Firefighter and EMT Combined Academy

Firefighter and EMT Combined Academy: 792 clock hours, full time approximately 6 months, at the Citrus County Public Safety Training Center. Industry Certifications: Florida Certified Firefighter & National Registry EMT. COE Accreditation, VA and Pell approval pending.

What You Will Learn: Fire Science & Fire Behavior; Fire Suppression; Firefighter Safety; Emergency Medical Response; Patient Assessment; Rescue Operations; Hazardous Materials Awareness; Emergency Scene Management.

Program. Firefighter and EMT Combined Academy is a 792-hour Career and Technical Education certificate program (Florida program number I120403) at Withlacoochee Technical College in Inverness. A certificate of completion and/or licensure eligibility is issued to each student who successfully completes the competencies and meets the basic skills requirement for the program.

Mission. It is the mission of each program in the Training Center to provide the highest level of ethical, modern, and practical training to current and future public safety professionals preparing them for the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Public Safety Training Center. The program is taught at the Citrus County Public Safety Training Center at WTC, an approved training site of the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). WTC is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, celebrating 41 years of accreditation.

Enrollment process. The enrollment process includes completing the online application, testing and counseling (if required), meeting with an advisor, and paying the nonrefundable enrollment fee. Student Services will arrange tours of the campus and/or appointments with instructors to view the classroom/shop areas.

Residency. Two forms of documentation providing at least 12 consecutive months of residency prior to enrolling, and a completed Residency Affidavit, are needed to qualify for in-state tuition. Honorably discharged veterans and other students using educational assistance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs may qualify for an out-of-state fee waiver.

Transfer of credit. Students who attended other accredited technical centers may submit copies of their records at the time of application; records are reviewed by counselors in conjunction with individual instructors to determine if credit can be transferred.

Eligibility requirements.

• 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

Admission. Admission to Fire and EMS training programs at the Public Safety Training Center may be limited based on course requirements, available seating, and applicable certification standards. All applications will be reviewed to ensure applicants meet the established eligibility requirements, and admission is not guaranteed until eligibility has been verified and enrollment has been confirmed.

Schedule. 792 Clock hours; Full Time: Approximately 6 months; two sessions per year (maximum hours per year 792).

Calendar. WTC uses a two-session calendar. The fall session, for most programs, starts in the beginning of August and ends in December; the spring session starts in January and ends in May. Short programs and licensure programs may start earlier or later than this schedule, and some programs, such as the Florida Law Enforcement Academy, are offered in the evenings and on weekends. Unless otherwise specified for the program, full-time post-secondary students attend class Monday through Friday with a scheduled 30-minute lunch break.