Training Division

The Norfolk Fire-Rescue Training Division is responsible for the training of new recruits as well as continuing education credits for all our employees’ certification levels.  The levels include Firefighter I & II, First Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, Shock-Trauma Technicians, Cardiac Technicians, and Paramedics.  In addition, the training facility is sanctioned by the American Heart Association to teach and maintain CPR certification for our own personnel as well as offering classes to the general public. The Training Division offers a variety of activities for our existing personnel that include:

• Assignment of regular continuing education and recertification classes for fire fighting, basic life support, and advanced life support.
• Scheduling of Officer and Management programs and National Fire Academy Courses.
• Maintenance of an active satellite teleconferencing and video production studio facility. The department utilizes the video capabilities on a daily basis by airing continuing education classes and public affairs programs via Cox Cable Channel 48.
• Maintenance of a library of training manuals, promotional textbooks and audio/visual training equipment.
• Coordinates emergency physician ride along program with the Eastern Virginian Medical School's Emergency Medicine graduate program.
• Shares resources with area colleges and university by providing a field internship for students in Emergency Medical courses and Allied Health fields.
• Customized special activities and programs for both the community and the department.

The training division provides consistent resources to accomplish these goals including access to the Tuition Assistance Program upon successful completion of probation. The department adheres to the Standards of the Commonwealth of Virginia Department's of Health and Fire Programs and to those of the American Heart Association.

The Training Staff maintains an active public affairs role for the department through public speaking, displays, school site visits, and vocational work with the Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Little League Baseball, Volunteer Fire and Rescue Departments, and the Norfolk Vocational Technical Center. Some other duties of the Training Division include:

• Coordination of NFR Recruit Applicant Agility Testing
• Assist the Commonwealth of Virginia with Tactical Rescue Courses
• Water Rescue Training
• Collaboration with surrounding departments and agencies on regional disaster planning, drills, and preparedness functions

Recruit Training

The Training Division is also tasked with the cross training all new recruits. Recruit training is rigorous and demanding. This basic training includes classroom, field drills, and mandatory "street" experience. The training division develops curriculum that assures the highest quality training and assures a smooth transition from the classroom to field duty assignments.  

New Recruits must attend and satisfactorily complete the Tidewater Regional Fire Academy's (TRFA) 15 week training program. Included topics of instruction during this academy are:

• Emergency Medial Technician-Ambulance
• Fire Fighter I, II
• Vehicle Extrication
• Water Rescue
• Rope Rescue I
• Hazardous Materials Awareness
• Ambulance Emergency Vehicle Operators Course
• Radio/KDT-440 Operations
• Emergency Operations Center (911) Orientation
• Map reading
• Record Keeping and Report Writing
• City Employee Orientation

Norfolk Fire-Rescue requires new employees to continue with their Fire/EMS training. All new personnel are trained up to the Emergency Medical Technician-Shock Trauma, Fire Fighter II, and Hazardous Material Operations level.