Certification Testing
In This Section
Certification Testing
BC3 PSTF Testing Types
Open Testing – These certifications are open for public enrollment.
Closed Testing – These certifications are for a specific fire department or organization and its members. The organization controls how many candidates can attend the certification. The organization must pay for a minimum of 15 candidates.
Off-Site Testing – To increase accessibility of certifications, we can deliver certain certifications locally. Requests must be submitted at least 120 days before the certification date. Off-site testing is normally for HMA, Driver/operator series & Fire & Emergency Instructor series.
*Candidates must meet the prerequisites of the certification they are testing for. BC3 offers various prep classes for certifications.
BC3 PSTF Certification Types
- Driver/Operator - Pumper and Aerial - by individual appointment or group testing
- Evaluator Workshop
- Fire Fighter I & II
- Fire Instructor I - part of the BC3 Educational Methodology for Local Level Instructors course
- Hazardous Materials Awareness - by individual appointment or group testing
- Hazardous Materials Operations
- Mission Specific - Technical Decontamination
- Mission Specific - Mass Decontamination & Victim Recovery
- Mission Specific - Air Monitoring
Additional certifications may be available based on request.
Need to Prepare?
BC3 offers various prep classes for certifications.
Example of Certification Prep Classes:
- Firefighter I - Entry Level Fire Training or a Firefighter I Prep Class
- Firefighter II – Advanced Firefighter or a Firefighter II Prep Class
- Hazardous Materials Awareness - Hazardous Materials Awareness or Operations Class
- Driver/Operator – Pumper - Emergency Vehicle Operator Training (EVOT) and Pump Operations I & II
- Hazardous Materials Operations - Hazardous Materials Operations or Technician classes
- Fire Instructor I - part of the BC3 Educational Methodology for Local Level Instructors class
Certification Testing Schedule - Fall 2025
| Certification Level | Location | Testing Type | Written Exam Date & Time | Practical Skills Exam Date & Time | Application Deadline | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TIMs | Cranberry PSTF | Closed | N/A | Oct. 2, Oct. 15, & Oct. 23 | 6:30 PM | Sept. 23 | Limited to first 20 candidates | $100/person |
| HMA | Center Twp. VFD | Closed | Sept. 22 | 6:30 PM | Sept. 22 | 6:30 PM | Aug. 25 | Limited to first 20 candidates | $30/person |
| Firefighter I | BC3 PSTF | Closed | Sept. 3 | 6:30 PM | Sept. 7 | 7:30 AM | Aug. 7 | Limited to first 30 candidates | $200/person |
| Driver/Operator - Pumper | BC3 PSTF | Closed | Sept. 15 | Sept. 15 | Aug. 15 | Limited to first 5 candidates for the day | $175/person & certification |
| Firefighter I | BC3 PSTF | - | Dec. 5 | 6:30 PM | Dec. 6 | 7:30 AM | Nov. 5 | Limited to first 30 candidates | $200/person |
| Fire & Emergency Service Instructor I w/ EMLL | Cranberry PSTF | - | Oct. 24 | 8 AM | Oct. 24 | 8 AM | Sept. 15 | Limited to first 20 candidates | $200/person |
| Firefighter II | BC3 PSTF | - | Dec. 7 | 8:30 AM | Dec. 7 | 8:30 AM | Nov. 3 | Limited to first 20 candidates | $185/person |
Note: All certifications have limited enrollment. To reserve your spot, you must submit a completed certifiction application, supporting documentation, and a BC3 class registration form by the application deadline or before the certification is full.
How to Register
All applications can be found on the OSFC website.
- Complete appropriate certification application, typed and paperclipped. You must complete all pages on the application, including Chief's Signature(s).
- Paperclip all supporting documentation to the back of your application. Supporting documents should be copies, all other documents must be originals.
- Complete the BC3 PSTF Registration form.
- Register for a free PSFA ACADIS account to review your certification status.
- Submit your application and BC3 Registration Form before the application deadline.
Please mail the original application and copies of the supporting documentation to:
- Butler County Community College
Attention: Public Safety Training Facility, Certification
107 College Dr.
Butler, PA 16002
- Butler County Community College
- After you submit certification materials, you will receive notification of the status of your certification application within 30 days.
- Before the certification, review appropriate certification handbook and skill sheets for study reference materials.
- After your application is approved, about 2 weeks before your certification date, you will receive notification of the agenda and items you will need for your certification.
Certification Testing Details, Retest Procedures & Resources
- Must complete the skill in a timely, safe & proficient manner (Move with a purpose)
- PSFA Facial Hair Policy does apply - View policy.
- No cameras, textbooks, or skill sheets in permitted in the testing or staging area.
- Testing facility/grounds are secured no friends, family, visitors, or fire officers permitted.
- No electronic devices are permitted during testing, for example cell phones, smart watches, pagers and all other electronic devices.
- No one will be permitted to leave the testing area for any reason.
- You will be given a routing card (do not misplace as you will need at each skill station)
- You could be sent to each station as a team but will be evaluated individually. When finished, return to the staging area to be assigned to another station.
- If you must use the restroom – check with the router.
- If you are caught cheating, the test coordinator will ask you to leave quietly. You will not be permitted to continue the test until a final decision is made by the State Fire Academy
- State Fire Academy has the final decision on all certification matters.
On Test Day
You must pass all skill stations - If you are unsuccessful on 3 or fewer skill stations, you may retest the same day. Only one retest per skill station. If you are unsuccessful on 4 or more skill stations, you may NOT retest the same day.
If you need to come back to retest on a different day
Written test can be given anytime. Skill station tests can only be given when a certification is scheduled. You can attend any PSFA Certification Test Site to take a retest.
To schedule a retest at BC3 PSTSF
When you are ready to retest, email the letter from the PSFA Certification Office to Jason Bragunier by emailing jason.bragunier@bc3.edu Please include in the email 3 dates and times when you prefer to take the written retest or which scheduled Certification you want to retest the skill station(s). Please provide at least 21 days notice when you want to schedule a retest.
Do not lose your letter from the PSFA regarding retesting, no retest will be given without this letter.
- Listen to the evaluator’s directions closely, and ask questions before you begin each skill
- Communicate with your partner, remember appropriate PPE for skill station (ie, eye, hand, head protection, etc)
Contact Us
| Kevin Smith Coordinator of Fire and Hazmat Training Programs |
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| Jason Bragunier Certification Specialist |
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| Marcie Schnur Public Safety Secretary |
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