Fire Academy

Recognized by the State of Texas as an Exemplary Program
live fire training
live fire training

About the KC Fire Academy:

The Kilgore College Fire Academy is recognized by the State of Texas as an EXEMPLARY PROGRAM and is accredited by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection, State Firefighters' and Fire Marshals' Association and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The Kilgore College Fire Academy offers:

We now offer the following online TCFP certification courses on a regular basis:

North Texas Fire Academy:

Kilgore College has partnered with North Texas Fire Academy in Rockwall (Texas) to offer the following online and onsite classes (among others):

  • Fire Inspector I & II
  • Plans Examiner
  • Fire Investigator

Contact North Texas Fire Academy for more information and an application at (972) 772-3473 or http://www.ntfaonline.com/.

KCFA offers training for area fire departments and volunteer fire departments:

We work with local volunteer fire departments to customize basic fire academies and training at their stations with their volunteers.  Paid departments also need help in training and meeting yearly CE requirements to maintain their certifications. We can customize their training programs, too.  Call us if your paid or volunteer fire department is interested in these services.

Wondering how you become a firefighter? Start at Kilgore College!

To become a TCFP certified firefighter in the state of Texas (or for a Canadian to be eligible for IFSAC seals) a person must:

  • Complete a commission approved basic structure fire suppression program (Kilgore College Fire Academy meets this criteria),
  • Pass the commission examinations (taken at the end of the class),
  • Meet the medical training requirements,
  • Pass the background check.

Medical Training Requirement:

Our Basic Fire Academy does not include or attempt to meet the medical training requirement. We offer an eight-week (Monday/Wednesday/Friday) onsite EMT course that is taught by Joshua Haynes and other KCFA instructors. Contact Renee’ Golden at (903) 983-8662 or KCFA@kilgore.edu for information.  Download Application (pdf)

Upcoming EMT Classes:

Academy # Application Deadline Class Clinicals
#13 Sept. 1, 2022 Sept. 12 to Nov. 4, 2022 Nov. 4 to Dec. 7, 2022
#14 Jan. 2, 2023 Jan. 13 to March 10, 2023 March 10 to April 14, 2023
#15 May 22, 2023 June 5 to July 31, 2023 July 31 to Aug. 31, 2023

NOTE: The price of onsite EMT will increase from $953 to $982 after Sept. 1, 2022. 

Dates are contingent upon approval by Texas D.S.H.S.

Online EMT program:

Upcoming ONLINE EMT Classes:

Class # Application Deadline Online Training Skills Training Clinicals
#4 Jan. 11, 2023 Jan. 17 - April 2, 2023 April 3-9, 2023 April 10 - May 7, 2023
#5 May 8, 2023 May 22 to Aug. 6, 2023 Aug. 7-10, 2023 Aug. 11 to Sept. 11, 2023

Please send inquiries to Renee’ Golden, rgolden@kilgore.edu

Online EMT Program Registration Form (pdf)

IMPORTANT: The Texas Commission on Fire Protection’s Rules and Regulations governs the criteria for state certification of a firefighter. There are circumstances under which the TCFP may DENY certification to an individual who has been convicted of criminal offenses. If you have been convicted of any felony offense or any misdemeanor class “B” or above, it is your responsibility to determine whether or not the TCFP will issue you a certification. The most effective way to do this is by submitting to TCFP an Application for Early Review of Certification, which is available at the following URL: www.tcfp.texas.gov/forms/TCFP-012.pdf.

Are you interested in taking your fire service career to the next level?

The college also offers an online Associate of Applied Science Degree in Fire Protection which accepts the 23 hours earned in the Basic Fire Suppression certification program to go towards the 60 hours required for the degree.

If you are a TCFP certified firefighter, driver/engineer, captain, battalion chief, consider earning your Associate of Applied Science Degree in Fire Protection. You will already have 23 hours to apply towards the degree and some of your other certifications may also apply.

