If you are interested in being a firefighter in Texas, but you don’t really know how to start, what it entails, or the academies you need to go to, then you are in the right place. You would find the best 10 Texas firefighter academies in 2024.
Every year, firefighting jobs become increasingly competitive. Before you start applying for positions as a firefighter, you want to make sure you have the greatest available training.
Finding the finest fire academies can be difficult depending on the area you want to work in. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best ten most popular firefighter academies in Texas.
Before we dig into the criteria of each academy, it’s crucial to know that the market for firefighters is different than the market for a traditional job application.
That’s because the fire departments to which you’re applying may have various hiring preferences and qualifications.
Table of contents
- What is a Fire Academy?
- Why Attend a Fire Academy in Texas?
- Which Body Accredits Fire Academies in Texas?
- How Many Firefighter Academies are in Texas?
- How Long Does it Take to Become a Firefighter in Texas?
- How Much is a Firefighter School in Texas?
- Requirements to Join the Fire Academy in Texas?
- What are the 10 Best Fire Academies in Texas?
- 1. Texas Fire Academy
- 2. North Texas Fire Academy
- 3. Training Division Fire Academy
- 4. El Paso Fire Department Training Academy
- 5. Austin Fire Academy
- 6. Fire Training Academy
- 7. Houston Fire Department Val Jahnke Training Facility
- 8. Community Volunteer Fire Department Training Center
- 9. TEEX Brayton Fire Training Field
- 10. Desoto Fire Training
- Conclusion
- References
What is a Fire Academy?
A fire academy is an academy set up to teach students the skills and knowledge of a firefighter. These academies set fire to buildings to conduct drills with their students.
Fire Academy is comprised of academic classes, physical conditioning, EMT knowledge, and manipulative firefighting skills. Most of them would require that you are between the ages of 18 and 45, and have a high school degree or its equivalent.
This program is designed to meet the dynamic challenges of fire department needs for pre-service recruits in the 21st century and enable students to successfully become employed by fire departments throughout the state of Texas.
The program goal/objective of the Fire Academy is to provide an academic, behavioral, physical, and manipulative skills base to enable a student upon graduation to successfully compete for a Firefighter position and to complete a department’s probationary requirements.
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Why Attend a Fire Academy in Texas?
Firefighters are generally happy and content with their profession. In fact, firefighters consistently have some of the highest job satisfaction ratings of all career fields.
This study in Texas found that 80% of firefighters were very satisfied with their job choice after going to a firefighting academy, compared to the average for all jobs surveyed 47%.
They were number two on the list, only behind clergy members. As a firefighter in Texas,
- You would have the opportunity of helping people. This is what the fire service is all about. It is customer service. Protecting and helping citizens in the community and responding to mitigate emergencies.
- Your pay and salary as a firefighter in Texas are higher than most. Besides a base salary and salary increases, as you spend more time with a department, there can be plenty of opportunities for overtime as well. That means you’ll have a little more control over what you’re bringing home at the end of every week.
- Typical Benefits for Full-Timers (Not Volunteers). Like most full-time government positions, being a firefighter comes with tons of useful benefit programs. If you’re one provider for your family, you’ll appreciate the health insurance programs that you can enroll your entire family in.
- Life insurance benefits (accidental death & dismemberment)
- Full or partial tuition reimbursement
- Additional loan opportunities
- Job security
These are things you would enjoy going to a Texas firefighter academy.
Which Body Accredits Fire Academies in Texas?
The Texas Commission accredits fire academies in Texas on Fire Protection, State Firefighters and Fire Marshals’ Association, and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
How Many Firefighter Academies are in Texas?
There are about twenty-two (22) firefighter academies in Texas.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Firefighter in Texas?
The duration of time it would take you to become a firefighter in Texas depends on the academy which you attend.
Normally, the traditional physical academy is a 12-week to 27 weeks program of intense classroom and physical training with hands-on training held at Brayton Fire Training Field.
The online academy runs a 15-week online program that allows you to be flexible through 12 weeks of online training, followed by a 3-week boot camp at the academy that you have attended.
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How Much is a Firefighter School in Texas?
The cost of being a firefighter in Texas costs between $1200 and $2500. The tuition and fees mostly cover the cost of uniforms, bunker gear, books, and other equipment that a cadet will be responsible for supplying.
