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Firefighter Minimum Standards

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Program Overview

Firefighter Minimum Standards, Occupational Certificate (O.C.)

This is a 492-clock-hour program consisting of Firefighter I & II designed to prepare the student for the state written and practical exams. Students will be eligible, following successful completion of the FF-I portion, to receive a Certificate of Completion which allows the firefighter to function in the ‘hot zone’ as a volunteer firefighter. Following successful completion of the FF-II portion, the student will be eligible to attempt the FF-II minimum standards written and practical exams. Successful completion of both the state written and practical exams will make the student eligible for a Letter of Compliance from the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training (BFST) which allows the candidate to be hired as an FF-II by departments within the state of Florida. The program may be completed within a single term (16 weeks) if done as a standalone program.

Review the guided degree pathway where you will find a detailed plan for your courses and other requirements each semester that prepare you for graduation and your transfer goals.

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College Catalog

Locations

Florida Gateway College’s Public Safety Training Center (Olustee campus)

Testing Entrance Requirements

Florida Basic Abilities Test

Physical Abilities Test, TABE, National Fire Selection Inventory (NFSI)

Hours

Classes meet 2 out of every 3 days, 7 days per week. Classes are held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Costs

  • Firefighter I Tuition: $540.75
  • Firefighter II Tuition: $851.45
  • Firefighter I Lab Fees: $680
  • Firefighter II Lab Fees: $1,588
  • Drug Screen: $38.00
  • Finger Prints: $50.00
  • Uniforms (variable depending on Student needs): $150.00
  • Physical Assessment Test (PAT): $50.00
  • Bunker Gear Rental: variable depending on vendor
  • Textbooks (Fundamentals of Fire Fighting & Hazardous Materials) $243.50
  • Total cost for combined program (bunker gear rental is not included): $4,191.70

95%

Completion Rate

98%

Job Placement Rate

99%

State Licensure Rate

Fire Labfire hose

Careers at a Glance

Starting Salaries

The average starting salary for Fire Fighters in Florida $26,000-45,000/yr. The average starting salary for Fire Fighters/Paramedics in Florida $32,000-60,000/yr.

Employment Opportunities

Certification as an FF-I enables the firefighter to function as a volunteer and participate in firefighting activities. FF-II certification allows the firefighter to function as a paid career firefighter within the state of Florida.

Career Services

Employers of FGC Graduates

  • Alachua County Fire Rescue
  • Baker County Fire Rescue
  • Bradford County Fire Rescue
  • Clay County Fire Rescue
  • Columbia County Fire Rescue
  • Dixie County Fire Rescue
  • Gilchrist County Fire Rescue
  • Hamilton County Fire Rescue
  • Jacksonville Fire Rescue
  • Levy County Fire Rescue
  • Madison County Fire Rescue
  • Marion County Fire Rescue
  • Miami Dade Fire Rescue
  • Nassau County Fire Rescue
  • Putnam County Fire Rescue
  • Suwannee County Fire Rescue
  • Chicago Fire Department
  • Fernandina Fire Department
  • Gainesville Fire Rescue
  • Lake City Fire Rescue
  • MacClenney Fire Department
  • MCAS 29 Palms Fire Department
  • Trenton Fire Department

Program Details

Admission Requirements
  • Be at least 18 years of age upon graduation from the program.
  • Have earned a high school diploma or equivalent (GED). 
  • Non-tobacco user for the last 12 months.
  • Must clear a criminal background check.
  • Must pass the medical screening physical.
  • Pass the entrance physical abilities test (PAT).
  • Must complete and pass a drug screening.
Admission Forms & Documents
Program Notes

This is a very physical program with long periods of heavy physical stress in extreme temperatures. Students will experience live fire conditions (Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH)) while wearing full firefighter bunker gear and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Students with intense claustrophobia may experience difficulty under these conditions. The academic portion is fast-paced and requires good time management and study skills. Students will be prepared to successfully complete both the written and practical exams administered by evaluators from the Florida Bureau of Fire Standards and Training of the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Learning Outcomes
  • Students shall be able to summarize fire department policies, procedures, and organizational principles as they apply to the expectations of entry-level fire department personnel.
  • Students will be able to apply firefighter safety and health practices through the selection and application of equipment for given firefighter tasks.
  • The student will be able to summarize the physical and chemical changes that occur with fire and understand the effects on common building materials.
  • Students will be able to identify and demonstrate knowledge of different sources of fire suppression, including portable fire extinguisher systems, static water sources, and pump operated systems.
  • Students will demonstrate their knowledge of strategies related to building searches, ventilation, ladder deployment, and fire attack tactics.
  • Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to communicate through written reports, radio transmissions, and face-to-face interactions.
Book List & Materials
  • Firefighter Minimum Standards
    • Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills & Hazardous Materials 4th ed, Jones & Bartlett pub, ISBN: 978-1-284-15133-6

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