instructors shall proctor written and skills exams. The Course Coordinator is responsible for assuring the test proctor follows appropriate testing procedures.

Proctors shall be monitored by the Chief of the Department, Deputy Chief, or Division Chief of Special Services during final testing to assure adherence to testing policies.

Two proctors shall be used for Firefighter Certification final skills exams.

Proctors shall be instructed in proper exam procedures prior to any final exam.

Proctors failing to properly grade, follow procedures, or caught instructing a student during in exam will be subject to disciplinary action by the Department.

The following exams/check offs may be proctored by any TFDTC qualified instructor:

Skills Check
Written Daily Exams
Written Chapter Exams
Written Weekly Exams
Written Final Exams

Non-MSCB Certified Course Written Exams

Final Skills Exams

Written exams will be conducted in the following manner for all certification courses:

Written exams shall satisfy the cognitive requirements of the appropriate level of certification as set for by the various NFPA Professional Qualifications Standards and Competency Standards.

Testing will be conducted in an area of sufficient space to provide a minimum of one chair space between students.

No talking shall be allowed once the testing begins.

Students should not have books, personal notes, notebooks, or other materials on the desk, unless approved by the proctor.

Answer sheets shall be provided to the students first. Tests shall be distributed faced down. Students shall not turn the test over or begin testing until instructed to begin.

Students shall be instructed in the proper manner to mark and change answers as necessary. All answers must be in the proper location on the answer sheet. Improperly marked answers or answers in the wrong location will be considered incorrect.

An appropriate time limit shall be provided for each exam. This will be based on the type of exam.

Students must raise their hand to present a question to the test proctor. The proctor shall go to the student. The proctor may read the question to the student, but may not explain the question in any way.

Students shall quietly leave the room upon completion of the exam, taking the answer sheet and test to the designated location.

Skills assessments shall be conducted in the following manner for Certification Courses:

Skills assessments will satisfy the skill performance requirements of the appropriate level of certification as set for by the various NFPA Professional Qualifications Standards and Competency Standards.

The Course Coordinator shall conduct a briefing will all proctors prior to the beginning of the exam.

The Course Coordinator shall prepare a grading sheet with the student's name and identification number on the sheet. The testing proctors shall be provided with the grade sheets and will maintain possession of the sheets at all time. Students will not be allowed to handle the grade sheets.

Appropriate personal protective equipment is required while performing skills. The level of personal protective equipment is to be the same as the level normally required to perform the skill.

Testing Stations shall be established and distributed in a manner to prevent students from witnessing the skills be evaluated at each station. Students shall remain in a place to prevent seeing any testing station prior to beginning the test. Students shall be prevented from conversing with other students that have completed any portion of the test.

All equipment used in the skills test shall be placed in the same starting position for each student. The proctor shall read the skill objective as it appears on the grade sheet. The proctor shall not refer to any manual, event or object during the process. The proctor shall restrict conversation to the reading of the objective or remarks used to place the student at ease.

Students may have up to five minutes to think about the stated objective before starting. The student shall have two attempts to successfully complete the objective within the stated time frame. Unless otherwise indicated, the time limit shall be ten minutes for completion of both attempts at the objective.

Outside observers may be allowed by the proctor or Course Coordinator. Observation by members of the Tupelo Fire Department shall not be permitted except when official business dictates.

Daily/Chapter Skills Check

Student and Instructor Check off signed after the student has performed the skill. The purpose of these checks are to teach the student the proper method, technique or procedure. This is not a test.

Weekly Skills Check

Students will take a Skills Assessment at the close of each week consisting of a minimum of five skills chosen at random by the Deputy Chief or Chief of the Department. A proctor will assess the students performance.

Final Skills Assessment

Students will take a comprehensive Skills Assessment at the close of the course.

A minimum of twenty skills will be chosen at random by the Deputy Chief or Chief of the Department.

Proctors will be instructed in proper procedures and acceptable behavior prior to testing.

Random audits and observation of Proctors by supervisors will be used to assure proper testing policies are followed.

Course Scoring

Successful completion any of course meeting the criteria of the MSCB requirements for certification is as follows:

Students are expected to maintain a Chapter/Daily Test average of 70% or higher for successful completion. This average shall normally count as 1/4 the final course grade.

Students given weekly written exams and weekly skill checks are expected to maintain a 70% or higher for successful completion. Weekly test averages shall count as 1/4 the final course grade.

Students given final comprehensive exams are expected to score a 70% or better for successful completion. Final exams shall count as 1/4 the final course grade.

Students given final comprehensive skills exams are expected to score a 70% or better for successful completion. Final skills exams shall count as 1/4 the final course grade.

When exam schedules differ than previously mentioned, the Course Coordinator shall brief the students during class orientation as to how the final course grade will be determined.

During class orientation/daily announcements students will be notified of the type, date and time of the next scheduled exam. Exam periods are also marked on some course schedules and posted on the bulletin board.