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Requirements

There are a set of minimum requirements every member of KCSARA must adhere to in order to participate in mission activities.

Personal Training Records

Your personal training records are available here. Please periodically review this information and help us keep your records up-to-date.

Unit Training

Each of the member units within KCSARA establishes and holds their own training. Some of this unit training satisfies the minimum training required by KCSARA.

KCSARA Academy

Once or twice a year, KCSARA holds an academy which offers entry level classes and refreshers for the required courses, in addition to some educational electives.

Washington State SAR Conference

Once a year the Washington State Search and Rescue Conference is held. Hosted by different Washington counties, the conference rotates to a different county each year.

Mission Time

Some training requirements can be satisfied though participation in missions.

Third-party Courses

Some third-parties conduct training that satisfies the minimum training required by KCSARA.

Training Directors

Unit Training Directors and staff, this page is for you.

Required Training

In the State of Washington, search and rescue operations are the domain of the county law enforcement agency. Washington Administrative Code defines the training requirements for SAR volunteers. The King County Sheriffs Office (KCSO) is responsible for implementing a training program for SAR volunteers. KCSARA has been delegated the work of creating a program for KCSOs approval.

The Washington State SAR Coordinators Association (WSSARCA http://www.wssarca.org) delegated the SAR Volunteer Advisory Council (SARVAC http://www.wasarvac.org ) to identify and characterize the basic SAR volunteer training requirements. The current requirements were ratified by WSSARCA in 2011, targeted for complete implementation by Jan 1, 2015. KCSO has defined Jan 1, 2014 as the required implementation date. KCSARA is tasked to create program activities which satisfy the SAR volunteer requirements as defined by SARVAC and approved by KCSO.

Approved unit training, or third-party offerings, might satisfy some of these requirements.

WA SAR Volunteer Training Requirements

Everyone with a direct role in emergency and incident management and response, including volunteers, must take NIMS and ICS training. The amount of training depends on the person's position level in response operation.

These requirements are codified in Washington Administrative Code 118.04 and described in the Core Competencies v80 document available on the SARVAC website. The exact content, length, and refresher cycle has been interpreted through an agreement of King County Sheriff's Office.

Last updated on March 27, 2013.