For certified firefighters in the State of Texas, all classes associated with the associate’s degree in the fire protection program are tuition-exempt thanks to Texas Education Code 54.353.

To learn more, click Associate of Applied Science Degree in Fire Protection.

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Fire Academy

On-site Basic Structure Fire Suppression

Click here for information on the on-site fire academy.

Online Basic Structure Fire Suppression

Click here for information on the online fire academy.

Associate of Applied Science Degree – Fire Protection Online

For more information on the Associate's Degree in Fire Protection, visit the Fire Protection webpage.

Continuing Education Courses Offered for Local Fire Departments

The KC Fire Academy will begin offering monthly CE course to the local fire departments soon.

Check in often and LIKE our Facebook page KILGORE COLLEGE FIRE ACADEMY to know when these classes become available.

Important information for Canadian students

Important Information for Canadian Students:

The Kilgore College Fire Academy has received approval as a designated institution by the Canadian Province of British Columbia. Students attending the KC Fire Academy who meet the British Columbia residency requirement are now able to apply for financial assistance under the British Columbia Student Assistance Program.

  • You must receive by mail an ORIGINAL (barcoded and blue ink stamped I20M form) issued to you after enrollment. If you have moved or changed addresses from original application and enrollment into the program, please provide the updated information to our offices so that your student file is current.  This also affects your I20M form because addresses have to be updated within 10 days (see page two of your “instructions to students” portion of the I20M form).
  • The Commission now has a rule in place that will allow any Canadian student with documented proof of successful completion of the British Columbia Occupational First Aid Level 3 or Alberta documentation of the First Responder Level III to have met the Texas medical requirement. You must meet the Commission’s medical requirement in order to obtain your IFSAC seals. For questions regarding if your medical certification is acceptable, you must contact the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (512) 936-3815.
  • All students MUST process through the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) counter at their point of exit from Canada or at their point of entry into the U.S. If the Student I-20M Form is not properly processed by Immigrations personnel, the student may be sent home.

Payment must be made by credit card, cashier’s check, certified check, or money order ONLY (in U.S. dollars only). An additional $15.00 should be added to each of the above to cover international bank processing charges.

IFSAC Seals

Individuals who:

  • Complete a commission approved basic structure fire suppression program (Kilgore College Fire Academy meets this criteria),
  • pass the commission examinations (taken at the end of the class),
  • complete the medical requirement (The Commission now has a rule in place that will allow any Canadian student with documented proof of successful completion of at a minimum the British Columbia Occupational First Aid Level 3 or Alberta documentation of the First Responder Level III to have met the medical requirement),
  • and pass the background check may be granted IFSAC Certification as a Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Hazardous Materials Operations by making application to the Commission for the IFSAC seals and paying applicable fees. 
Job Openings

Important Files:

For information about Fire Academy:

Kristi Simpson
Assistant Director
KC Fire Academy
Phone:
(903) 983-8177
Office:
Technical Vocational Bldg. (TECVO), 113-A
Fax:
(903) 988-3741
ksimpson@kilgore.edu
Renee' Golden
Support Specialist
KC Fire Academy
Phone:
(903) 983-8662
Office:
Technical Vocational Bldg. (TECVO), 113
Fax:
(903) 988-3741
rgolden@kilgore.edu
Julie Webb
Dual Credit Coordinator
Fire Academy
Phone:
(903) 988-3762
Office:
Technical Vocational Bldg. (TECVO), 113-C
jwebb@kilgore.edu
D'Wayne Shaw
Dean
Public Services and Industrial Technologies
Phone:
(903) 983-8130
Office:
Whitten Applied Tech. Center (WHITN), 114
dshaw@kilgore.edu
Johnny Zackary
Director
KC Fire Academy
Phone:
(903) 988-3752
Office:
Technical Vocational Bldg. (TECVO), 113 SUITE B
jzackary@kilgore.edu

Public Services & Industrial Technologies