Sec.7-323l-20a. Practical skills examination

(a) All practical skills certification examinations shall be provided and administered by the certification unit.

Periodically, the commission may offer statewide open examinations. These practical skills examinations may be given in conjunction with written examinations. Generally, the candidate shall successfully complete the practical skills examination for a certification level, if such practical skills examination is required, prior to applying for and participating in the written examination for that level.  The requirement to complete the practical skills examination successfully prior to participating in the written examination may be waived to improve the delivery efficiency or in cases in which a formal appeal of a practical examination grade is pending.  Dates of upcoming practical skills examinations and practical skills examination application forms may be obtained from the certification unit. Candidates applying for practical skills examinations shall file an application form with the commission at least 10 business days before the scheduled date of the practical skills examination. Practical skills examination applications received by the commission less than 10 business days before the scheduled date may be denied and shall need approval of the fire service analyst.

(b) Local administration or regional school administration of state practical skills examinations

(1) At least 60 calendar days prior to the anticipated test date for a fire department, regional fire school or commercial entity examination, the chief of the fire department, lead certified fire service instructor of the fire department, director of the regional fire school or the lead certified fire service instructor of the commercial entity shall submit to the certification unit a completed request for examination form.

(A) Upon receipt of a request for examination form, the certification unit shall forward a certification site compliance form to be completed by the entity requesting the examination. It shall be the responsibility of the entity requesting the examination to complete the form and attest to the certification unit that the site is conducive to conducting the examination. The certification unit may conduct a site visit for the purpose of assessing site suitability and for approving the location for administration of a practical skills examination. Approved sites may not require subsequent certification site compliance forms or visits unless, in the opinion of the certification unit, the characteristics and facilities of the site have changed substantially.

(B) If, in the opinion of the certification unit or its designated representative, the practical skills examination site is not suitable for conducting an examination on the specified date, and modification cannot be made in a reasonable period of time, the practical skills examination shall be canceled or postponed and the requesting entity shall be required to resubmit the request for examination form.

(2) Local and regional school practical skills examinations shall be administered by certification unit personnel for a reasonable number of candidates, as determined by the fire service analyst, and each candidate shall have demonstrated proficiency in all skill evaluations identified for that level by having been previously observed and evaluated by a certified and qualified fire service instructor in the accomplishment of these skills.

(3) Practical skills examination evaluators for local and regional practical skill examinations shall be provided by the entity requesting the examination. The evaluators shall be certified by the State of Connecticut to the level of fire service instructor I and shall have not been directly involved in the training of the candidate being examined in the specific skill or skills being evaluated. The names of the evaluators shall be provided to the certification unit at least ten business days prior to the examination for verification of certification.

(4) The certification unit shall provide, at a minimum, a chief examiner to administer each local and regional school practical skill examination.

(c) Practical skills examination structure – number of skills

(1) Certification practical skills examinations shall consist of evaluation of psychomotor skills required by one or more of the objectives required for certification to the levels specified in sections 7-323l-5a to 7-323l-17a, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(2) Certification practical skills examinations shall consist of evaluation of a number of practical skills deemed appropriate by the certification unit to adequately measure the psychomotor skills required by the objectives required for certification of the levels specified in sections 7-323l-5a to 7-323l-17a, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(d) Scoring and examination results

(1) Successful completion of all practical skills evaluated on a given examination day shall be required for certification. Successful completion shall mean a minimum grade of 70 percent on each skill evaluation sheet with no failure of identified critical skills.

(2) All practical skills examinations shall be scored by the certification unit and shall be recorded permanently in commission files.

(3) Practical skills examination results shall be made available to each candidate at the examination site on the date of the examination.

(4) Practical skills examination results for candidates participating in oral review panel examinations shall be sent to candidates by first class mail not more than 4 weeks after the date of the examination.

(e) Administration procedures

(1) Practical skills examinations may be conducted in evaluation stations, the purpose of which is to approximate actual fireground situations that take into account the testing environment. Candidates shall perform skills safely, swiftly, and with competence.

(2) Evaluators shall furnish candidates with specific instructions for each skill to be evaluated. Evaluators may clarify instructions but shall not assist the candidate, either through verbal or practical assistance, once the evaluation has begun. In the case of multiple-candidate evolutions, candidates may communicate with each other as would be expected in normal fireground operations.

(3) The time allowed for each practical skills examination shall be determined by the certification unit.

(f) Reexamination

(1) Any candidate receiving an overall grade below 70 percent on any practical skills evaluation sheet shall be afforded the opportunity to reexamine the skill or skills failed one time at the time of examination. Subsequent failure of the skill or skills shall require the candidate to retake the entire practical skills examination. The requirement to retake the entire practical skills examination may be waived in extenuating circumstances by submittal of such a request in writing to the certification unit.

(2) Procedures

(A) Candidates shall be made aware of the skill or skills failed at the time of the practical skills examination. Candidates shall be given a reasonable period to prepare for the reexamination of the skill or skills. Candidates shall review the practical skills grading sheet used for the original evaluation only. The use of any outside materials shall be prohibited. Candidates shall not consult with any outside individual prior to the reexamination .

(B) Individuals failing a practical skills examination or who took a practical skills examination more than 180 calendar days prior to the date of reexamination, shall be retrained or counseled prior to any reexamination.

(C) No person shall be reexamined without complying with all requirements of section 7-323l-20a and 7-323l-21a of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(D) A candidate may retake any practical skills examination as frequently as the certification unit offers the practical skills examination. There are no restrictions as to the number of times the individual may take practical skills examinations.

(E) Any candidate who has not successfully completed all certification examination components for a particular level within 12 months of the date of initiation of the certification examination process period shall lose all satisfactory scores.

(F) Any candidate who has not successfully completed all certification examination components for a particular level by the end of the 12 months shall retake the appropriate training program before being reexamined at the appropriate level.

(Effective October 5, 2018)