For over 30 years, BRTC's Fire Training Center has been a leader in fire science and service education. Many of our alumni have been promoted to lieutenants, chiefs, and other administrative positions and have won a variety of awards.
BRTC's Fire Training Center is associated with the Arkansas Fire Academy to teach classes for Northeast Arkansas Firefighters.
All BRTC degree-seeking students should demonstrate competency in the general education learning outcomes.
Fire Science & Fire Service Administration Degrees
Both the Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science and the Associate of Science in Fire Service Administration are designed to help students become fire service supervisors and administrators. The Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science is held on campus while the Associate of Science in Fire Service is available completely online.
Firefighter Essentials Certificates
The Firefighter Essentials program provides students with knowledge of modern municipal and rural fire protection. It prepares graduates to enter the fire service as an entry-level firefighter and to have met the qualifications of NFPA Level I and Level II. Students may advance their education into the Associates of Applied Science in Fire Science.
Degree Plans
Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science
The Associate of Applied Science degree in Fire Science is designed to enable individuals to draw on technical and professional knowledge in making effective decisions concerning fire science. Students learn specialized knowledge and develops competencies for the performance of fire service administrative and supervisory duties.
The curriculum includes areas such as the scientific understanding of fire hazards and their control and general courses to prepare one to work with people harmoniously. This program also enables the student to make proper decisions while on and off the emergency scene.
Through classroom and laboratory exercises, the student is introduced to various fire service hazards, fire prevention problems, fire suppression problems, hazardous materials, and fire service administrative problems. The student is taught numerous skills which include figuring pump hydraulics, investigating arson scenes, firefighting strategies, instruction of other firefighters, fire inspections, and emergency medical care. A part of the instruction takes place at area fire departments on a flexible schedule using nights and weekends to allow maximum participation.
Upon completion of this program, the student should be prepared to advance to a company-level officer in a career department, or a higher-level officer in the volunteer service.
This program utilizes National Fire Academy and Arkansas Fire Academy courses, as well as courses developed by Black River Technical College Fire Training Center.
Associate of Science in Fire Service Administration
The Associate of Science in Fire Service Administration is designed to provide upper-level management skills to firefighters who wish to be promoted to the officer ranks in the fire service. It is also a viable pathway for those who are not yet in the emergency services but who may want to enter into the emergency management field.
This program is 100% online, making it a perfect situation for personnel already employed at a fire department who need a degree to be promoted to the officer level but don’t have the time to attend face-to-face college classes.
Technical Certificate in Firefighter Essentials
For the Firefighter Essentials program, classroom and laboratory exercises introduce students to various aspects of fire science with part of the instruction occurring at area fire departments on a flexible schedule that allows maximum participation for those already employed in fire science.
This is a career-laddering process which prepares graduates to enter the fire service as an entry-level firefighter and to have met the qualifications of NFPA Level I and Level II. Students may advance their education into the Associates of Applied Science in Fire Science.
Certificate of Proficiency in Firefighter Essentials
For the Firefighter Essentials program, classroom and laboratory exercises introduce students to various aspects of fire science with part of the instruction occurring at area fire departments on a flexible schedule that allows maximum participation for those already employed in fire science.
This is a career-laddering process which prepares graduates to enter the fire service as an entry-level firefighter and to have met the qualifications of NFPA Level I and Level II. Students may advance their education into the Associates of Applied Science in Fire Science.
Area Fire Department Schedule
To register for professional courses at the Arkansas Fire Training Academy,
- Complete the AFTA application
- Pre-register for all classes 15 days prior to start date
Technical Certificate in Emergency Services Response
Students who complete the Certificate of Proficiency in both Emergency Medical Technician and Firefighter Essentials will have the majority of the coursework completed for a Technical Certificate in Proficiency for Emergency Services Response.
Degree Plans
Technical Certificate in Emergency Services Response
Gainful Employment Disclosure Information
As of July 1, 2020, The Secretary of the Department of Education amends the regulations on institutional eligibility under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), and the Student Assistance General Provisions to rescind the Department’s gainful employment regulations. https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2019-13703/p-3
In accordance with these regulations, on the Consumer and Mandated Information page you will find links to the disclosures for each of the certificate programs at Black River Technical College which are covered by these regulations.
