# IFSTA HazMat First Responder 5 — user reviews

> 43 indexed App Store user reviews of IFSTA HazMat First Responder 5 by International Fire Service Training Association, rated 2.14/5 from 56 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ifsta-hazmat-first-responder-5/id1223149007/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ifsta-hazmat-first-responder-5/id1223149007.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 9 · 4★ 3 · 3★ 4 · 2★ 11 · 1★ 29

## Newest reviews (12 of 43)

### 2/5 — Courses ch:2

*2024-10-19*

Just purchased the courses and pg2 on the chapter 2 course won’t play the video and won’t let me see other slides. Can there be a fix? If not I would like my money back for courses and you can lock courses in my app. Bummed it happened first thing and afraid there is more courses that are not working correctly.

**Developer response:** Hi Mike_808, please contact support@ifsta.org for more information regarding refunds.

### 2/5 — Just use the book.

*2024-02-13*

This app is incredibly glitch on the phone and iPad. I can't use it at all. It constantly freezes. The practice exams have good information but it does not help with certification testing.. Better off just reading and studying the book. I won't be using another IFTSA app in my education..

### 2/5 — Audiobook is not complete at all.

*2023-04-01*

There are several chapters where they are missing half of the audiobooks. What am I paying $35 for when I am only getting half of the products.

### 2/5 — Audiobook inaccessible

*2022-07-09, version 2.1.2*

Really wanted to listen to the audiobook. On my iPhone X I couldn’t find a way to purchase. Bought the interactive course hoping that would give me access but it didn’t. Contacted IFSTA and they said they’d advise the developer. I checked in daily for a few weeks. My Hazmat course has come and gone and still no ability to buy the audiobook. In the mean time, I upgraded to an iPhone 13 but that didn’t help.
Why did they go through the expense of recording an audiobook if you can’t get it? I would buy it outside of the app but don’t see that option either.
Two stars only because of the container identification section.

**Developer response:** Hi Rafe, we appreciate your feedback. Our app development team is working on an update to resolve the issue of being unable to purchase the audiobook affecting some devices and we hope to have the update released soon. If you would like to speak to one of our support team members, please reach out to us at support@ifsta.org.

### 1/5 — Misleading pricing

*2021-12-15, version 2.1.2*

Paid $35 and I have access to  the chapter 1 quiz and a container quiz that’s about it. They want an additional $10 per chapter quiz? Or they are very unclear on pricing. Then there are additional study resources for an additional $20. Was hoping for supplemental study material to my book but this is not it.

**Developer response:** Hi Ski bum Ben, I apologize for the confusion. The exam prep cost is to unlock all chapters, not per chapter. If you would like to speak to a member of our team please reach out to support@ifsta.org.

### 2/5 — Review Deck Doesn’t Work

*2021-12-08, version 2.1.2*

Not sure why the review deck doesn’t work for this app when it does for other IFSTA apps. It adds all questions whether you missed them or got them right to the review deck, pointless. It’s a known issue going back to September and still not fixed. I can’t get past page two of the book either. The app is good for exam practice and identifying though and for the most part the questions line up with the pages in the book (few exceptions).

**Developer response:** Hi WA Fire, thank you for the feedback. We would like to work with you to troubleshoot the issues you are experiencing. Please contact us at support@ifsta.org so one of our team members can assist.

### 2/5 — The audiobook needs work

*2021-11-07, version 2.1.2*

I was happy to buy the audiobook because on the Essentials 7 app I was able to listen while on the go. The content in the audiobook is as expected but I am unable to listen to it if I lock my phone or move out of the app like I am with Essentials 7… not worth the money if you can’t use it as intended.

**Developer response:** Hi Mtrew, thank you for the feedback. The audiobook should play while the phone is locked and when the app is running in the background. I am passing this information on to our app development team to have this function updated. Please contact us at support@ifsta.org for further support.

### 1/5 — No Sound

*2021-10-09, version 2.1.2*

This goes for both of the fire fighter seven essentials app as well as the hazmat app. Can’t get sound on either app I have removed them ivory downloaded them… boo. Waste of money.

### 1/5 — Broken in many ways

*2021-09-25, version 2.1.2*

Be warned, the study deck feature is broken. It adds all questions to your review deck, not just those you get wrong, making the feature useless. The videos are also highly disappointing. They’re just poor reenactments of the text bullets, no depth whatsoever, and add nothing to your knowledge of the subject. App’s really only good to get exposure to questions in the test bank, but with a broken study deck, even that’s of low value.

