The Emergency Services Training Institute (ESTI) was re-accredited for 46 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) levels during a recent site visit by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board).

This was the Pro Board’s second, five-year re-accreditation site visit to the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), which was hosted by the ESTI certification program. The Pro Board site visit team reviewed all testing processes and facilities, and conducted interviews to ensure ESTI was in compliance with the accreditation criteria.

The ESTI certification team and training managers worked for months to prepare a self-assessment document, which included an in-depth review of the testing and skills evaluation processes, said ESTI Program Director Brandi Plunkett. During the site visit, the Pro Board team discussed the self-assessment document in detail, observed skills testing sessions, observed a written test proctoring event, and interviewed staff and students.

Overall, the site team was very impressed with the testing process, ESTI staff, and facilities and referred to TEEX as a “class act,” Plunkett said.

ESTI Associate Director Mike Wisby added: “The ‘can-do’ attitude, dedication to quality, and providing services to our diverse client base were clearly observed and noted [by the site team].” At the conclusion of the site visit, the site team had no findings and are recommending ESTI be re-accredited to all NFPA levels requested.

Of the 64 organizations and entities accredited through Pro Board, TEEX/ESTI is second in terms of the number of students certified annually.

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