Fire Science
28 Credit Technical DiplomaProgram Description
The Fire Science Technical Diploma program prepares learners with foundational entry level knowledge and skills to pursue a career in the fire service. Concepts learned in this program include firefighter safety, fire prevention, hazardous material incident operations, building construction related to fire safety, and communication skills needed to be effective in the field.
Graduates of this program will also obtain NTC’s EMT Basic Technical Diploma. Courses in the Fire Science Technical Diploma program ladder into NTC’s Fire Medic Associate Degree and Fire Services Leadership Associate Degree programs which allows graduates to advance on their career pathway in this field.
A portion of the Fire Science coursework is aligned with the National Fire Academy’s Fire and Emergency Services in Higher Education (FESHE) curriculum.
Please note: This program is subject to the Clock-to-Credit Hour Conversion and some courses listed will not be eligible for full financial aid funding based on the program’s credit hours.
This program may require a Criminal Background Check and/or Health Record
Acceptance to Northcentral Technical College will not be denied based on a criminal background or health record.
Found in These Career Fields:
Approximate Program Cost
$5,641
Tuition & Fees:
$4,858
Books & Supplies: $783
Books & Supplies: $783
Starting Salary
$33,660–$42,913
Average,
based on the WTCS Graduate Outcomes Report
Financial Aid
Available
Total financial aid offered may not exceed the estimated Cost of Attendance (COA).
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Availability
Courses for this program may be available at a variety of campus locations through multiple modes of delivery if you meet the admission requirements and prerequisites.
* Campus and online availability of courses and programs may be subject to change.
Outcomes
Graduates will be able to…
- Apply knowledge on emergency management, scene control, and extinguishing fires
- Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform as an entry level National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT)
- Demonstrate problem-solving, decision-making, critical-thinking, interpersonal and communication skills integral to success in public service professions
- Evaluate the components of building construction related to fire and life safety; including inspections, pre-incident planning and emergency operations
- Develop the basic firefighting fundamentals for entry into the fire service
Careers
Some of the potential careers graduates can pursue are:
- Battalion Chief
- EMT-Basic
- First Responder
- Fire Fighter
- Fire Lieutenant
- Fire Captain
- Assistant Fire Chief
- Fire Chief
- EMT
Courses
The Fire Science Technical Diploma is a 28 credit program. The following is a typical semester breakdown of the courses within the program.
Please note: This program is subject to the Clock-to-Credit Hour Conversion and some courses listed will not be eligible for full financial aid funding based on the program’s credit hours.
* College 101 (10-890-165) is not part of the program credit requirements but is a College Requirement for graduation that must be passed with a “C” or better.
Credit for Prior Learning Available
View All Detailed Course Information
Pathways
Pathways are a series of connected programs that enable you to advance over time to better jobs and higher levels of education and training. By earning one degree, you could also be completing several courses of a related program in a pathway, bringing you one step closer to an advanced degree.
If you begin with one of the following programs, you will earn significant credit towards this Fire Science Technical Diploma:
- The Emergency Medical Technician Technical Diploma will provide you with 18% (5 of 28 credits) of the total credits in this Fire Science Technical Diploma
- The EMT - Firefighter Technical Diploma will provide you with 36% (10 of 28 credits) of the total credits in this Fire Science Technical Diploma
Cost of Attendance
2024–2025 Estimated Academic Year Budgeted Cost of Attendance
The estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) is a budget that includes categories of expenses that a student can expect to incur while attending college. The COA does not reflect actual charges. It is an average based on the estimated living costs typical of our region. In determining the cost of attendance, Northcentral Technical College uses the budget established by the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Financial Aid Budget Work Group. This budget is used to determine financial need for all students who apply for financial aid. A student's cost of attendance is composed of all educational expenses that can be included for financial aid purposes that a student may accrue while pursuing their education for the year (or semester, if enrolled less than a year). A student's financial aid cannot exceed their cost of attendance. Schools are required to provide a fuller picture of what it may cost students to pursue their degree, not just what they will owe in tuition/fees and books/supplies.
