FAQs

Click this link to view step by step instructions on how to create a PA Train Account. https://www.canva.com/design/DAFsd3KwozY/rMDRMOpdUn1WUHPY_JnGMQ/view?utm_content=DAFsd3KwozY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=viewer

LESTA has implemented a No Show Policy for students attending LESTA sponsored courses. I attached the policy and Chief Authorization form to this email and can also be found on our new website (www.lestafire.org). We have been seeing an uptick in no call no shows to our sponsored trainings. This policy will hold the student and department more accountable for actually attending the training that LESTA is paying for to host. We get a lot of requests for training and everyone wants classes but if people sign up and don’t show that is putting us in a bind as recently one class was canceled that day because not enough people showed up when we had more than enough pre-registered. So here is a summary of that will happen if the student no call no shows:

Escalation of Punishment:

•     First Offense:

o  Written warning to the student & $25 fee issued to the fire department.

•     Second Offense:

o  Double the original fee ($50) imposed on the fire department.

o  Meeting with the student, fire department representative, and LESTA administration to discuss

the repeated absence.

•     Third Offense:

o  Suspension of the student from all future LESTA Sponsored training classes for a period to be

determined by LESTA.

o  Increased penalty fee of $100 for both the student and the fire department.

•     Fourth Offense:

o  Expulsion of the student from taking LESTA Sponsored Classes.

o  Loss of training privileges for the fire department with LESTA Sponsored Classes for a specified

period.

• Penalty fee of $200 for the fire department.

If a student no shows LESTA will be invoicing the sponsoring department a “fine” for that student.

ALL students beginning August 1st 2024 will need to submit a Student enrollment form (attached) to attend a LESTA sponsored class. They will need to get there chief officer to sign the document and submit it to us. This is the ONLY way students will be allowed to attend a training. Any student who registers on PA Train and does not submit the Authorization form will not be allowed to attend the class. Going forward if a department wants to host a class, LESTA will be handling the registrations and we will continue to use PA Train as our LMS platform. There will be instructions attached on our FAQ page on how to create an account if they do not have one.

How will a student know if they need to submit an authorization form for a class listed on our new website? See the attached screen shot. There will be a button on the right hand side of the screen that says authorization required. Click on that button and that will take them to a page where the form can be downloaded and then submitted once filled out and signed. You may also simply just email me the completed form as well.

The department chief & President will be emailed an invoice from LESTA's Quickbooks Account. You can either write a check made payable to "LESTA" or pay via a credit card through the emailed invoice. Questions regarding invoices can be directed to LESTA's treasurer at eminnich@lestafire.org. The no show policy will take affect August 1st 2024. 

FEMA Student IDs and Course Transcripts

The FEMA Student Identification (SID) number is a unique number generated and assigned to anyone who needs or is required to take training provided by a FEMA organization. 

• FEMA SIDs (log in, retrieve, look up, FAQs)

The EMI Student Self-Service Portal allows you to print or download Independent Study (IS) Completion Certificates, Student IS Transcripts (for personal or employer use) and Official IS Transcripts (for educational institutions only).

• EMI Student Portal

Email fireschool@bucks.edu to request your certificate or to let them know of an error or issue with an issued certificate. All classes not facilitated by Bucks Community College please contact the LESTA Training coordinator at jlight@lestafire.org with your inquiry. 

ACADIS Portal
 

The ACADIS portalOpens In A New Window is where members of the Pennsylvania fire service can:
 

• View and register for trainings
   
• Check enrollment/wait list status
   
• Print transcripts and duplicate certificates
   
• See statewide testing opportunities
   
• Share training histories with your organization's training officer
   
• Participate in online trainings.
  
   

Account Setup

If you've already attended training from the State Fire Academy, you should have received log-in information in your email. Check your inbox and any junk/spam folders.
 

Request portal access Opens In A New Window  if you cannot find your invitation email or have not trained with us before.

Need Help?

Email us for help with your ACADIS account.

Purpose
This job aid will guide prescreened students through the FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI) “L” (indirect/local) course application process. After screening, students are directed to the NETC Online Admissions Application system. They then enter the courses coupon code and complete the student application process.
 

General Information
The National Fire Academy and the Emergency Management Institute have transitioned to an online admissions system. The online admissions application can be found here:
NETC Online Admissions Application
(https://training.fema.gov/generaladmissionsapplication)
 

If a student has any issues or questions regarding the online admissions system or the process, please contact:
NETC Admissions Department
(301)447-1035
NETCAdmissions@fema.dhs.gov
 

If a student has any issues with the FEMA Student Identification System (SID) system, please contact:
FEMA SID Help Desk
(866)291-0696
femasidhelp@cdpemail.dhs.gov
Hours of Operation: 7:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. CST
Website: FEMA Student Identification (SID) System (https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid/#intro)

Any questions or issues with invoices or bills from a Bucks Community College Class should be emailed to psfinancials@bucks.edu. 

No, unfortunately, we do not have copies. We can send you a transcript showing the classes you have taken at Bucks County Community College. You must complete a Transcript Request Form.

Exception: If you have lost an IFSAC or ProBoard certificate issued by the Bucks County Community College, these can be replaced, however there is a replacement fee of $15 per certificate. Please contact the Certification Office at email PSCertification@bucks.edu for more information.

The International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) and National Professional Qualifications Board (ProBoard) are independent organizations that examine and accredit training and testing agencies. What this means is that an outside, independent source has examined our tests and testing processes and determined that our test can accurately examine candidates on each aspect of a standard, such as NFPA 1001. Your successful completion of the certification exam means that you will receive a certificate and be registered with IFSAC and/or ProBoard as having demonstrated your competency in that discipline.

