Program Overview

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Firefighter – Pre-Service Education and Training (compressed)

Program Overview

Firefighters take responsibility for things many people wouldn’t want to carry on their shoulders including saving lives, homes, buildings, schools and churches and protecting the environment. Sounds a lot like a job description for a real-life superhero – are you ready to apply?

Students in this program will:

• Learn from curriculum based on the current National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) standards and recognized across North America.
• Apply practical skills in simulated and controlled live fire training scenarios on campus and at local fire training facilities.
• Be eligible to take the exams for NFPA 1001 Level 1 & 2 (Firefighter 1 and 2) as well as the NFPA 472 (Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations), after graduation.

Intakes and Availability

Date	Domestic Availability	International Availability
January 2026	Open	Closed

Program Highlights

• DC Experience
• Success Stories
• Resources

Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
• Grade 12 English (C or U)
• Grade 11 mathematics (C, M or U)
• One of the following sciences:
  • Grade 11 or 12 biology (C, M or U)
  • Grade 11 or 12 chemistry (C, M or U)
  • Grade 11 or 12 physics (C, M or U)
  • Grade 11 or 12 exercise science (C, M or U)

Post-admission requirements:

• Rent Bunker Gear and purchase a Uniform Package and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from our approved vendors.
• Provide proof of current Standard First Aid and CPR – Level C (minimum) Certification, that must remain valid for the duration of the program.
• Purchase black matte, leather CSA approved every day safety shoes to wear to all classes.

Tuition

View full costs

Semester 1 Courses

• Communication Foundations (COMM 1100)
• Fire Behaviour and Ground Operation I (FBGO 1400)
• Fire Ground Practical I (FGP 1400)
• Fire Prevention & Public Education (FPPE 1400)
• Fire Emergency Patient Care I (PCE 1401)
• Fire Fitness Management 1 (PHED 1100)

Career Options

• Fire alarm technician
• Fire ranger
• Firefighter
• Hazardous material technician
• Medical attendant
• Volunteer firefighter

Experiential Learning

Students will be given the opportunity to practice and progress in a controlled setting at a variety of training facilities. Live fire exercises will further enhance the student experience, including but not exclusive to fire behavior and progression, vehicle fires, Class B fires, fire streams and methods of interior fire attack.

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Qualified graduates can go on to take Durham College's Fire Prevention & Technology program or 911 Emergency and Call Centre Communications program.

Tech Requirements

• Processor: i7
• RAM: 16GB
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional or Education x64 SP1
• Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 11 or Google Chrome (newest version) or Firefox (newest version)
• Network Adapter: 802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz wireless adapter
• Camera: Webcam/built-in camera
• Internet connection

Entrance Award

The Whitby Fire and Emergency Services Inclusivity Excellence Award will be given to two racialized or economically challenged students from Whitby who have been accepted into this program.

Program Details

The program will provide you with the knowledge and practical skills required to become a firefighter. The curriculum is based on the current National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) standards and is recognized across North America.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Begin the department orientation and the first year of employment with a solid theoretical base and practical skills in content, providing the successful graduate with knowledge and skills in the following areas: basic fire science, fire suppression principles and practices, firefighter emergency patient care, fire prevention/public education, and specialty modules such as confined space and environmental hazards.
2. Apply generic skills reflecting the beginning competencies required of the recruit or new volunteer in areas of content, providing the successful graduate with knowledge and skills in the following areas: basic fire science, fire suppression principles and practices, firefighter emergency patient care, fire prevention/public education, and specialty modules such as confined space and environmental hazards.
3. Develop the necessary vocational, general education, and generic skills to promote lifelong learning, and career path potential in a career that usually lasts a lifetime.
4. Begin the initial steps in the professionalization process as a new recruit in order to meet the ethical, legal, and safety requirements inherent in professional practice.
5. Describe and safely use fire department apparatus, tools and equipment.
6. Demonstrate safe practices and techniques.
7. Communicate effectively verbally, non-verbally and in writing using common fire service terminology.
8. Interact appropriately in a wide variety of interpersonal situations in emergency and non-emergency settings.
9. Demonstrate critical thinking skills.
10. Interact effectively in the community with its representation from a variety of multicultural and social economic backgrounds.
11. Demonstrate knowledge of how to work effectively with other members of the fire service team, emergency patient care team and related groups.

Costs

Personal Equipment

• Bunker Gear Rental: $780 plus HST
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): $997 plus HST
• Station Wear Uniform: $353.50 plus HST
• Standard First Aid/CPR C: $125 plus HST (approximately)

Additional Fees

• Bunker Gear Repair and/or Cleaning: To be determined at time of service
• Bunker Gear Replacement Fee: $2500 plus HST
• Bunker Gear Late Return Fee: $80 plus HST per month
• SCBA Mask: $599 plus HST (optional)
• OFM Testing and Certification: $350 plus HST (approximately)

Program Costs

The fees below are estimates only based on information available at the time of publication, and do not include the cost of textbooks. There may be additional costs; however, not all courses require textbooks.

Residency | Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident | International Started Academic Year In | Fall | Winter | Spring

At this time there are no program fees for this program and intake. If you are a domestic student please contact and if you are an international student please contact for information.

Land Acknowledgement

Durham College is situated on the traditional lands of the First Peoples of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. These lands are covered under the Williams Treaties and rest within the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg. We offer our gratitude to the Indigenous Peoples who care for and, through the treaty process, share the lands on which we live, learn, teach and prosper today.