Two and Four Year Degree Information -  Fire  Technology

Students at Chabot College have a choice of getting either a Certificate of Achievement or a two year (Associate of Arts) degree in Fire Technology.

NOTE: The only difference between a Certificate of Achievement in Fire Technology and an Associate of Arts (AA) Degree in Fire Technology is that the Certificate of Achievement does not require the 17.5 general education units and the AA requires the 17.5 general education units. Both the Certificate and the AA consist of the same core fire technology classes. However, I would encourage you to go for the two year degree as it looks better on your resume and shows more of a commitment to the fire service. A two year degree in anything is better than not having a two year degree when a fire department is comparing candidates.

- Certificate of Achievement in Fire Technology Information
- Associate of Arts Degree in Fire Technology Information
- Four Year Degree in Fire Technology (or closely related fields)

• The following requirements for a Certificate of Achievement in Fire Technology are effective Fall 2007

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT - FIRE TECHNOLOGY

The Fire Technology program is based on the Uniform Fire Service Technology curriculum as approved by the State Board of Fire Services and the California Fire Chiefs Association.  Successful completion of the program qualifies the pre-service student for State Firefighter 1 certification (pending completion of either 6 months experience as a full-time paid firefighter of 12 months of experience as a volunteer firefighter).  Classes are also offered for Fire Service personnel leading to various State certifications including Fire Officer, Fire Prevention Officer, and Public Education Officer.

* Suggested order for taking classes - Realize this is just a suggestion. If you can get into classes and you meet the prerequisites to do so, go for it. *

*Fire Technology 50, 51, 52 and Health 81 must be completed with a “C” or higher grade before acceptance to the Firefighter I Academy (Fire Technology 89, 90A, 90B, 90C).  A current EMT certificate will be accepted in lieu of Health 81. Fire Technology 89 must be completed with CR before student may register for 90A, 90B, 90C.

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A.A. DEGREE - FIRE TECHNOLOGY

• The following requirements for an Associate of Arts Degree in Fire Technology are effective Fall 2007

The Fire Technology program is based on the Uniform Fire Service Technology curriculum as approved by the State Board of Fire Services and the California Fire Chiefs Association.  Successful completion of the program qualifies the pre-service student for State Firefighter 1 certification (pending completion of either 6 months experience as a full-time paid firefighter of 12 months of experience as a volunteer firefighter).  Classes are also offered for Fire Service personnel leading to various State certifications including Fire Officer, Fire Prevention Officer, and Public Education Officer.

* Suggested order for taking classes - Realize this is just a suggestion. If you can get into classes and you meet the prerequisites to do so, go for it. *

*Fire Technology 50, 51, 52 and Health 81 must be completed with a “C” or higher grade before acceptance to the Firefighter I Academy (Fire Technology 89, 90A, 90B, 90C).  A current EMT certificate will be accepted in lieu of Health 81. Fire Technology 89 must be completed with CR before student may register for 90A, 90B, 90C.

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FOUR YEAR DEGREE IN FIRE TECHNOLOGY (or closely related fields)

If you ever think you may want to take a promotional examination during your fire service career (especially for the ranks of company officer (Lieutenant, Captain, etc.) and especially for Chief Officer (Battalion Chief, Division Chief, Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief, Fire Chief, etc.), I encourage you to obtain a four year degree. If it is not a minimum requirement to take a promotional examination (which it is in many departments), it will probably be a highly desirable qualification. Even if a four year degree is not a minimum requirement or something considered to be highly desirable, I would still encourage you to obtain a four year degree for the simple reason that many of your competitors will probably have a four year degree and the promotion may come down to who has the degree and who does not. Also, it is very common for entry-level firefighter candidates to be faced with competitors possessing a four year degree in anything. Having a four year degree does not mean you will be a great firefighter or that you are the best candidate for the position. What it does mean is that you are willing to finish something you start, you have made a commitment you are able to keep, and that you have hopefully learned and utilized knowledge, skills, and abilities that can be related to the fire service in various ways.

Here is a question I get asked on a regular basis, and how I usually answer the question:

Question:

I have completed my two year degree in fire technology and want to get a four year degree now. Should I also get it in fire technology?

Answer:

Definitely get your four year degree if you can make it work into your schedule, but I would encourage you to get it in a discipline that is not specifically fire related, but something more broader. Don’t get me wrong, a four year degree in something is better than a four year degree in nothing. But, if you have the choice, think about it and do what you think is appropriate. Here are my thoughts on what discipline it should be in and why:

1. Having a four year degree in fire can be considered too narrow or focused, even if you want to promote.
    
2. If you look at many chief officer job flyers across the country, they typically look for a four year degree (or higher) in fire, public administration, business administration, or any closely related field. Ok, when they say “closely related field,” to me that can almost mean anything, because any four year degree can be related to the fire service if you do it properly. As a chief officer, especially the higher up you go, they are looking for a more broader range of education to fall back on, not just specific to fire. They’re looking for people with a great knowledge of leadership, management skills, budgeting, people skills, communication skills, problem solving skills, team-building skills, just to name a few.
    
3. Get your four year degree in something that you find interesting and can also be marketable if you ever get injured on the job and are retired out at an early age (yes, that does happen) and have to find another job to pay the bills, or to use when you get retired. While a four year degree in fire might be great for the fire department (don’t get me wrong, it is still a good degree to have, but if you have the option….) trying to use it in the outside world to get a job is not going to provide you with many marketable skills. On the other hand, having a degree in business administration or some other similar field will leave you with many options.
    

Colleges offering four-year degree programs in fire technology (or closely related fields):

Cogswell College (Sunnyvale)
California State University Los Angeles
California State University Sacramento
Humboldt State University, California

Or, for a one-stop resource that includes colleges of all types from across the United States, check out  www.eduregistry.org

Also, visit our website links page to view other colleges that offer four year degrees in non-fire related fields.

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