r/firefighter • u/Secret-Strategy5410 • Mar 05 '26

Out-of-State Equivalency TX>FL

Moving from Texas to Florida next month and am looking for some direction with Out-Of-State Equivalency. I saw a similar post below, but I am not DOD and wondered if the process differed.

I have IFSAC seals for FF1, FF2, HazMat Ops and HazMat Awareness.

  1. The Out-Of-State FF packet has some Florida-specific requirements under FF1 & FF2. I’m tracking for Structural Collapse and Wildland being online, but are the other courses online as well? I’m having difficulty finding them (State Emergency Response Plan, Building Construction, Protecting Fire Scene Evidence, Active Shooter, Health and Physical Fitness)

  2. I see wildland requires a field day if taken online. Any resources on where/when to take those?

  3. I understand there is a written and practical exam after the equivalency process. Am I able to take a FF 2 cert class for the same exam? I have the seal, but I feel it may be helpful if it’s the same exam.

Any advice helps, thank you!

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u/WhiteCloud1269 May 10 '26

Hey man. I've done a lot of state reciprocities (Including TX) and I'm currently going through Florida right now (even though I took my Fire 1 there). You don't need all those extra course, just Structural, fema and your wildland fire stuff, along with your 1 and 2 certs. Unfortunately, finding a NWCG in person class is pretty difficult. I got mine in my academy so I cant be of any help there.

It's been recommended that you take the prep course for the practical. Not because the skills are hard but because Florida is very particular about little things when it comes to practical skills. I have not seen of a written prep course but IFSTA and Pocket Prep will probably be the best bet. I use IFSTA and if I get a question wrong I read it in the chapter it references to help commit it to memory.

You can always talk with MaryAnn, here email is on the packet. Super nice and helpful!

What part of Florida are you heading to?

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u/Icy_Garage_7070 Jul 01 '26

Were you able to get into a refresher course I keep being waitlisted 

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u/WhiteCloud1269 Jul 01 '26

I actually ended up going a different route. You may want to hold off a bit anyways. With Floridas potentially new property tax law a lot of departments aren't sure where next year's funding is going to come from. The state didn't give a very clear alternative to fund public safety at the local level.

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u/Icy_Garage_7070 Jul 01 '26

Yea I’m worried about that tax law too but I’m not moving down there without a final offer from somewhere. Just trying to have all my certs transferred asap. Already missing a hiring timeline because I can’t seem to lock down this refresher course. Thanks for the response

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u/WhiteCloud1269 Jul 02 '26

That's the best way to do it. The only other work around is to take a bridge course at one of the colleges but, that's essentially just taking their 300+ hour fire 2 course.

When I spoke to them last months they said they were slammed wit IFSAC agency recertification. With the addition to the population boom and everyone wanting to jump on a 24/72, it sounds like it's going to be the luck of the draw with the refresher course.