The Alexandria Fire Department's Professional Development Center (PDC), located at 1108 Jefferson Street, provides specialized training and education programs to members of the Fire Department.  The Center’s programs are conducted in the classroom environment, as well as in the practical setting.  One of the Center’s vocational learning tools includes a specialized Burn Building, located at 805 South Payne Street, which provides live fire training opportunities to Department personnel.    

The PDC’s staff consists of the Chief Learning Officer (Battalion Chief), Suppression Training Officer (Fire Lieutenant), Emergency Medical Services Training Officer (EMS Supervisor), and a Training Assistant. 

The Professional Development Center’s primary responsibilities include:

•  Training of newly hired Firefighters and Emergency Rescue Technicians.
•  Facilitating professional development classes and practical skills training.
• Management of the training records and professional standards
•  Facilitating Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Volunteer Fire Department training programs
  

Required Certifications

Medic/Emergency Rescue Technician I
Virginia State Emergency Medical Technician- Basic

Successful completion of recruit school

Medic/Emergency Rescue Technician II
Virginia State Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate

Medic/Emergency Rescue Technician III
Virginia State Emergency Medical Technician - Nationally Registered Paramedic

Firefighter I

NFPA firefighter I, II 
Virginia State Haz-Mat Operations
Virginia State EMT-B
Successful completion of recruit school

Firefighter II

Same as Firefighter I with addition:

Two years experience with Alexandria Fire Department as a FF-I
City of Alexandria Fire Department Inspector I
NFPA Driver/Operator of Emergency Vehicle
Virginia State Haz-Mat Operations
Virginia State EMT-Basic

Firefighter II/ Hazardous Material Team
Same as Firefighter II with addition of Virginia State Haz-Mat Technician

Firefighter II/ Technical Rescue
Same as Firefighter II with addition of Alexandria Fire Department certifications in:
Rope I
Rope 2
Vehicle Extrication
Confined Space Trench/Building Collapse

Required Training
Suppression companies generally participate in two hours of drill time every day they work. Company evaluations are performed on a quarterly basis and are monitored by the Field Training Assistants and Training Academy personnel. Live Fire training is scheduled twice a year in the months of April and October.

Emergency Rescue Technicians II & III are required to obtain seventy-five hours of continuing medical training in a two year period to maintain their certification. Quarterly drills are arranged by the EMS Training Coordinator.