Fire Fighter is a Certificate program offered by Ridge Technical College in Winter Haven, FL. The program takes 492 clock hours to complete, with a total tuition of $1,437.
Program Overview
Fire Fighter – 492 hours. The Firefighter Minimum Standards Class Program is designed to prepare individuals for employment in the fire service. The course provides the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform duties of a firefighter safely and effectively, in accordance with the state standards.
This 492-hour program is based on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001: Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, covering both Firefighter I and Firefighter II levels. The program includes classroom instruction, hands-on practical training, and live fire exercises that simulate real-world emergency situations.
What sets this Program apart
Live fire training. The program includes classroom instruction, hands-on practical training, and live fire exercises that simulate real-world emergency situations.
Firefighter content. The firefighter program content includes orientation to fire service, fire alarms and communication, vehicles, apparatus and equipment, fire behavior, portable extinguishers, fire streams, fundamentals of extinguishment, ladders, hoses, tools and equipment, forcible entry, salvage, overhaul, ventilation, rescue, protective breathing equipment, first responder emergency medical techniques, water supplies, principles of in-service inspections, safety, controlled burning and employability skills.
Admission Requirements and Process
Eligibility. Be a high school graduate or the equivalent; be at least 18 years of age; pass a background check as determined by the Florida Division of State Fire Marshal (Florida Statute ch. 633.412(2)); have a good moral character; be in good physical condition; be a non-user of tobacco products for one year; and hold an Emergency Medical Responder Certificate.
Open enrollment. The program is offered during Spring and Fall Semesters. Open enrollment dates: Spring - January 2nd or the following business day; Fall - July 1st or the following business day.
Important note. Applying online does not guarantee class enrollment. Prospective students must complete all “Required Application Steps”, including submission of required documents and medical clearance. Only candidates who meet all criteria will receive an official acceptance letter into the program.
General Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalentBe a high school graduate or the equivalent.
- AgeBe at least 18 years of age.
- Background checkPass a background check as determined by the Florida Division of State Fire Marshal (Florida Statute ch. 633.412(2)).
- Good moral characterHave a good moral character.
- Physical conditionBe in good physical condition and pass the Physical Agility Test.
- TobaccoBe a non-user of tobacco products for one year.
- Emergency Medical Responder CertificateHold an Emergency Medical Responder Certificate.
- Medical exam and drug screenTurn in the complete package, including a medical exam and negative drug screen, by the due date provided at the mandatory meeting.
Application Process
- 1Fill out the pre-application formFill out the pre-application form at the academy during open enrollment (Spring - January 2nd; Fall - July 1st, or the following business day).
- 2Attend the mandatory meetingAttend the mandatory meeting, where the due date for the complete package is provided.
- 3Turn in the complete packageTurn in the complete package, including medical exam and negative drug screen, by the due date provided at the mandatory meeting.
- 4Pass the Physical Agility TestPass the Physical Agility Test. After all steps have been met, students will be accepted into the academy.
- 5Ask about the next academyUse Request Information to ask about the next Fire Academy class.
Program Schedule
Class times at Ridge Technical College, 7700 State Road 544, Winter Haven, FL.
- Monday-Friday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Semesters. The program is offered during Spring and Fall Semesters, with open enrollment from January 2nd and July 1st (or the following business day).
Attendance. An adult student may be withdrawn from school if the student is absent five (5) consecutive days and has not initiated a Leave of Absence request or misses 45 hours in a semester. Attendance requirements in programs that lead to licensure may be stricter than the Colleges’ overall attendance policy.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name |
|---|---|
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
Ridge Technical College is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE).
All programs offered at the college are approved by the Florida Department of Education and most are approved by the Bureau of State Approving for Veterans’ Training, Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and the U.S. Department of Education.
Accreditations
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Published program cost. The program page lists the cost at Ridge as FL Resident: $5,260; Non-Resident: $10,785. Of the Florida-resident figure, tuition at $2.92 per clock hour is $1,436.64; the rest covers program costs such as lab fees, books, uniforms, certification and licensure, student organization and background or medical requirements, which vary by program.