Requirements to Join the Fire Academy in Texas?
To join a fire academy, you must have-
- Apply to the academy you want to go to
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Have a Texas driver’s license
- Hold a minimum of EMT-B Certificate of Completion by the Fire Academy
- Pass the Physical Agility Test
- Got admitted to the academy.
What are the 10 Best Fire Academies in Texas?
1. Texas Fire Academy
Texas Fire Academy is a Fire Academy that is designed to fit into any schedule. It has its traditional setting and also an online setting.
The online Fire Academy format allows students 8 months to complete the academic portion of the curriculum at their own pace. Most students will complete this portion in 3-4 months depending on their dedication and zeal.
Following the successful completion of online coursework, the student will attend a 14-day boot camp and hands-on skills session in Texas.
During the 14-day session, the student will demonstrate mastery of the basic skills required to obtain their TCFP Basic Structural Firefighter Certification which will also allow them to obtain IFSAC seals.
The traditional setting takes about 3-4 months to complete. After successful completion of course work, boot camp required skills testing, and the TCFP certification exam you will receive a TCFP Certificate.
All courses included in the Basic Fire Academy curriculum are approved by the state of Texas Texas Commission on Fire Protection, and IFSAC allows transfer to Canada and other IFSAC states or countries.
The basic courses you would offer in the Texas Fire Academy are NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level I, NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level II, NFPA 472 Hazmat Awareness, and NFPA 472 Hazmat Operations, amongst others.
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READ ALSO: Top 10 Certifications You Need To Become a Firefighter | 2024
2. North Texas Fire Academy
North Texas Fire Academy is located in Rockwall, TX, but also offers classes online. This school offers training in 3 qualifications, with the most reviewed qualifications being Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification, Basic Structural Fire Fighters, and Firefighter II Certification.
It takes 5 months to 9 months depending on the qualification, with a median time to completion of 5 months to complete the program as a firefighter.
The cost to attend North Texas Fire Academy ranges from $1,200 to $3,500 depending on the qualification, with a median cost of $3,500.
Generally, the North Texas Fire Academy has reviews that say they have really good teachers, affordable fees, a positive environment, and hands-on training.
This program is designed for your career but most importantly your safety. A wealth of knowledge and wisdom is shared in each class session. This a great example of demonstrating the proper mindset and attitude upon entering the fire service.
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3. Training Division Fire Academy
Training Division is one of the best firefighter academies in Texas. They very recently partnered with the Canadian Football League Players Association, the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, and the Professional Lacrosse Players Association, and now also participate in the Game Plan Education Network.
Game Plan is Canada’s total athlete wellness program founded by the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Sport Canada, and the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network.
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4. El Paso Fire Department Training Academy
The El Paso Fire Department Training Academy is responsible for providing classroom instruction and practical training to all new firefighters, current firefighters, and medics for the El Paso Fire Department.
This training includes firefighting tactics and strategy, emergency medical skills, hazardous material response, emergency vehicle driver training, rappelling, rescue, and other types of training.
The Academy is a very busy place providing training not only for the Fire Department but also for other departments in the surrounding area, outside agencies, and potential fire department applicants.
The Academy is also involved in recruiting new firefighters for the department.
El Paso Fire Department is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Profession.
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5. Austin Fire Academy
The Austin Fire Academy is one of the best Texas firefighting academies.
Its hiring process is comprised of two phases: The first phase consists of the application period, written exam, and Structured Oral Assessment Process; the second phase begins with the Pre-Hire Assessments (candidates who receive conditional offers of employment must successfully complete all of the Pass/Fail pre-hire assessments; otherwise, candidates are disqualified).
Candidates who complete both the written exam and the oral interview will receive a composite score. Applicable veteran preference points will then be applied. That total will determine a candidate’s place on the Ranked Eligibility List.
To get into The Austin Fire Academy, you must meet all requirements of- age (you must be at least 18 years of age but not exceed age 35 on the day the written exam is administered); Education (Must possess a high school diploma or GED.); Citizenship (birth or naturalized).
If you are not a United States citizen, your immigration status must be current and must permit you to work a full-time job in this country.
Applicants must have a valid Social Security card;
- Language (Must be able to read, write, and speak English);
- Driver License (you must possess a current valid driver’s license issued from your state of residence);
- Social Security (you must have a valid Social Security card);
- Medical (you must meet the requirements set forth in NFPA 1582, Latest Edition, Standard on medical requirements for Firefighters).