**Developer response:** Mr. Mustachio, we appreciate your feedback. We were not aware the study deck was having issues. We will pass this on to our development team. We always appreciate feedback on our products, if you have any suggestions for making our videos more useful, please email us at support@ifsta.org.

### 2/5 — Audiobook

*2021-08-12, version 2.1.2*

Audiobook would be useful if it didn’t require my phone screen to stay on and stay open to the app.  Only audiobook program I’ve had where it won’t stay playing in the background, to include playing while my phone screen is locked.  Was super excited about the audiobook and instead it’s frustrating and a definite disappointment since I paid ~$35 for something that isn’t that useable.

### 1/5 — Not worth it.

*2021-07-13*

They want you to buy each section but the audio for any of it I’m won’t work? Lol I want my money back.

### 1/5 — Problems

*2021-07-12, version 2.1.1*

I’ve deleted and reinstalled several times now and the chapters I purchase foe the exam prep plus practice exams won’t unlock. Not sure what the problem is. Last time I used to app it was really help, not I can’t access the information and resources I’ve already paid.
Please help with this issue.

**Developer response:** Hi L2L104, I apologize for the delayed response. Please reach out to eProducts support at support@ifsta.org or 800-654-4055 for assistance with this issue.

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Audiobook inaccessibility

*2024-12-06*

I am extremely disappointed in this app. I paid for the audiobooks but non of them work properly. The app begins glitching out and I am unable to play any of the chapters. This problem should really be fixed- especially considering that the audiobooks alone are nearly $35.

**Developer response:** Hi Ncs21, please reach out to support@ifsta.org for additional help with the issues you are encountering. Additionally, make sure you have a strong internet connection while using our audiobooks or try downloading them for offline use.

### 1/5 — courses

*2023-08-21*

I paid to unlock all the chapter courses, but it’s basically power point slides & it will only set me see the first 1-2 slides of each section. text doesn’t fit on my phones screen & I can’t get to the “next button” even with ch. 1 & it’s free.

### 1/5 — 1001 review

*2022-12-16*

Some answer are just blatantly wrong, very poor choice to study with.

### 1/5 — Highly do not recommend

*2022-09-09, version 2.1.6*

I thought this was a good app to use but it did not help me in my test. I constantly would score 90’s & I studied 100 questions everyday & studied the DOT vehicles. & still scored bad on my hazmat awareness & OPS resulting in 60’s on both hazmat tests.

**Developer response:** Hi damibigbrown, our Exam Prep is designed to help you study the IFSTA materials that may appear on an exam. Different states have different exams which can be a combination of materials from multiple publishers. If you have further questions please reach out to our support staff at support@ifsta.org.

### 1/5 — Needed work before, new update nothing works

*2022-08-30, version 2.1.3*

Audiobook wouldn’t play in the background, you had to leave it open and your phone unlocked. None of the study features worked, adding questions to the study deck. I updated the app yesterday and now I can’t take any practice exams plus I had to re purchase everything. $50 is a lot of money for absolutely nothing, I hope you’re able to figure this out

**Developer response:** Hi ringo0719, thank you for your feedback, the issues you mentioned including the "restore purchase" error should now be fixed with the most recent update of this app. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please reach out to our support team if you are still experiencing any issues at support@ifsta.org.

### 1/5 — Can’t download audiobook

*2022-07-09, version 2.1.2*

Chapter one will play, any attempt to download the rest of the audiobook a pop up advices you to unlock access, but there is nowhere to unlock access. Also the screen must be open to listen to the audiobook. 

This app needs a lot of improvement.

**Developer response:** Hi Dwc76, thank you for providing feedback. Our app development team is working on an update to resolve these issues and we hope to have the update released soon. If you would like to speak with one of our team members please contact us at support@ifsta.org.

### 1/5 — Does function like other IFSTA apps

*2022-05-22, version 2.1.2*

The 5th edition hazmat app won’t play the audiobook in the background so the screen has to be on all the time while listening. And the practice exams save every question to the study deck instead of just the missed questions.

