Partnership for Success
Who We Are
Washington State Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (WSFF JATC) has proven itself an innovative and respected leader. A collaboration of two strong and influential forces, the WSFF JATC is co-sponsored by the Office of the Washington State Fire Chiefs, representing management, and the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO, representing labor. This partnership of management and labor creates a balance that benefits Washington’s fire departments, firefighters, and ultimately the communities in which they serve.
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Background
The WSFF JATC was founded in 2002 and is one of two state-wide Fire fighter apprenticeships within the United States. Currently, Washington State does not have a mandatory training program for professional fire fighters. It also lacks a compulsory credentialing system to assure fire fighters have the proper credentials to perform on state mobilization and other interoperability events. Even though, the Washington State Fire Marshal's Office administers the International Fire Service Congress (IFSAC) certification program in the state of Washington, there is no requirement for fire departments to train their personnel to these standards due to the State Constitution’s home rule. The WSFF JATC provides a conduit for entry level fire fighters to receive certified basic level fire fighter training. This training is offered through a fire fighter recruit training program which provides financial incentives in the form of substantially reduced tuition to fire departments and their employees. The WSFF JATC training program is a three- year academic and on-the-job training (OJT) program consisting of a mandatory 660 hours in resident fire fighter recruit school. 6000 hours of OJT and an additional 250 hours of academic training.
Training
Apprenticeship is a time-honored tradition which is a centuries-old system of training designed to pass knowledge from one generation to the next. The Washington State Fire Fighters Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (WSFF JATC) brings this tradition to the modern fire service, ensuring that the next generation of firefighters is trained with the highest standards of skill and professionalism.
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When fire departments partner with the WSFF JATC, they provide their apprentices with invaluable hands-on experience combined with technical instruction that meets NFPA standards, is fully accredited, and offers college-level credit.
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Our apprenticeship program blends recruit academy training, hazardous materials instruction, EMT certification, and extensive on-the-job training with academic coursework that reinforces the craft of firefighting. The key to its success is real-world experience—apprentices are learning on the job, gaining skills that classroom training alone cannot provide.
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Importantly, the WSFF JATC does not replace a department’s existing training program. Instead, we enhance and support it, offering expertise and financial assistance to help departments deliver top-tier training for their teams.
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Looking ahead, the WSFF JATC is committed to expanding opportunities for career growth. We are developing and supporting journey-level upgrade programs for specialized roles in the fire service—technical rescue technician, hazardous materials technician, fire investigator, paramedic, and chief officer—each incorporating IFSAC/Pro-Board certification and college credit wherever applicable.
Benefits
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Funding for College Tuition
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Standardized Training Model
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Provides a clear career path
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Joint Labor/ Management cooperation ​
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Applies toward a college education
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Labors voice in training
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Eligible for G.I. Bill benefits
*We are a non-traditional apprenticeship, we the WSFF JATC DO NOT HIRE. To enlist, we require that you be hired by a participating fire department, then pass the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT). For more info, please refer to the " Careers" Tab.
Journey Out
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Current Apprentices
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