California Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee
A Partnership for Success
By improving the quality of education and training within the fire service and setting a professional standard for firefighters throughout the state of California, the California Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee (CFFJAC) has proven itself an innovative and respected leader.
A collaboration of two strong and influential forces, the CFFJAC is co-sponsored by the Office of the California State Fire Marshal, representing management, and the California Professional Firefighters, AFL-CIO, representing labor. This partnership of management and labor creates a balance that benefits California fire departments, firefighters, and ultimately the communities in which they serve.
Training
The concept of building skill through apprenticeship has been around since the Middle Ages. Then, as now, the object was simple: Use the experience of one generation to train the next. For 25 years, the CFFJAC has brought this tradition to our demanding profession. With more than 125 fire departments representing over 6,000 apprentices, and logging millions of training hours, the CFFJAC has become the cornerstone of standards-based firefighter training in California.
When fire departments and their respective labor associations subscribe to the CFFJAC, they are agreeing to provide their apprentices valuable instruction while meeting the CFFJAC standards, which parallel the State Board of Fire Services and the National Fire Protection Association standards.
Apprenticeship training consists of an academy, followed by instruction that relates to or supplements what was taught in the academy. Apprenticeship works because it provides true-to-life work experience through on-the-job training.
Recruitment
The CFFJAC emphasizes the value of recruiting well trained and qualified firefighting personnel from the ranks of underrepresented and target groups. The program reaches out to all areas of society because firefighters protect all of society. The CFFJAC provides effective outreach materials and services for recruitment to our participating departments. Current materials available can be found on our website under, “Recruitment”.
In 2003, CFFJAC created a new Commission to Recruit Women for the Fire Service. Comprised of 10 female active firefighters – ranging from firefighter to chief – the Commission meets regularly to develop fresh approaches to recruiting women. The Commission has successfully created several recruitment pieces including a video, brochure and posters and has organized a series of recruitment fairs…all designed to bring a new generation of women into the profession.
Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)
Introduced in 1999, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the International Association of Fire Chief’s (IAFC) Candidate Physical Abilities Test (CPAT) set an international standard for effectively measuring whether a prospective firefighter is up the physical demands of the job.
For almost as long, the CFFJAC has provided the CPAT for fire departments statewide. The CFFJAC’s two regionally located CPAT Testing Centers are designed with the firefighter candidate in mind. Staffed by CPAT’s most knowledgeable testing experts and fitted with the latest job-simulating testing apparatus, the CFFJAC’s state of the art facilities provide a comprehensive testing program including orientations and practice days.
CFFJAC Celebrates 25 Years of Creating Excellence
The CFFJAC celebrated its 25 year anniversary, and as a highlight at the 2007 conference we proudly looked back at the past with the debut of an anniversary book and video which was given to every participant. During general session, participants had the opportunity to learn the rich history of the CFFJAC and what they could look forward to in the next 25 years. A special guest from the audience was introduced as well: Phil Favro, State Fire Marshal during the implementation of the JAC, and a key player in founding the program stated, “For me, (apprenticeship) is the culmination of a long held dream….that is paving the way for the fire fighter excellence, equality and opportunity.”
Click here to download the 25 Year Anniversary Book
