Firefighter Minimum Standards, Occupational Certificate (O.C.)
This is a 492-clock-hour program consisting of Firefighter I & II designed to prepare the student for the state written and practical exams. Students will be eligible, following successful completion of the FF-I portion, to receive a Certificate of Completion which allows the firefighter to function in the ‘hot zone’ as a volunteer firefighter. Following successful completion of the FF-II portion, the student will be eligible to attempt the FF-II minimum standards written and practical exams. Successful completion of both the state written and practical exams will make the student eligible for a Letter of Compliance from the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training (BFST) which allows the candidate to be hired as an FF-II by departments within the state of Florida. The program may be completed within a single term (16 weeks) if done as a standalone program.
Review the guided degree pathway where you will find a detailed plan for your courses and other requirements each semester that prepare you for graduation and your transfer goals.
Florida Gateway College’s Public Safety Training Center (Olustee campus)
Florida Basic Abilities Test
Physical Abilities Test, TABE, National Fire Selection Inventory (NFSI)
Classes meet 2 out of every 3 days, 7 days per week. Classes are held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The average starting salary for Fire Fighters in Florida $26,000-45,000/yr. The average starting salary for Fire Fighters/Paramedics in Florida $32,000-60,000/yr.
Certification as an FF-I enables the firefighter to function as a volunteer and participate in firefighting activities. FF-II certification allows the firefighter to function as a paid career firefighter within the state of Florida.
This is a very physical program with long periods of heavy physical stress in extreme temperatures. Students will experience live fire conditions (Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH)) while wearing full firefighter bunker gear and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Students with intense claustrophobia may experience difficulty under these conditions. The academic portion is fast-paced and requires good time management and study skills. Students will be prepared to successfully complete both the written and practical exams administered by evaluators from the Florida Bureau of Fire Standards and Training of the State Fire Marshal’s Office.