Fire Technology and EMS Program Overview

You bring the desire, motivation and a positive attitude, and we will provide you with the platform to acquire the knowledge, skills, and practical hands-on experience necessary for a successful career in the Fire Technology field.

Fire Technology Associate of Science Degree

The Fire Technology curriculum is planned to serve both as an in-service program and as a pre-employment two-year program for community college students aspiring to enter the field of firefighting. Fire Technology majors may be required to fulfill a tour of duty at a local fire station.

This degree is approved through the California Community College Chancellor's Office. Upon successful completion of this degree, you'll have the necessary skills, knowledge, and ability to enter the fire service or advance your career aptitude if already employed as a firefighter.

Firefighter 1 Certificate

Firefighter 1 prepares you to perform at the entry level in a volunteer or paid fire department as a firefighter in the State of California. This Academy adheres to the curriculum as required by the California State Fire Marshal’s Office (CAL-FIRE) for certification by their office as a "Certified Firefighter 1".

Certification is obtained only after successful completion of the Firefighter 1 Academy, and a minimum of six months full-time employment with an organized paid fire department, or twelve months of part-time employment with an organized volunteer fire department.

The Firefighter 1 Academy is an intense program including rigorous physical conditioning, as well as classroom and field training with the same tools and appliances used by the fire service. During the later portion of the academy, students earn a State Fire Marshal Certificate for Fire Control 3B as part of their Live Fire Training. The course also includes Emergency Medical Responder in which the students earn certification from the California Emergency Medical Services Authority.

Firefighter 2 Certificate

The Firefighter 2 certification entails advanced knowledge, skills and abilities gained only after the completion of the Firefighter 1 Academy and the required employment interval with an organized volunteer or paid fire department in the state of California.

The successful completion of this Firefighter 2 academy allows the student to operate at a "journeyman level" as a firefighter.

Wildland Firefighter Certificate

Students completing this certificate will have the basic firefighting training as required by the U.S. Forest Service and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for seasonal or permanent employment in firefighting. The focus of this academy is wildland fire control and safety in the wildland fire environment.

This Academy provides the students with all the required knowledge, skills, and abilities as required and dictated by the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) for a certificate required by those two wildland fire agencies for seasonal wildland firefighter employment.