The Colorado Division of Fire Safety has stopped all firefighter certification tests and launched an investigation after they discovered a testing proctor may have provided advance copies of the tests to candidates.
The proctor, who assisted in giving the tests to the candidates, supposedly made copies of the tests and given them out before the actual exam, according to a DFS press release.
The DFS tests and certifies the training of firefighters in Colorado.
The proctor is believed to have copied the Firefighter I, Firefighter II, HazMat Operations and Fire Instructor I examinations.
Officials believe that the cheating may have begun within the last three years, although they do not know the specific date. They believe tests were given to no more than 100 candidates from multiple jurisdictions.
The DFS has suspended all examinations and has developed new versions of the test.
Before the testing compromise was discovered, DFS planned to implement a secure online testing system, and further changes may be made to the testing procedure depending on the findings of the investigation.
Mitchell Byars: 303-954-1698 or mbyars@denverpost.com