Tuition and residency. The Polk County School Board, within the guidelines set forth by the Florida Legislature, approves tuition fee schedules for Ridge & Traviss Technical Colleges. For Florida residents, tuition fees for a workforce Education Certificate Program are assessed at a rate of $2.92 per hour. Non-Florida residents are assessed a rate of $14.15 per hour. A student must live in the state of Florida for twelve (12) months before establishment of Florida Residency.
Additional costs. Additional costs include purchase of all required texts, uniforms, shoes, and license or certification fees, where appropriate, and certain personal materials, tools and equipment as determined by the area of training. A criminal background check and drug screening is required on some programs. All students are given the basic student accident insurance through a carrier approved by the Polk County School Board.
Application fee. Students pay a $30 non-refundable application fee.
Financial aid. Financial aid is available for all students who qualify and enroll in an approved technical college education training program. The financial aid offered at the college consists of Title IV Federal Pell Grant, Florida Student Assistance Grant, Florida Work Experience Program, Florida Bright Futures Scholarship, Student Financial Aid Fund, private scholarships, and assistance. Nearly 90% of our students qualify for some form of financial aid. Ridge Technical College’s Federal School Code is 015780.
Open Door Grant. The Open Door Grant is available at Ridge and Traviss Technical College for short-term and technical education credentialing courses: the student is responsible for the first one-third of the tuition at the time of enrollment, and the Open Door Scholarship Program pays the remaining two-thirds if the student successfully completes the course and provides the results of their industry certification.
Refunds. If a class is canceled, a student’s enrollment is denied, or a student withdraws on or prior to the first class, tuition is refunded 100% and all fees except the application fee. If a student withdraws after the first-class meeting, tuition is refunded 75% and fees are not refunded. No refunds will be provided after the fifth (5th) class meeting.
Curriculum
Total Program Length: 492 Hours. The program includes the following courses, grouped by Occupational Completion Point (OCP).
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Total |
|---|---|---|
Career Outcomes
Career outlook. The Firefighter Minimum Standards Class Program is designed to prepare individuals for employment in the fire service.
Wages. The average annual pay for a Firefighter EMT in Florida is $29,496 a year, approximately $14.18 an hour.
Licensure and certification. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to take the practical and written exam to become a Florida Certified Firefighter. After successfully completing this program, students will be eligible to take the Florida Bureau of Fire Standards and Training test to become a certified Fire Fighter. This test is required to work as a Fire Fighter in the state of Florida.
Credential. Certificates of Completion are awarded after completing 100% of the total standard hours of a career education program; an Occupational Completion Point (OCP) Accomplishment Award marks an exit point prior to program completion.
What to expect as a Ridge Technical College student
Director’s welcome. For nearly five decades, we’ve empowered our community through more than 20 cutting-edge technical programs, strong corporate and industry partnerships, and unique continuing-education opportunities. Each of our programs is built on state-aligned frameworks and industry standards, ensuring that graduates leave fully equipped to earn professional certifications or licenses that employers value.
Instructors. Behind every course stands a team of certified instructors who are not only specialists in their fields but also bring years of real-world experience and deep connections with local businesses.
Mission and vision. Ridge Technical College will assess, prepare, and place individuals in successful and rewarding careers in an increasingly competitive and changing employment market. Ridge Technical College will be Polk County’s premier workforce training institution.
Your own pace. Programs are designed to accommodate your needs by allowing entrance at various times, working at your own pace, and exiting when training and specific job skills are completed. Counseling, career assessment and job placement are also provided.
Career counseling and job placement. The counselors, instructors, social workers, and staff in the Student Services Department are available to assist you with program information and career counseling. Ridge offers job placement assistance to both high school and adult students. Assistance is also offered through CareerSource Polk, Occupational Advisory Committees and the School Advisory Council.
Student organizations. To enrich your career education training program, you are encouraged to join the appropriate student organization which applies to your program area: the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) and SkillsUSA.
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