
Firefighter One Academy
Have you always wanted to be a firefighter? The Red Rocks Community College Fire Science program and Firefighter Academy can provide the key to an exciting career in the fire service!
The Academy offers students the opportunity to learn from instructors, already on fire departments, as well as, to receive hands-on training in preparation for becoming a certified firefighter I with the state of Colorado from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.
The fire academy is a rigorous 16-week, 12-credit program that provides the education and training required to take the State Firefighter I and Haz Mat Ops certification exams. The Academy’s rigorous instruction includes lectures and hands-on-training on fire behavior, building construction, search and rescue, and hazardous materials, to name a few. All training is conducted by an experienced instructor cadre that has served in various roles within the fire service to include firefighter, driver engineer, company officer, and chief officer. If you are looking for a career in firefighting, or if you want to serve your community as a volunteer firefighter, this is an excellent place to begin All training complies with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001, Standard for Firefighter Professional Qualifications.
The fire academy consists of FST 1001 and FST 1007. Remember to sign up and register for both. Classes run concurrently, and students will meet and attend these classes on Thursdays and Fridays. In some cases, such as with military funding requirements, the student will need to have up to 3 more college credits taken the same semester as the academy classes to apply for such benefits and this class would be a suggested area of study. Other Fire Science classes are listed in the Catalog relating to a Fire Science Degree.
Registration for the Fall 2025 Semester will start on Monday, March 10, 2025. Students with all the required pre- requisites are admitted to the program on a first-come, first-served basis. The two courses are corequisites and prospective students need to talk with an ÂÌñNTR Pathway Advisor for admittance into the program.
Please complete the steps shown below.
The following information shall be required in order to attend the fire academy.  All forms are due on your first day at the academy.  If you are missing any of these documents, you will not be able to participate in the academy.  Each nonparticipation day will result in an F being issued.  If you run into any issues obtaining the documents, contact the Fire Science Department immediately and they will assist you. â¶Ä¯â¶Ä¯
After you have registered for the academy, you will receive an email outlining your next steps and specific instructions for completing the mandatory physical, background check, and Incident Command training.
You may be eligible for tuition assistance through the College Opportunity Fund (COF) and the Chief George Goldbach Scholarship Fund.
To see if you qualify, follow these steps:
The program demands a high level of academic performance, both within the classroom as well as with homework assignments. This requires that the student attend all class sessions as well as adequately prepare for and follow through with the self-study workload outside of class. Students can expect approximately two (2) hours of homework/study time for each hour of time spent in class or on drill ground. This equates to an additional 26 hours per week outside of the classroom or drill ground.
In 2012, with the approval of Amendment 64, the use of recreational marijuana became legal in Colorado for those 21 years of age and older. In 2015 in the case of Coats vs. Dish Network, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that employers do have the right to refuse employment, or terminate employment, for the use of marijuana (recreational or medical), even in situations where that use was when the employee was not on paid time. Currently most public safety agencies and healthcare agencies continue to prohibit the use of marijuana in their substance abuse policies and employment policies, which includes students who are completing rotations as part of their educational program.
Bring the following information to the first day of class.
The following criminal offenses appearing on a criminal background check will disqualify an applicant for admission to CCCS Nursing, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Fire Science, and Allied Health Programs.