Fire Protrction Technology

Overview

The Skagit Valley College (SVC) Fire Protection Technology Department (FIRE) provides training and education for students wishing to begin a career in the fire service, attain a higher level of education, and/or prepare for career advancement.

The Fire Protection Technology, AAS degree is designed to prepare those students wishing to enter the fire protection career as entry-level firefighters. It is a skills- and certification-based program that prepares a student with the education, skills, and certifications, and affiliation valued by fire service leaders. This degree also prepares fire fighters to earn promotions and pursue further education later in their careers.

Learning Outcomes

General Education Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Fire Protection Technology degree program will be able to:

Understand how hostile fire conditions develop that threaten the public and emergency responders

Understand how various work environments can affect development of hostile fire conditions

Efficiently utilize tactical resources and effective methods of deployment in responding to a variety of emergency incidents

Possess a knowledge and skill set that allows them to be effective in preventing hostile fire emergencies occurring in their community

Program Admissions

After completing the SVC application and obtaining a ctcLink ID number, prospective students apply for the FIRE program online. Enrollment in the program is limited to approximately 30 students. Selection is on a first-come, first served basis and follows the order of who completes the online application. Students generally enter the program only at the beginning of Fall Quarter. (Individuals with previous education or experience as firefighters may enter the program in other quarter[JM3] [MR4] s in limited circumstances with Department Chair permission.)

There are several steps that incoming students must complete before the start of classes. These pre-entry requirements are necessary to comply with state and federal guidelines and because FIRE courses can be physically demanding. Students must be medically and physically fit to participate. Before acceptance into the program, the following requirements must be met:

Complete a Criminal Background and Motor Vehicle violation check. This is based on emergency medical industry standards and Washington State laws protecting vulnerable populations (RCW 43.43.880 and 43.43.842). This practice is common among colleges and universities in Washington State and is required by clinical agencies where students complete their clinical experiences.
Complete and pass a physical/medical evaluation by a physician confirming physical ability to perform structural firefighting activities in compliance with WAC 296- 305-0159(7)(b) and NFPA Standard 1582. Students will upload a letter signed by a physician as part of their online application. The recommended template for this letter may be found on the FIRE program website. The online application cannot be completed without a signed letter.

Admission to individual classes for those students not in the Fire Protection Technology (FIRE) program is by Department Chair approval only. Prerequisites for all Fire Protection Technology classes must be met before enrolling in that specific FIRE class.

Specialized Program Information

Work-Based Learning

Students will integrate classroom learning with work-based learning experience in Fire Service Internship (FIRE 199 ) at a supervised work site. Department Chair approval is required. Credits and grades are based on job-hours worked, work performance and completion of the learning objectives specified in the learning contract.

Degree Option

Fire Protection Technology, AAS

The Associate in Applied Science Degree, AAS is awarded upon completion of a minimum of 90 credits of specified technical and related education course work above the 100 level, with both an overall 2.0 grade point average and a 2.0 grade point average in the technical major.

The Fire Protection Technology (FIRE) program is designed to prepare the student for an entry-level career as a firefighter for private, municipal, industrial, state, and federal fire departments. Typical duties of firefighters may include responding to emergencies and performing work to save lives, stabilize emergency situations, reduce loss of property, and improve public safety.

Firefighters additionally inspect, examine, and care for emergency apparatus and equipment, and perform routine maintenance to restore apparatus to a response-ready condition.

Fire Protection Technology is a systematic and organized inquiry into the occurrence of fire and its control. It is about gaining a deeper and useful understanding of fire’s development, strategies used by the fire service to prevent its occurrence and lessen its impact, and methods employed to combat it. It is also about understanding a complex vocation that calls upon its members to perform unusually challenging tasks under virtually any condition with little room for error, and preparing for leadership in a critical public safety industry.

The training of students to become career firefighters is a key component of the Fire Protection Technology program. Subjects included in the program help to improve the firefighter’s use of knowledge, tools and systems to improve their career opportunities and the lives of those who they serve.

Licensure/Certification

The Fire Prevention Technology program aligns with the standards of the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) and the U.S. Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) model curriculum. In Washington State, IFSAC testing is coordinated by the Washington State Patrol and its network of partners. Students can earn multiple IFSAC and other certificate seals during their time in the program. These include IFSAC Firefighter I and II and HAZMAT Awareness and Operations, as well as VFIS Emergency Vehicle Drivers Training; the National Wildfire Coordinating Group L-180, S-130, and S-190 certificates; and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) 100, 200, 700, and 800 certifications. IFSAC, NIMS, and the National Wildfire Coordinating Group certifications have excellent transferability across state and even international lines. However, there may be a small handful of jurisdictions that do not have reciprocity and that will require certification under Pro Board or other standards.

The Basic and Enhanced Emergency Medical Technician Micro-Certificates both conclude with the National Registry Emergency Medical Technician certification practical examination for EMT. Successful completion of this exam-coupled with paid or volunteer affiliation with a licensed county, aid, or ambulance association-allows individuals to become certified as a Washington State EMS Provider, a certification that is generally transferable to all other states so long as it is kept active. Students in the FIRE program also earn this certification.

SVC/Pierce College BAS-FSLM Articulation Agreement

If you are currently enrolled in, or have graduated from, Skagit Valley College’s Fire Sciences Degree program, you may qualify to enroll in the BAS in Fire Services Leadership and Management (BAS-FSLM) at Pierce College. Read below to learn more.

On Oct. 16, 2024, Skagit Valley College entered into an articulation agreement with Pierce College. The purpose of this articulation agreement is to foster spirit of collaboration between Pierce College. It facilitates qualified students of SVC’s Fire Science Degree program in their application to, admission to, and completion of the Bachelor of Applied Science in Fire Services Leadership and Management program at Pierce College.

Qualified student applicants must meet minimum requirements of admission to Pierce College and will be evaluated individually by the application committee of the FSLM program. Additional details may be found on the FIRE program website.

Fire Protection Technology Scholarship Opportunity

The Skagit County Joint Fire Agencies with Skagit Valley College are excited to offer scholarships to new qualifying Fire Protection Technology first-year students. The application typically opens in April and closes in May; application forms and additional details may be found on the FIRE program website.

Programs

Associate Degrees: Workforce

Intended to give students the skills needed to move directly into employment. These degrees also prepare alumni for entry into a BAS program.

Fire Protection Technology, AAS

Micro-Certificates

Typically two quarters or less, micro-certificates are focused on providing training in a specific skill.