Candidate Information

VIERA Forms

• New Department Information Form
• Registration: In-person Courses
• Registration: Online Courses (ICS, Hazmat Awareness, 1001 Evaluator)
• 1001 Fire Fighter Exam Order Form
  

VIERA Agreements

• Evaluator Agreement - for new evaluators after taking the online course
• Proctor Agreement- used to become a VIERA Proctor for written exams
• Practical Proctor Agreement - used to become a VIERA Practical Proctor for evaluations

Host Department Package: This Host Department Application Package is your guide to enrolling your members in NFPA Level 1 and II Fire Fighter Training Certificate program.

VIERA Candidate Guidebook: This guidebook has been developed to assist the candidate by providing valuable information and guidance of the certification process from start to finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply for Certification Programs?

It is the policy of the Academy that candidates must be employed by, or be a member of, one of the following:

• Career or Volunteer Fire Department
• Emergency Paramedic Service
• Law Enforcement
• Military
• Industrial Fire Brigade
• Land or Water Search and Rescue
• Any other Emergency Response Organization deemed acceptable by the Fire Chief
  
  

What are the prerequisite requirements?

Most NFPA standards require that an individual seeking certification in a specific NFPA standard meet prerequisite requirements. In addition, most NFPA standards have a practical skills evaluation that must be completed for certification. These practical evaluations are physically demanding; therefore individuals must meet the physical requirement of NFPA 1500 or those physical requirements set by the candidate’s fire department or industry.

How to Apply?

Candidates can be registered by completing a Registration and Consent Training Form and sending it to the Academy by email (viera@nanaimo.ca). Once a course has been confirmed for date and class size, the candidate will be informed that they are registered and given any prerequisite or pre-reading information.

What if the course date is changed or you cannot make the original registration date?

The Academy will contact you in the event a course and/or evaluation is cancelled due to lack of registrations. Candidates registered will be transferred to the next available date and notified by email.

Applying for Reciprocity

Candidates that have attended courses at other accredited institutions and have achieved certification and are registered with Pro Board or International Fire Service Accreditation Conference (IFSAC) are entitled to reciprocity. When registering for a VIERA course or evaluation and reciprocity applies, please include a copy of your certification with your registration form. The Academy will then verify your certification with Pro Board.

Course Reference Material

All accredited courses will meet or exceed the NFPA Standards and/or local, provincial or national standards or regulations.

Unless otherwise specified, the reference material will be Jones & Bartlett reference manuals. Candidates will be informed of the recommended reference manual and edition at the time of registration. Candidates can purchase the reference materials through VIERA 250 755-4551 or viera@nanaimo.ca. The candidate will be notified of the sections of reference material that will be covered in the course and written exam evaluation in the registration package and verified by the instructor. The candidate may receive supplemental reference material hand-outs for any given course.

How Long Does It Take to Receive Results on Exams?
Written exam results will be sent to the employer in approximately 2 weeks from the time the Academy receives the completed exams.

What if a Candidate Fails a Written Exam or Practical Skills Evaluation?
In the event a student is unsuccessful on a written or practical evaluation, the student is to have their employer or sponsor contact the Academy and arrange for a re-evaluation date and time.

Contact Us

Email: VIERA@nanaimo.ca
Phone: 250-755-4551