General Information
General Information
Things to Consider Before You Apply
- All Cadets enrolling in the ACCFTA must be the age of eighteen (18) on or before the first day of class.
- All Cadets seeking certification from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) must pass a criminal background check during their application for the certification process with the state. The ACCFTA will not advise or inform you of which criminal offenses are permissible by the state. It is your responsibility to ensure you are eligible for certification prior to accepting admission into the ACCFTA. You may wish to contact TCFP if there is concern as to whether you will pass the required criminal background check.
- If selected, each Cadet must pass a physical examination by a licensed Texas physician prior to the first scheduled day of training in the ACCFTA. No Cadet shall be admitted to the ACCFTA with a Category A Medical Condition.
- In addition to tuition, fees and books, Cadets will incur some additional costs (ie. pants, boots etc.). Questions about financial aid, scholarship, use of the GI bill or other funding should be directed to Kristi Elliott. Note: State certification exam costs are included in the fees.
What is the application process?
Step 1:
Complete the ACC Application
Apply to ACC and submit any required documents such as transcripts, your meningitis record, and proof of residency. (The area of study is Public and Social Services. The program is Fire Protection Technology.) Get help.
Step 2:
Apply to the Academy
Check the ACCFTA website for deadlines. Complete the Fire Academy Application.
Selection Criteria
There are approximately 100 applicants each semester for 30 available seats. Each application will be evaluated individually — this is not a first-come, first-served process.
What is the priority?
- All EMT (or higher) certified and currently enrolled applicants will be selected first.
- After all EMT (or higher) applicants have been offered, applicants who are currently enrolled in the AAS Fire Protection Technology program at ACC will be offered admission.
- Next, all current volunteer firefighters will be offered admission.
- If there are remaining slots available after this list of applicants has been exhausted, consideration will be given to applicants who have applied based on their date of application.
What do I have to do if selected?
- If accepted, you will be notified via email.
- If you are not selected in this process, you will need to reapply.
- You will have 5 business days from the date the email was sent out to confirm your acceptance and reserve your spot in the academy.
- You must attend a scheduled pre-registration meeting with department staff prior to being registered for classes. (Note: ACCFTA staff will handle your class registration.)
Courses
ACCFTA staff will enroll Cadets in the following courses:
FIRS-1401 Firefighter Certification I
FIRS-1407 Firefighter Certification II
FIRS-1313 Firefighter Certification III
FIRS-1319 Firefighter Certification IV
FIRS-1423 Firefighter Certification V
FIRS-1429 Firefighter Certification VI
FIRS-1433 Firefighter Certification VII
FIRS-1203 Fire Agility and Fitness Preparation
The ACCFTA curriculum in Fire Certification courses I through VII meet the requirements for a commission (TCFP) approved Basic Fire Suppression Curriculum, as specified in the commission’s Certification Curriculum Manual.
*The above listed courses comprise the ACC Firefighter Level I Certificate. For the purpose of this handbook, the ACC Firefighter Level I certificate program and the ACCFTA are used interchangeably. Students must successfully pass the ACCFTA to be considered eligible for the TCFP Basic Fire Suppression Skills Exam and Written Exam for certification.