Fire Science Technology Certificate Programs

The College of DuPage Fire Science Technology program offers five certificate programs:
Emergency Medical Technician
Firefighter
Fire Prevention
Fire Officer
Paramedic

Academic information for each certificate program is available at the following location: [Certificates, PDF file]

Students with previous credit from another institution should meet with the coordinator to discuss transferability of credits before enrolling in Fire Science Technology courses.

Emergency Medical Technician (8 credit hours)
Most fire departments currently seek candidates who have been trained as emergency medical technicians and/or paramedics. EMT-Basics (EMT-B) are trained in basic emergency skills, rescue techniques, assessment of illness and the handling of hazardous materials. [More about EMT]

Firefighter (18 credit hours)
This certificate provides fire fighter recruits with information on the fundamentals of orientation; fire behavior, streams, and cause and origin; the use of hoses, ropes, ladders, safety equipment, extinguishers, self-contained breathing apparatus and tools; forcible entry; overhaul; ventilation; water supply; rescue and emergency medical care; alarms and communication; inspections; hazardous materials; salvage; and sprinkler systems. This certificate also includes a study of the design, function and operating characteristics of motorized fire apparatus, and training in the skills necessary to qualify for Fire Apparatus Engineer/Driver/Operator positions. To enroll in this certificate program, student must be a full-time, part-time, volunteer or paid-on call member of a fire department or fire brigade.

Fire Prevention (24 credit hours)
This certificate includes training in causes of fires and the major categories of fire hazards; analysis of heat source, fuel supply and oxygen supply hazards; fixed automatic fire extinguishing, alarm and detection systems; automatic sprinkler systems; and dry chemical, carbon dioxide and halogenated hydrocarbon agent extinguishing systems. This certificate also includes a study of building construction and design, with an emphasis on fire safety protection and techniques and procedures used in fire investigation, including the origin and causes of fires, fire behavior, the chemistry of fire, structural fire patterns, detection of arson, and the role of the investigator and crime laboratory.

Fire Officer (33 credit hours)
This certificate program includes training in causes of fires and the major categories of fire hazards; analysis of heat source, fuel supply and oxygen supply hazards; recognition and control of all fire hazards; principles of coordinating fire ground tactics; fire suppression and rescue tactics used in multi-company operations; handling fires in high rise and abandoned structures and during transportation problems and natural disasters. The Fire Officer certificate also includes information on planning, budgeting, analyzing and organizing personnel assignments, developing personnel policies, preparing capital budgets, and fiscal financing.

Paramedic (32 credit hours)
Most fire departments actively seek candidates with paramedics training. Paramedics are EMT-B certified and are trained in advanced emergency care, rescue techniques, illness assessment and the handling of hazardous materials. In addition, paramedics receive training in advanced life support techniques, including administering medications, starting intravenous infusions and providing advanced cardiac care. EMTs work for fire departments, ambulance services and hospital emergency units. [More about Paramedic]

Academic information for each certificate program is available at the following location: [Certificates, PDF file]

NOTE: College of DuPage Fire Science Technology classes meet or exceed the requirements for certification with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Division of Personnel Standards and Education, and the Illinois Department of Public Health.



How to Become a Firefighter Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic Degrees and Certificates Course Descriptions Bachelor Transfer Programs Fire Officer Classes Firefighter Testing Informational Video Home		Darryl Haefner, coordinator M 104 (630) 942-2107 E-mail Health and Sciences Division HS 1220 (630) 942-8331
	Fire Science Technology Certificate Programs The College of DuPage Fire Science Technology program offers five certificate programs: Emergency Medical Technician Firefighter Fire Prevention Fire Officer Paramedic Academic information for each certificate program is available at the following location: [Certificates, PDF file] Students with previous credit from another institution should meet with the coordinator to discuss transferability of credits before enrolling in Fire Science Technology courses. Emergency Medical Technician (8 credit hours) Most fire departments currently seek candidates who have been trained as emergency medical technicians and/or paramedics. EMT-Basics (EMT-B) are trained in basic emergency skills, rescue techniques, assessment of illness and the handling of hazardous materials. [More about EMT] Firefighter (18 credit hours) This certificate provides fire fighter recruits with information on the fundamentals of orientation; fire behavior, streams, and cause and origin; the use of hoses, ropes, ladders, safety equipment, extinguishers, self-contained breathing apparatus and tools; forcible entry; overhaul; ventilation; water supply; rescue and emergency medical care; alarms and communication; inspections; hazardous materials; salvage; and sprinkler systems. This certificate also includes a study of the design, function and operating characteristics of motorized fire apparatus, and training in the skills necessary to qualify for Fire Apparatus Engineer/Driver/Operator positions. To enroll in this certificate program, student must be a full-time, part-time, volunteer or paid-on call member of a fire department or fire brigade. Fire Prevention (24 credit hours) This certificate includes training in causes of fires and the major categories of fire hazards; analysis of heat source, fuel supply and oxygen supply hazards; fixed automatic fire extinguishing, alarm and detection systems; automatic sprinkler systems; and dry chemical, carbon dioxide and halogenated hydrocarbon agent extinguishing systems. This certificate also includes a study of building construction and design, with an emphasis on fire safety protection and techniques and procedures used in fire investigation, including the origin and causes of fires, fire behavior, the chemistry of fire, structural fire patterns, detection of arson, and the role of the investigator and crime laboratory. Fire Officer (33 credit hours) This certificate program includes training in causes of fires and the major categories of fire hazards; analysis of heat source, fuel supply and oxygen supply hazards; recognition and control of all fire hazards; principles of coordinating fire ground tactics; fire suppression and rescue tactics used in multi-company operations; handling fires in high rise and abandoned structures and during transportation problems and natural disasters. The Fire Officer certificate also includes information on planning, budgeting, analyzing and organizing personnel assignments, developing personnel policies, preparing capital budgets, and fiscal financing. Paramedic (32 credit hours) Most fire departments actively seek candidates with paramedics training. Paramedics are EMT-B certified and are trained in advanced emergency care, rescue techniques, illness assessment and the handling of hazardous materials. In addition, paramedics receive training in advanced life support techniques, including administering medications, starting intravenous infusions and providing advanced cardiac care. EMTs work for fire departments, ambulance services and hospital emergency units. [More about Paramedic] Academic information for each certificate program is available at the following location: [Certificates, PDF file] NOTE: College of DuPage Fire Science Technology classes meet or exceed the requirements for certification with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Division of Personnel Standards and Education, and the Illinois Department of Public Health.