| Expenses | Student Living With Parents (Home) | Student Living on Own (Other) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time Tuition (based on a total of 30 credits, 15 credits fall and 15 credits spring) |
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| Living Expenses (Housing & Food) | $3,008 | $9,147 | ||
| Books / Supplies | $1,465 | $1,465 | ||
| Transportation | $4,017 | $4,017 | ||
| Personal Expenses | $3,608 | $3,608 | ||
| Loan Fees | $85 | $85 | ||
| Total Estimated Cost Of Attendance |
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* Tuition listed is based on approved rates for the 2024–2025 academic year. Rates are approved each March by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board and estimated budgets are updated at that time.
For the 2024–2025 academic year, the Wisconsin Resident tuition rate is $149.50 per credit and Out-of-State resident tuition is $224.25 per credit.
For the 2024–2025 academic year, Student Fees include: a minimum $5.00 material fee and a $13.15 per credit activity fee. A $4.00 per semester insurance fee will be assessed to students taking at least one course which has a scheduled session on campus.
Students awarded Federal Direct Loan(s) also have an average of the mandatory loan fees automatically added to their COA.
Students with disability-related expenses may contact the Financial Aid Office to have their additional expenses considered. Disability-related expenses include but are not limited to: personal assistance, equipment, and supplies. The Financial Aid Office may potentially include disability expenses in the COA that are not provided by other assisting agencies.
NTC also offers a Net Price Calculator to help estimate costs.
For more information regarding billed tuition and fees visit https://www.ntc.edu/admissions/tuition-fees
We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about how the financial aid process works. Please feel free to reach out for more information.
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NTC Financial Aid Office
- 715.803.1647
- financialaid@ntc.edu
Additional Information
Clock-to-Credit Hour Conversion
This program is subject to the Clock-to-Credit Hour Conversion and some courses listed will not be eligible for full financial aid funding based on the program’s credit hours.
| Term | Course | Credit Hours | Financial Aid Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | COLLEGE 101 | 1 | 1 |
| 1 | FIRE FIGHTING PRINCIPLES | 4 | 4 |
| 1 | BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FOR FIRE PROTECTION | 3 | 1.8 |
| 1 | PRINCIPLES OF FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES SAFETY AND SURVIVAL | 3 | 1.8 |
| 1 | HAZARDOUS MATERIALS OPERATIONS | 1 | .9 |
| 1 | WRITTEN COMMUNICATION | 3 | 1.8 |
| 1 | or ENGLISH COMPOSITION 1 | 3 | 1.8 |
| 2 | HAZARDOUS MATERIALS | 4 | 4 |
| 2 | ADVANCED FIREFIGHTER CONCEPTS | 2 | 1.8 |
| 2 | TECHNICAL REPORTING | 3 | 1.8 |
| 2 | MATH WITH BUSINESS APPLICATIONS | 3 | 1.8 |
| 2 | EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONDER (EMR)/ EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (EMT) - PART 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN - PART 2 | 3 | 3 |
For more information, please refer to our Financial Aid Policies.
Admissions Process
Our application process takes just a few minutes to complete, but we want to make sure you have the things you’ll need on hand to complete the application. We’re here to help if you have any questions while submitting your application.
Before you apply, you should know
This program requires a criminal background check. Acceptance to Northcentral Technical College will not be denied based on a criminal background, however, a check may be required for placement at clinical sites or field experiences.
Current CPR certification is required prior to clinical placement. Accepted certifications include Professional Rescuer & Healthcare Provider (ARC) or Healthcare Provider (AHA).
Fill out our application
The application can be submitted online and takes just a few minutes to complete. There is no fee to apply.
Apply NowWhat’s Next?
We’ll review your application and let you know if we need anything else. If you’re all set, your acceptance letter will be emailed to you.