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6. Fire Training Academy
The firefighting training academy provides comprehensive training in all aspects of basic firefighting skills.
It is designed to prepare and train recruits to meet those skills established by fire departments as entry-level. Knowledge obtained from classroom instruction is transferred to the fire-ground application during many hours of live fire training.
This course meets all requirements for Firefighter 1 and 2 along with Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations levels based on National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1001, Firefighter Professional Qualifications.
You will need both a registration form and IFSAC Candidate Application in order to register for any Open Enrollment class with IFSAC testing (Live Fire Instructor Course, Fire Control 1, and others.
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7. Houston Fire Department Val Jahnke Training Facility
Houston Fire Department Val Jahnke Training Facility is located in Houston, TX, but also offers classes online.
This firefighter academy offers training in 4 qualifications, with the most reviewed qualifications being Basic structure firefighter, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification, and Emergency Chemical Response.
The duration of this training ranges from 1 week to 9 months depending on the qualification, with a median time to completion of 2 weeks.
The cost to attend Houston Fire Department Val Jahnke Training Facility ranges from $235 to $7,000 depending on the qualification, with a median cost of $2,700.
This fire training facility is said to have a positive environment, good teachers., hands-on training, and helpful career services as notable benefits.
Houston Fire Department Val Jahnke Training Facility has been reviewed 4 times, with an average rating of 5 out of 5. 100% of reviewers would recommend Houston Fire Department Val Jahnke Training Facility to a friend.
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8. Community Volunteer Fire Department Training Center
Located at 4100 Old Agnes Road Weatherford, Texas 76088, The Central Community Fire Department is staffed by approximately 35 volunteers and responds to approximately 250 to 300 calls per year.
Department meetings are held at Station 1 (4100 Old Agnes Rd.) on the second Tuesday of the Month starting at 1930 Hrs.
Training is held primarily at Station 1 and occasionally at Station 2 on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 1900 Hrs.
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9. TEEX Brayton Fire Training Field
Located at 1595 Nuclear Science Road, adjacent to the Texas A&M University campus, the 297-acre facility attracts more than 45,000 emergency responders from all 50 states and more than 45 countries each year.
TEEX Brayton Fire Training Field is a realistic, large-scale, and hands-on academy for firefighters. The 132 specific training stations offer emergency responders instruction in firefighting, rescue, emergency medical services, hazardous materials, marine, aircraft, and emergency management.
The cost to attend TEEX Brayton Fire Training Field ranges from $335 to $5,000 depending on the qualification, with a median cost of $2,700. This fire training facility is said to have a positive environment, good teachers., hands-on training, and helpful career services as notable benefits.
TEEX Brayton Fire Training Field History includes- Firefighting props, HazMat training props, Rescue props, EMS Lab, and Guest Instructors’ Memorial. If you are thinking of an academy to go to for firefighting, you should consider TEEX Brayton Fire Training Field.
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10. Desoto Fire Training
Desoto Fire Training Center is approved by the Texas Commission on Fire Prevention. In 2020, the academy had over 70 students graduate who obtained a Basic Fire Suppression Certification.
The instructors are lifelong learners themselves and teach the most effective, research-based methods of fire science. Knowledge obtained from classroom instruction is transferred to the fire-ground application during many hours of live-fire training.
The online Desoto Fire Training format allows students 10 months to complete the academic portion of the curriculum at their own pace. Most students will complete this portion in 5-6 months depending on their dedication and zeal.
Registration Fee is about $70.00, Tuition $2,950.00, Bunker Gear $700.00, Book $150.00, State Test $85.00.
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Conclusion
While completing fire academy training is a rigorous challenge, it is not for everyone. It is necessary that you prepare your mind before going into the rewarding field of firefighting.
As a firefighter in Texas, your work would stretch beyond the normal meaning that comes to your mind as a firefighter.
You would not only fight fires, but also respond to medical emergencies, aid in search and rescue efforts, help with traffic incidents, and provide public safety.
References
- https://teex.org/program/firefighter-recruit-entry-level-academy/
- https://www.tjc.edu/fireacademy
- https://raleighnc.gov/safety/content/Fire/Articles/RecruitAcademyFAQ.html
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