West Virginia University Fire Service Extension (WVU-FSE) has joined a select number of training academies whose National Fire Academy (NFA) courses may be used for college credit.

The American Council on Education’s (ACE) College Credit Recommendation Service certified that WVU -FSE’s NFA courses are comparable to college-level courses and may be used as transfer credit at many colleges and universities.

WVU -FSE offers 43 NFA courses taught by 250 adjunct field instructors throughout the state.

An ACE team of content specialists, selected from college faculty, reviewed WVU -FSE to determine the consistency and integrity of the NFA courses the organization delivers. During the fall of 2005, the team collected information about facilities, courses, instructors, students and record-keeping.

Michael Caravasos, WVU -FSE’s certification specialist and a 25-year firefighter, was the contact for the accreditation review. Caravasos, who has a master’s degree in safety and environmental management, has taught at WVU -FSE since 1993.

Last year, WVU Fire Service Extension delivered educational programs to more than 17,500 emergency responders throughout West Virginia . Its focus on safety is part of the outreach initiatives of the WVU Extension Service. The major Extension initiatives being implemented in each of the state’s 55 counties are 4-H youth development; families and health; agriculture and natural resources; and community, economic and workforce development.

The NFA , which works to enhance the ability of emergency professionals to deal more effectively with fire and related emergencies, operates under the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency. NFA has taught more than 1,400,000 students since 1975.

For more details about WVU -FSE courses, contact Caravasos at 304-293-2106 or at West Virginia University Fire Service Extension, PO Box 6610 , Morgantown , WV 26506 -6610 .

Check the Internet for information about WVU -FSE atwww.wvu.edu/~exten/depts/fireserv/fireserv.htm