Purpose: This policy outlines the procedures and consequences for students who fail to attend scheduled training classes at the Lehigh Emergency Services Training Academy (LESTA). The objective is to ensure the commitment of students to their training obligations and the efficient utilization of resources.
 

1. Enrollment Requirement:
Students must submit a LESTA Student Enrollment Form signed by a chief officer of their department before attending training classes.
The enrollment form must certify the following requirements:
The firefighter listed below has medical clearance to use Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), in accordance with 29 C.F.R. part 1910.
The firefighter listed below is authorized to use SCBA and participate in interior/exterior firefighting evolutions.
The student meets the qualifications and age requirements to attend, including all necessary prerequisites. Copies of certificates must be brought to the first day of class.
The student is covered by their company’s Workers’ Compensation Insurance or their own Health and Medical Insurance while attending any course sponsored by the Bucks County Community College / Lehigh Emergency Services Training Academy.
The student will abide by all rules and regulations established by the Bucks County Community College and the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy.
The student will abide by 29 CFR 1910.134 and the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy for being clean-shaven for classes requiring the use of APR or SCBA.
The student will be responsible for paying any tuition and/or fees associated with the course, unless otherwise notified by the sponsoring Organization/Employer listed in Section above.
Junior Firefighters (age 17 and under) will abide by all regulations under the Pennsylvania Child Labor Laws and will not register for or participate in any class with drills involving live fire or smoke generated by live fire.
The student has never been convicted of an offense that constitutes the crime of “arson and related offenses” under 18 Pa.C.S §3301 or any similar offense under any Federal or state law. The student hereby certifies that the statements contained herein are true and correct to the best of their knowledge and belief.
 

2. Absence from Training Classes:

Students are expected to attend all scheduled training classes punctually.
In case of unavoidable circumstances preventing attendance, students must notify the Training Coordinator at least 24 hours in advance.
 

3. Penalty for Absence:
A fee of $25 will be imposed on their affiliated fire department for each instance of unexcused absence.
Payment of the fee is required within 30 days of the class end date.

4. Escalation of Punishment:

First Offense:
Written warning to the student & $25 fee issued to the fire department.

Second Offense:
Double the original fee ($50) imposed on the fire department.
Meeting with the student, fire department representative, and LESTA administration to discuss the repeated absence.

Third Offense:
Suspension of the student from all future LESTA Sponsored training classes for a period to be determined by LESTA.
Increased penalty fee of $100 for both the student and the fire department.

Fourth Offense:
Expulsion of the student from taking LESTA Sponsored Classes.
Loss of training privileges for the fire department with LESTA Sponsored Classes for a specified period.
Penalty fee of $200 for the fire department.
 

5. Appeal Process:
Students and fire departments may appeal penalty decisions in writing within 7 days of notification.
Appeals will be reviewed by a designated committee within LESTA, and decisions will be final.
 

6. Record Keeping:
LESTA will maintain records of student attendance and penalties imposed for reference and future evaluation.
 

7. Effective Date:
This policy is effective immediately upon approval and supersedes any previous policies on the matter.
 

8. Review and Modification:
This policy will be reviewed annually and may be modified as deemed necessary by LESTA administration.
 

Acknowledgement: By enrolling in the Lehigh Emergency Services Training Academy, students and affiliated fire departments acknowledge their understanding and acceptance of this policy regarding attendance and penalties for non-compliance.

To ensure the efficient use of training resources and facilities, LESTA has established the following cancellation and no-show policy. This policy applies to all requests for uses of the following training ground facilities, Allentown, Emmaus & Whitehall. 

Out-of-County Departments

Cancellations: Cancellations made less than 7 days prior to the scheduled request will result in

loss of the deposit.

No-Show: Failure to attend a scheduled request without prior notice will result in loss of the

deposit. In addition, facilitators will be guaranteed three (3) hours of pay at $18/hr, which will be

charged to the department plus an additional $150 billed to the department. 

Lehigh County Departments

Cancellations: Cancellations made less than 7 days prior to the scheduled request will result in a

$100 fee billed by LESTA.

No-Show: Failure to attend a scheduled request without prior notice will result in a $250 fee billed

by LESTA.

Billing Determination: All cancellation-related billing will be reviewed and determined on a

case-by-case basis by LESTA.

Revenue Sharing

Any monetary amount collected under this policy (fees, deposits, or penalties) will be split 50/50

between LESTA and the Training Ground Facility.

Acknowledgement

By requesting to book one of the three training grounds facilities, the department acknowledges and agrees to abide by this No-Show and Cancellation Policy.

Adopted by the Board of Directors at the October 8th 2025 meeting.

The Bucks County Community College Department of Public Safety Training and Certification will be implementing a new tuition and registration structure effective January 1, 2026.

Key Updates:

 The Training Membership Program (TMP) previously used for purchasing training hours will be discontinued.

A per-student tuition model will take its place, outlined as follows: Per Student Registration Fee: $30.00 (applies to all classes)

 National Certification Written Exam: $25.00

 National Certification Practical Skills Fee: $225.00

 Online Course Technology Fee: $5.00 (applies to all online course sections) National Certification Retest Fee: $25.00

 Additional product fees may apply for classes held at Bucks County Community College training facilities.

We are also excited to introduce Campus Marketplace, our new electronic registration and records platform. This system will allow students to self-register and pay for courses online, with immediate access to class details and confirmation.

Payment Information:

Tuition fees will be due at the time of registration. Accepted forms of payment include credit cards and checks. Please note that credit card payments are subject to a 2.95% processing fee. For transactions under $100, a flat $2.95 processing fee will apply.

Departments should continue to coordinate with their Regional Field Director to align class offerings with local training needs and scheduling priorities.

If you have any questions about the new tuition structure or Campus Marketplace, please contact the Public Safety Training Department at fireschool@bucks.edu or 610.227.5467