Louisiana Revised Statutes Tit. 33, § 2495.3. Recruit and recruit period; certain municipalities

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, in the cities of Baton Rouge, Bossier City, Houma, Lafayette, Shreveport, and Zachary, no person selected for appointment to an entry-level position in the classified service from the competitive firefighter employment list who has not successfully completed formal training as required by Subsection B of this Section shall begin the working test period. However, such person shall be employed by the appointing authority and reported as a recruit and shall immediately begin his formal training.

B. Formal training for a person selected for appointment to an entry-level position as a firefighter in the classified service shall mean the enrollment in and successful completion of a fire training academy provided for through the appointing authority. All persons selected for appointment to an entry-level position as a firefighter in the classified service shall successfully complete the fire training academy whether or not such person was certified as a Firefighter I in accordance with National Fire Protection Association Standard 1001 prior to his selection for appointment.

C. The fire training academy provided for in Subsection B of this Section shall be for a duration as determined by the appointing authority. Upon the successful completion of the fire training academy, the recruit shall immediately begin the working test period.

D. The appointing authority shall, within fifteen days, advise the board that the recruit has successfully completed the fire training academy and has begun the working test period as a probational firefighter.

E. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require that a person selected for appointment to an entry-level position as a firefighter in the classified service be terminated if he fails to enroll in or successfully complete the fire training academy as required by Subsection B of this Section.