Coastal Carolina Fire Academy

Fire Academy Application Process

Email Jim Rardin at rardinj@coastalcarolina.edu to receive details on the application process and be placed on the interest list.

Pre-Requisites Candidates must present documentation that they are high school graduates (copy of a diploma or full transcript) or present evidence of the completion of a high school equivalency diploma. Candidates must be 18 years of age by the start date of their class.

Candidate Acceptance Students must commit to the entire block of instruction to be considered for acceptance. All academy formats are limited to 20 students and, as a result, the application process is competitive. Applicants are evaluated for acceptance using four criteria:

(1) physical agility test;

(2) CASAS Reading test score (minimum 235);

(3) personal essay; and

(4) date of application.

Details of these criteria are included in the application package, which is provided at the beginning of the application period.

Cost The Academy is delivered in a block format and requires a registration fee of $180, a graduation fee of $10, a technology fee of $5, and an insurance fee of $1. The registration fee must be paid before the first class meeting. The cost of the text is approximately $126. The cost of required uniforms is approximately $80. The registration fees and associated costs are not eligible for VA/GI Bill benefits. In addition, individuals who are interested in enrolling in the Fire Academy are encouraged to become members of their local volunteer fire department. Beyond serving your local community, local volunteer fire departments members are eligible for waived registration fees and may grant you access to the required PPE from the department. Those who are on the roster of a NC fire department pay only the graduation fee and purchase the text and their uniforms. Proof of membership will be required.

Attendance/Testing Each student should make every effort to attend all instructional hours in each of the 23 subjects as possible. Anticipated absences must be discussed with the instructor, if possible, in advance, but a student may not miss more than 20% of instructional time for any single subject, as outlined by the Office of State Fire Marshal, as well as pass a Canvas quiz with a minimum score of 70% for each subject. Each subject has practical skills evaluations, and the Fire Academy has 5 written state exams encompassing the 23 subjects.

Career Opportunities Candidates who complete the Academy successfully are eligible to receive a North Carolina Firefighter certification from the NC Office of State Fire Marshal, which is IFSAC accredited. Students seeking employment as a career firefighter are encouraged to complete Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training at Coastal Carolina Community College, as many fire departments now prefer candidates who hold an EMT credential.