Fire Science & Safety

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) allows students to earn only one AAS in Fire Protection and Safety Technology. Students must choose from one of the following three specializations: Fire Officer, Fire Fighter, or Industrial.
You can not be placed in any Fire Safety AAS plan until you have completed the TCFP certificate (Basic Fire Fighting Academy)

TSI testing required prior to first enrollment for all AAS degrees and Level II certificates.

 

The series of three courses provides training required to apply for the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) Fire Instructor I, II, and III certifications.These courses also provide a three-course certification step to becoming a Training Program Manager. To obtain the TCFP Fire Instructor I, II, and III certification, participants must have a Basic Fire Fighter certification with TCFP and pass the Knowledge and Skills tests for each level of certification. An application fee of $15 per certification must be paid to TCFP when submitting an application to take the final assessment from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

TSI testing required prior to first enrollment for all AAS degrees and Level II certificates.

 

 Orientation Dates:

• March 20, 2023 @ 6:00pm (virtual) 
• April 17 @ 6:00pm  (in person) Northeast College 555 Community College Dr.  Houston, TX 77013.

 

Full-Time Day Academy Class

• Coordinator:
  Larry Spann
  larry.spann@hccs.edu 
  713-718-8327
  Monday - Thursdy
  
  Day Class Instructor:
  Cleto Hernandez
  cleto.hernandez@hccs.edu
  713-718-5236
  Tuesday - Friday

 

• Start Date: May 15, 2023
• Class Hours: Mon - Thur (7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.) for approximately 4 months.

 

• FIRS - 1301 10536
• FIRS - 1407 10538
• FIRS - 1313 10537
• FIRS - 1203 10535

 

Full-Time Online Academy Class

• Coordinator:
  Newton Smith
  newton.smith@hccs.edu
  713-718-8390
  
  
• Program Director:
  Dwight Allen
  dwight.allen@hccs.edu
  713-718-8092 

 

• Program Coordinator:
  Vedron Bordeaux
  vedron.bordeaux@hccs.edu
  713-718-5298 

 

 

• Class Hours: Online: However, meets at the campus every Saturday (7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) for approximately 26 weeks at 555 Community College Dr. Houston, TX 77013

 

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Academy Administrative Assistant Contract Info:

Delores Gibson
delores.gibson@hccs.edu
713-718-8370

Fire Academy Advisor Contract Info:

Angela Cormier
angela.cormier2@hccs.edu
713-718-2164

 

 

 

1st 8-week classes Start Date 01/17/23  - 03/12/23
CRN	Course/No.	Course Title	Location
16098	FIRT 1303	Fire & Arson Investigation I	Distant Education
13851	FIRT  1309	Fire Administration 1	Distant Education
16097	FIRT-1408	Fire Inspector I	Distant Education
15382	FIRT 2309	Strategies & Tactics I	Distant Education

 

2nd 8-week classes Start Date 03/20/23  - 05/14/23
CRN	Course/No.	Course Title	Location
16022	FIRT 1327	Building Construction	Distant Education
13897	FIRT  1338	Fire Protection System	Distant Education
16101	FIRT-1202	Plan Examiner	Distant Education
16099	FIRT 1340	Fire Inspector II	Distant Education
16100	FIRT 2333	Fire & Arson Investigation II	Distant Education
20636	FIRT 1342	Fire Officer I	Distant Education

 

 

16-week classes Start Date 01/17/23 – 05/14/23
CRN	Course/No.	Course Title	Location
13850	FIRT 2188	Internship – Fire Protection	Codwell

 

 

Summer 2023

 

1st 8-week classes Start Date 06/05/23  - 08/13/23
CRN	Course/No.	Course Title	Location
14260	FIRT 1303	Fire & Arson Investigation I	Distant Education
12258	FIRT  1309	Fire Administration 1	Distant Education
12259	FIRT-1315	Hazardous Materials I	Distant Education
12133	FIRT 1327	Building Construction	Distant Education
12260	FIRT 1338	Fire Protection System	Distant Education

 

16-week classes Start Date 06/05/23 – 08/13/23
CRN	Course/No.	Course Title	Location
11802	FIRT 2188	Internship – Fire Protection	Codwell

 

 

The HCC Fire Science and Safety program graduates are certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP).

The State of Texas recognizes IFSAC (International Fire Service Accreditation Congress) certificates from other jurisdictions in its basic structural fire protection, aircraft rescue, hazardous materials technician, hazardous materials incident commander, incident safety officer, driver/operator-pumper, driver/operator-aerial, fire inspector, plans examiner, fire investigator, fire instructor, fire officer, and fire & life safety educator disciplines.

The Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) is the license authority for the HCC Fire Science & Safety program. Students are encouraged to contact TCFP regarding licensure, reciprocity and certification information. Visit www.tcfp.texas.gov/services/transferring-to-texas

Please note, every attempt is made to ensure the above information is accurate and up to date; however, some information is subject to change.

If you have any questions or encounter problems contacting the appropriate licensing board, please contact the Program Director at (713) 718-5298.

2020–2021 Third-Party Licensure/Certification Exam Results 

Occupational licensure and/or certification pass rates reported by academic calendar year (Sept. 1–Aug. 31). Results for the 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 academic years are provided for comparison. 

Program/ Aligned Award	Agency Standard	HCC Standard	2018–2019 Pass Rate (# Passed)	2019–2020 Pass Rate (# Passed)	2020–2021 Pass Rate (# Passed)	2020–2021 Results
Fire Science & Safety/ Firefighter AAS	70%	75%	76% (38)	80% (4)	50% (4)	Below Expectation

 

There are 5,471 Municipal Firefighters employed in the Greater Houston Area. This number is expected to increase by 8.4% over the next four years.

The estimated annual job openings is 293 jobs a year.
Median Wages - $24.18 hourly, $50,000 annually

 

Language Option Restrictions

Some online programs require students to participate in foreign language courses as part of the program’s required curriculum. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements and available language options. If you would like to take courses in a language that is not offered online, you would have to do so on campus.

Elective Course Restrictions

Some HCC Online programs may have a limited number of elective options available, based on which of the designated electives are currently offered online. If an elective course is not available online, it will be denoted in the program’s degree plan.

Required Course Restrictions
Some HCC Online programs may require students to participate in one or more campus-based courses as part of a given program’s required curriculum. If a program requires participation in a campus-based course, the campus-based course will be denoted in the program’s degree plan.

Potential Course Restrictions
Some courses may require students to participate in campus-based laboratory sessions or proctored examinations. Please review your course syllabus to determine if your online course has an on-campus laboratory or examination requirement.

 

Hybrid programs allow students to take a mix of online and face-to-face courses. Hybrid programs offer 50% to 85% of their courses online and the remainder of the curriculum is taken in-person on one of HCC’s campuses. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.

Language Option Restrictions

Some hybrid programs require students to participate in foreign language courses as part of the program’s required curriculum. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements and available language options. If you would like to take courses in a language that is not offered online, you would have to do so on campus.

Elective Course Restrictions

Some hybrid programs may have a limited number of elective options available, based on which of the designated electives are currently offered online.  Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.

Required Course Restrictions

Hybrid programs require students to participate in campus-based courses as part of a given program’s required curriculum. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements. 

Potential Course Restrictions

Some online courses may have face-to-face requirements for exams, laboratory sessions, and other activities. Please review your course syllabus to determine if your online course has an on-campus laboratory or examination requirement.