Firefighting Academy

The St. Petersburg College Firefighting Academy prepares new firefighters for careers in local fire departments through Firefighting I and II vocational certificate programs. The Firefighter Academy is accredited by the Florida Bureau of Fire Standards and Training and is located at 5005 126th Avenue North in Clearwater.

Prior to entering SPC's Fire Academy, you must have completed Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic training. Firefighter I and II covers topics such as ladders, hoses, fire streams, ropes and knots, rescue, and ventilation. Students who complete Firefighter I and II can take the state competency examinations administered by the state Bureau of Fire Standards and Training.

The Fire Academy requires 450 hours of training and is usually offered several times a year as a full-time and part-time academy. The full-time academy lasts 12 weeks, while the part-time academy lasts 23 weeks. Find out more about specific start dates below. In-state tuition/lab fees for Firefighter I and Firefighter II combined is $3445.

The next part-time Fire Academy will begin April 1, 2008; and a full-time academy will begin April 7, 2008.

Please contact Gabrielle Bain as soon as possible if you are interested in either of these sessions at 727-572-5315.

Fire Science Technology Academic Degrees and Certificates

Fire Science In-Service

Emergency Administration and Management Academic Degrees and Certificates

Contact Gabrielle Bain in the Fire Academy and In-service Training Department for information and an appointment at 727-572-5315 or email bain.gabrielle@spcollege.edu.

1. Take the Physical Abilities Test (PAT)
The fee for this test is $36.48 and advanced registration is required. Please contact the program office at 727-572-5315 for test dates and registration information. You must pass the PAT to proceed to step 3.

2. Advisement
Contact Gabrielle Bain or James Terry at 727-572-5315.

3. SPC entry requirements:

• Complete the Application for Admission to the College
• Complete and mail High School/College Transcript Request Forms
• Take the College Placement Test at the Clearwater, Seminole, Tarpon Springs or St. Petersburg/Gibbs campus unless you have a college degree or have taken EMT at SPC.

4. State Certification Application

• Complete application packet for Firefighter Certification, available after student passes the PAT.
  
• Applicant must take completed application packet to the Fire Training Center on the dates announced at the PAT.

5. EMT Certification
Student must provide either:

• Proof of being a current Florida EMT or Paramedic OR
• If student does not have current certification, the student must verify current enrollment in an EMT Program and ensure they will have completed the EMT lecture, lab, and clinical components of the EMT Program prior to the first day of the Fire Academy.

CAUTION: Students attending an EMT Program at another institution must verify their schedule will allow for completion of at least 75% of the EMT Program and that there will not be an attendance conflict between the Fire Academy and their EMT program.

6. Registration Process

• Drop off completed packet to the Fire Training Center on the dates announced at PAT
• If accepted, the student will be contacted and must complete a registration form at the Fire Training Center.
• The student then registers and pays tuition at the Epicenter Business Office.

Fees & Financial Assistance

• In-state tuition/lab fees for Firefighter I and Firefighter II combined is $3445.
• Additional costs: Besides the tuition/lab fees are other costs students must cover for textbooks, uniforms, firefighter gear such as gloves, boots, and protective hood. All other protective gear will be supplied.
• Financial Assistance: Veteran's Benefits are available to those who qualify. Please contact Lawrence Hobbs in the Veterans Services Office at 727-341-7957 for more information. In addition, Florida Prepaid can be applied toward Fire Academy tuition. Since the Fire Academy is postsecondary adult vocational training, regular college credit financial assistance does not apply.

Length & Schedule of Firefighter Academies

Contact Gabrielle Bain to register for the next academy at 727-572-5315.

The Fire Academy requires 450 hours of training (after having completed Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic training).

The Fire Academy is offered three times each year in the following two formats:

• The full-time Fire Academy begins during the months of September and January, and meets Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for 12 weeks.


• The part-time Fire Academy begins during the month of April, and meets Tuesday and Thursday from 5 to 10 pm, and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for 23 weeks.