Purpose Statement

This article provides instructions for configuring Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) and Custom Code Types within the First Due Evaluations module.

AHJ Configuration allows agencies to manage certifying authorities and associate relevant organizational codes with Evaluations. This helps agencies maintain consistent evaluation standards and align evaluations with applicable certification requirements, policies, and procedures.

Background Information

Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) represent organizations that may certify an Evaluation.

AHJs are shared between the Evaluations and Training modules in First Due and can be created from either location.

For agencies based in the United States, First Due includes preloaded state-level Fire and EMS AHJs that can be added to the agency's configuration.

Agencies can also:

• Create custom AHJs when the required organization is not available in the preloaded list.
• Create standalone Custom Code Types for organizational policies and procedures.
• Associate Code Types directly with specific AHJs.
• Edit or delete existing AHJs.

Code Types represent organizational or jurisdictional codes, such as Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs) or Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), that can be associated with Evaluations.

Required Permissions

Users must have appropriate access to the Evaluations module and its Setup > AHJ Configuration section to complete the actions described in this article.

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Step-by-Step Guide

Navigate to AHJ Configuration

• Navigate to Evaluations in First Due.
• Select Setup.
  • From the left side of the Setup menu, select AHJ Configuration.

Add a Preloaded AHJ

Select Add Authority Having Jurisdiction. A modal will appear displaying the available preloaded AHJs.

• For US-based agencies, state-level Fire and EMS AHJs are included.
• Use the Search field at the top of the modal to locate a specific AHJ.
• Use the available Filters to narrow the displayed results.

1. Select the desired AHJ from the list.
2. Select Add to add the AHJ to your agency's configuration.

Step 3: Create a Custom AHJ

If the desired AHJ is not available in the preloaded list, a custom AHJ can be created.

1. Select Add Authority Having Jurisdiction.
2. At the bottom of the modal, select Create New.

• Complete the following fields:
  1. Authority Name: Enter the name of the certifying organization.
  2. Authority Type: Select the appropriate authority type (This is a multi select list)
  3. Jurisdiction Level: Select the appropriate jurisdiction level.
     • Depending on the selected Jurisdiction Level, additional information may be required:
       • State: An additional dropdown appears to select the respective state.
       • Custom: A free-text field appears to describe the custom jurisdiction level.
  4. Enter an optional Description to provide additional details about the AHJ.
  5. Select Save to create the custom AHJ.

Create a Standalone Custom Code Type

Custom Code Types allow agencies to define organization-specific codes, such as SOGs and SOPs, for use in Evaluations.

• From AHJ Configuration, select Add Custom Code Type.
• A modal will appear with the following fields:
  1. Code Type Name: Enter the name of the organizational code type.
  2. Short Code: Enter an abbreviated identifier for the code type.
  3. Description (Optional): Enter additional information describing the code type.

• Select Save.

  The Custom Code Type will be created as a standalone Code Type, without being directly associated with an AHJ.

Add a Code Type to an Existing AHJ

Code Types can also be created within individual AHJs to establish a direct association.

From AHJ Configuration, locate the AHJ you want to configure.

• Within the respective AHJ, select Add Code Type.
• Complete the fields:
  1. Code Type Name
  2. Short Code
  3. Description (Optional)
• Select Save.

• The new Code Type will be added as an associated Code Type under the selected AHJ.

Edit an Existing AHJ

• Navigate to Evaluations > Setup > AHJ Configuration.
• Locate the AHJ you want to modify.
• Select the Pencil icon associated with that AHJ.
• Update the necessary information.
• Save the changes.

Delete an Existing AHJ

• Locate the AHJ you want to remove.
• Select the Trash icon associated with that AHJ.
• Acknowledge the Confirmation modal

Best Practices

• Review preloaded AHJs first: Search the existing AHJ directory before creating a custom entry to avoid unnecessary duplicates.
• Use consistent naming conventions: Establish a standard naming format for custom AHJs and Code Types to make them easier to identify.
• Select the correct jurisdiction level: Ensure that AHJs are configured with the appropriate jurisdiction level to accurately represent the certifying organization.
• Use descriptions when appropriate: Descriptions help other administrators understand the purpose of custom AHJs and Code Types.
• Distinguish standalone and associated Code Types: Create standalone Code Types for agency-specific policies and procedures. Create associated Code Types when they need to be linked directly to a particular AHJ.
• Coordinate changes between modules: Because AHJs are shared between Evaluations and Training, review configuration changes with the appropriate Training administrators.
• Review existing AHJs before deleting: Ensure an AHJ is no longer required before removing it from the configuration.

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Q: What is an AHJ?

An Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) is an organization that may certify an Evaluation. AHJs help agencies identify the authorities associated with their evaluation processes.

Q: Are AHJs shared between Evaluations and Training?

Yes. AHJs are shared between the Evaluations and Training modules and can be created from either location.

Q: Do I need to manually create state Fire and EMS AHJs?

No. For US-based agencies, First Due includes preloaded state-level Fire and EMS AHJs that can be added directly from the AHJ selection modal.

Q: What if I cannot find the AHJ I need?

Use the Search field and available Filters to review the preloaded AHJs. If the desired AHJ is not available, select Create New to create a custom AHJ.

Q: What happens when I select State or Custom as the Jurisdiction Level?

Selecting State displays an additional dropdown for choosing the respective state. Selecting Custom displays a free-text field for describing the custom jurisdiction level.

Q: What is the difference between a standalone Code Type and an AHJ-associated Code Type?

A standalone Code Type is created using Add Custom Code Type and is not directly associated with an AHJ.

An AHJ-associated Code Type is created by selecting Add Code Type within a specific AHJ, establishing an association between the Code Type and that AHJ.

Q: Can I use my agency's SOPs and SOGs as Code Types?

Yes. Custom Code Types can represent organizational codes, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs).

Q: Can I edit an AHJ after creating it?

Yes. Locate the AHJ in AHJ Configuration and select the Pencil icon to modify its information.

Q: How do I delete an AHJ?

Locate the AHJ in AHJ Configuration and select the Trash icon. Follow any additional system prompts to complete the action.

Q: Why can't I access AHJ Configuration?

Your account may not have the necessary access to the Evaluations Setup section. Contact your agency's First Due administrator to review your assigned role and permissions.