**Developer response:** Hi EVTfiremech, thank you for your feedback. Our App Development Team is working on an overhaul of this app to fix the issues you've described, and we hope the update will be available soon. If you would like to speak with someone from our team, please reach out to us at support@ifsta.org.

### 1/5 — Course Book doesn’t advance

*2022-03-08*

The chapters don’t advance past page 2. There is is no next button??

### 1/5 — Doesn’t Interface Correctly

*2022-01-03, version 2.1.2*

I purchased the interactive courses and can’t get passed page 2 of chapter one as it isn’t built to interface correctly. I would like a refund of the $20 I spent because I cannot access the content I paid for.

**Developer response:** Hi TrutH, thank you for the feedback. I have reported this issue to our app development team and we hope to have a resolution soon. To receive a refund, please visit Apple's "Report a Problem" page. Please reach out to us at support@ifsta.org for assistance.

### 1/5 — Purchased app and review deck not working…

*2022-01-03, version 2.1.2*

Review deck does not work. When you complete a chapter, it just has all of the chapter questions on it again, not just the incorrect.

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Great Study guide

*2022-10-26, version 2.1.6*

I bought this for the review questions for the hazmat exam. I found it to be very helpful. I liked how it saved the questions I got wrong for easy review later.

### 5/5 — New edition

*2022-08-18, version 2.1.2*

Will there be a new edition for the 6th edition of this book?

### 5/5 — Great

*2021-11-25, version 2.1.2*

I had a question, how close is the practice exams to the actual certification test? Haven’t had any issues with the app.

### 4/5 — Please fix

*2023-06-11*

I really like this app. The audio book is a big help. The interactive courses and test prep are awesome. But, the audio only works sometimes on the videos. It’s super frustrating. It works mor consistently with headphones. But not always.
It’s not a hardware issue, I’ve already trouble shot that. 
Ifsta!! Please fix! I have 2 of your apps and it’s the same on both.

### 4/5 — Purchased exam plus months ago, tried to restore purchases didn’t work with new phone

*2021-07-11, version 2.1.1*

Just curious if it is a one time buy or a continuous buy!?! Other than that the app works fine

**Developer response:** Hi Jake, It should be a one time buy. Your purchase does stay connected to your original account so make sure you are logging in with the same info. If you are still having issues with your already purchased items, please call customer support at 800-654-4055.

### 4/5 — Good but not Great

*2019-04-20, version 1.5.0*

Excellent help in terms of being quizzed and breaking down by chapters where you need help. Doesn’t get 5 starts because when you go into “Identify” for types of transportation it doesn’t tell you the answer when you get it wrong. So you’re stuck with not knowing what the right answer is....

### 3/5 — App Tips

*2022-06-28, version 2.1.2*

They app works well. It would be more helpful if the app’s container identifier also gave the names of the the trucks, i.e. MC 307/DT 407. Also I would like if the audio chapters would stay open after I lock my phone. It tends to cut off after when the screen go off. This would be more helpful because I like to listen to the chapters on my way to work. If you could fix those issues that would be great. Thank you

**Developer response:** Hi Fst Time Home Buyer, thank you for your feedback. Our app development team is working on an update to allow the audiobook to play in the background, we hope to have the update released soon. If you would like to speak with one of our team members please contact us at support@ifsta.org.

### 3/5 — Study deck

*2022-03-14, version 2.1.2*

I just wish the study deck would work… It doesn’t save just the wrong answers or selected questions but the whole test (there is no point in using study deck if you need to retake the whole test)

**Developer response:** Hi popisil, thank you for your feedback. I've passed this information on to our App Development Team for testing. If you would like to speak with someone from our team please reach out to us at support@ifsta.org.

### 3/5 — Made me pay more than it said.

*2021-12-10, version 2.1.2*

I went to buy the practice exams which said TEN DOLLARS and it charged me twenty.

### 3/5 — Good but needs work

*2019-05-23, version 1.5.0*

Thank you, IFSTA, for FINALLY getting us a study app for this newer edition of the book! I almost like this app better than the PADO/aerial app. I have found some questions which have incorrect answers in the app and a few reference page numbers have been a page off, but overall I really like it. It has helped me get through the final grind leading up to our promotional exam by making HazMat as “fun” as it can be. 
I like the visual recognition for container feature but wish it had some more/different pics and would like to see it give you feedback on what the correct answer is, if you miss it.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*