Academy Admission Requirements (Program) · Victor Valley College

Fire Fighter Academy

Victor Valley College’s Fire Technology Discipline is an accredited Regional Training Program (ARTP) as designated by the Office of the California State Fire Marshal (CSFM). As an ARTP, the VVC Fire Technology Department is authorized to deliver a CSFM Accredited Firefighter I Academy and a full suite of CSFM courses leading to advanced levels of certification. In addition, the VVC Fire Technology Discipline is authorized by CSFM to deliver Fire Fighter I certification examinations in support of CSFM's accreditation by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) and the National Board of Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board).

For the most current information, application dates, fees, and other information, visit the VVC Fire Fighter Academy website.

Application Requirements

Academic Year Requirements

Before taking the required courses in FIRE, students must have a State Fire Training (SFT) ID offered by the California Office of the State Fire Marshal. Apply for the SFT ID at the State Fire Training website.

Academic and Certification Requirements

Before applying to the Fire Fighter Academy students must complete the following prerequisite courses or hold an approved equivalent certification
Note: We do not accept online-only certificates (e.g., FEMA, OSHA, etc.).

EMS 50 Emergency Medical Responder1
EMS 60 Emergency Medical Technician2
FIRE 61B Confined Space Rescue Awareness or a *California State Fire Marshal Confined Space Awareness Certificate
FIRE 66 Basic Incident Command or a *California State Fire Marshal ICS 200 Certificate
FIRE 82A Hazardous Materials First Responder Operational or a *****CSTI HazMat First Responder Operational Certificate

EMS 50 is not an admission requirement for the academy, but is a prerequisite to EMS 60.
Beginning Fall 2026, students will be required to show proof of EMT or Paramedic certification when applying to the Fire Fighter Academy. Students must present one of the following, included with their application: - A valid National Registry EMT (NREMT) Certification Card - A valid California EMT Card (issued by a local EMS agency after NREMT certification) - A valid EMT or Paramedic Card from another state (must be current and recognized

Physical Assessment Requirements

You will be required to complete a minimum physical fitness assessment2 prior to starting the academy. These standards are:

Run 1.5 miles in under 15 minutes
60 sit-ups in 2 minutes
35 push-ups in 2 minutes
5 overhand pull-ups in 2 minutes
Run stairs (Tower run) for 10 minutes
Carry 50 lbs continuously for 5 minutes
Hose pull simulation – while you can’t directly practice this, targeted strength training can help prepare you

Beginning Fall 2026, this requirement will be assessed as a condition of being admitted into the academy.

Physical Assessment Preparation

Starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, a free, noncredit Kinesiology (KIN 044A - Fitness for Firefighters) class will be available to help you prepare physically for the Fire Academy.

Application Dates and Deadlines

Applications for the Fire Academy open the semester before the Academy begins.

Fall Academy (August to December): Applications open February 1st and close May 1st
Spring Academy (February to June): Applications open August 1st and close November 1st
Or until the Academy is full

Applications received outside of the posted application periods will be considered invalid and voided. Applications do not carry over. If a student is not accepted into the Academy they applied for and wishes to try again, they must reapply for the next Academy cycle.