Retention of firefighter and volunteer firefighter certifications.

(1) In order for a firefighter to retain her or his Firefighter Certificate of Compliance or Special Certificate of Compliance, every 4 years he or she must meet the requirements for renewal provided in this chapter and by rule, which must include at least one of the following:

(a) Be active as a firefighter. As used in this section, the term “active” means being employed as a firefighter or providing service as a volunteer firefighter as evidenced by the individual’s name appearing on a fire service provider’s employment roster in the Florida State Fire College database or a letter by the fire service provider attesting to dates of employment.

(b) Maintain a current and valid fire service instructor certificate, instruct at least 40 hours during the 4-year period, and provide proof of such instruction to the division, which proof must be registered in an electronic database designated by the division.

(c) Before the expiration of the certificate, successfully complete a Firefighter Retention Refresher Course consisting of a minimum of 40 hours of training to be prescribed by rule.

(d) Before the expiration of the certificate, successfully retake and pass the Minimum Standards Course examination pursuant to s. 633.408.

(2) In order for a volunteer firefighter to retain her or his Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of Completion, every 4 years he or she must:

(a) Be active as a volunteer firefighter; or

(b) Successfully complete a refresher course consisting of a minimum of 40 hours of training to be prescribed by rule.

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to state-certified firefighters who are certified and employed full-time, as determined by the fire service provider, as firesafety inspectors or fire investigators, regardless of their employment status as firefighters or volunteer firefighters.

(4) The 4-year period begins upon issuance of the certificate or separation from employment.

(5) A certificate for a firefighter or volunteer firefighter expires if he or she fails to meet the requirements of this section.

(6) The State Fire Marshal may deny, refuse to renew, suspend, or revoke the certificate of a firefighter or volunteer firefighter if the State Fire Marshal finds that any of the following grounds exists:

(a) Any cause for which issuance of a certificate could have been denied if it had then existed and had been known to the division.

(b) A violation of any provision of this chapter or any rule or order of the State Fire Marshal.

(c) Falsification of a record relating to any certificate issued by the division.

The 4-year period may, in the discretion of the department, be extended to 12 months after discharge from military service if the military service does not exceed 3 years, but in no event more than 6 years from the date of issue or renewal, if applicable, for an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces or the spouse of such a veteran. A qualified individual must provide a copy of a military identification card, military dependent identification card, military service record, military personnel file, veteran record, discharge paper, or separation document that indicates such member is currently in good standing or such veteran is honorably discharged.