Program Admissions

Basic Operations Firefighter Admissions Process

Elgin Community College (ECC)’s Basic Operations Firefighter (BOF) program is designed for active firefighters. Students enrolled in the BOF program will learn and be assessed on the following topics: 

• Basic skills firefighters must understand.
• Organizational structure of the fire department, fire behavior, safety, and building 
  construction.
• Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and fire extinguisher maintenance, testing, and 
  usage.
• Appropriate communications, including fire department phone radio procedures.
• Ladder, hose, and nozzle maintenance, testing, and usage.
• Water supply, forcible entry, and proper ventilation tactics.
• Search and rescue tactics.
• Fire and loss control.
• Evidence protection within a fire for investigative purposes.
• Fire detection and prevention.
• Alarm and suppression systems.
• Hazardous materials, vehicle operation, and rescue awareness objectives.

Certificate Program

The Basic Vocational Specialist (BVS) BOF certificate program requires a student to meet all of the following criteria: 

• Active firefighter.
• Member of an organized Illinois fire department or fire brigade.
• Employee of a fire department with appropriate sponsorship and insurance coverage.
• Holder of an Illinois driver’s license.

To participate in the BOF BVS certificate program, a student must (per the Office of the State Fire Marshal [OSFM] Illinois Administrative Code 141.300-a):

• Hold and maintain active membership of a firefighter organization in an Illinois fire department as a fire protection person according to the Act, as attested to by the employing fire chief of the individual seeking certification (required for FSS 110, FSS 111, FSS 112, FSS 113, and FSS 202).
• Provide protective clothing and an SCBA compliant with National Fire Protection Association. 
  (NFPA) standards.
• Be clean-shaven.

Before starting the BOF BVS certificate program, a student must:

1. Complete and submit all paperwork required by ECC’s Emergency Services department, including the BOF Sponsorship Form.
2. Receive approval from the Senior Director of Academic Programming & Public Safety Training.

Active firefighters enrolled in the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program may add the BOF BVS certificate by choosing the appropriate electives.

Active (Current) ECC Students

1. Complete Section I of the Basic Operations Firefighter (BOF) Sponsorship Form.
2. Ask your employer’s fire chief to complete Section II of the BOF Sponsorship Form.
3. Submit your completed BOF Sponsorship Form to the following address:

ECC Center for Emergency Services
ATTN: Ron Two Bulls, Senior Director of Academic Programming & Public Safety Training
815 East Plank Road
Burlington, IL 60109

New or Inactive* ECC Students

1. Complete and submit an ECC Application for Admission; choose “Basic Operations Firefighter” as your program of study.
   You will receive an email message (via your ECC student email address) outlining the next steps, including completing Section I of the BOF Sponsorship Form and fulfilling other programming requirements.
2. Complete Section I of the BOF Sponsorship Form.
3. Ask your employer’s fire chief to complete Section II of the BOF Sponsorship Form.
4. Submit your completed BOF Sponsorship Form to the following address.

ECC Center for Emergency Services
ATTN: Ron Two Bulls, Senior Director of Academic Programming & Public Safety Training
815 East Plank Road
Burlington, IL 60109

If Ron Two Bulls, Senior Director of Academic Programming & Public Safety Training, approves your form, you will receive e-mail message (via your ECC student e-mail address) to confirm approval; this will allow you to enroll in the courses listed below. Enrolling in non-credit courses is cheaper if you reside outside ECC’s district. Enrolling in non-credit courses allows you to seek OSFM certification, but you will not receive College credits or a BVS BOF certificate.

Meet with your academic advisor and/or visit the Registration & Records office to add the BOF program to your profile. To schedule an appointment and/or address any questions, please refer to the table below.