Classes will include:

• Fall 2026 for Firefighter 1
• Spring 2027 for Firefighter 2

• You can become a certified firefighter by the time you complete high school and are ready to move into the workforce.
• You are eligible to apply if you will be a junior or senior during the academic year. School counselor inquiries are welcome.
• Open to all school districts, public, private, and home schools.

Rural High School Concurrent Firefighter Academy

The Rural High School Concurrent Firefighter Academy provides high school students with an opportunity to begin firefighter training while still enrolled in high school. This program is specifically designed for students who live outside of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, including Oklahoma City, Midwest City, Del City, Guthrie, El Reno, and Norman. The academy is intended to expand firefighter training access to students in rural and underserved communities across Oklahoma.

The program introduces students to the volunteer fire service within their local communities while helping them earn the certifications needed to pursue future employment in the fire service.

This two-semester program is open to high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old. During the first semester, students enroll in Firefighter I coursework. In the second semester, students complete Firefighter II along with the Fitness and Nutrition for Firefighters course. After completing the firefighter coursework, students may continue into a third semester to complete Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training.

Flexible Training Model

Academic coursework is completed online, allowing students to remain enrolled at their local high school while participating in the academy. To complete the required hands-on firefighter skills training, students will travel to the nearest designated training site for five weekend skills sessions during each 16-week semester.

Sponsoring Fire Department Requirements

Students participating in the academy must be sponsored by a local career or volunteer fire department. As part of the sponsorship process, students will complete a participation waiver with their sponsoring department, allowing them to participate in approved department activities such as monthly meetings, in-house training, special events, and other authorized firefighter-related activities.

In return, the sponsoring fire department agrees to provide the structural firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) required for the student’s participation in the academy.

Students who need assistance locating a sponsoring fire department may contact the Fire Program Director at joebe@okstate.edu for local department contacts. However, students are responsible for directly contacting fire departments to request sponsorship opportunities.

Certifications and Career Pathway Opportunities

Students completing the academy have the opportunity to earn nationally recognized firefighter certifications while building the foundation needed for volunteer, part-time, or full-time employment within the fire service.

Potential certification pathway opportunities include:

• Firefighter I
• Firefighter II
• Hazardous Materials Awareness
• Hazardous Materials Operations
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) pathway opportunity

Concurrent enrollment students receive a tuition waiver but are responsible for applicable course fees.

Metro Area High School Concurrent Firefighter Academy

The Metro Area High School Concurrent Firefighter Academy provides high school students with an opportunity to begin firefighter training while still enrolled in high school. This program is specifically designed for students who live within the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, including Oklahoma City, Midwest City, Del City, Guthrie, El Reno, Norman, and surrounding metro communities.

In addition to the Oklahoma City campus, OSU-OKC also offers the concurrent firefighter academy at the Okmulgee campus location. Students who live within approximately a 30-minute driving distance of the Okmulgee campus are eligible to attend classes at that location.

The academy introduces students to the fire service while providing the certifications and hands-on training needed to pursue future volunteer, part-time, or full-time employment opportunities within the fire service.

This two-semester program is open to high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old. During the first semester, students enroll in Firefighter I coursework. In the second semester, students complete Firefighter II along with the Fitness and Nutrition for Firefighters course. After completing the firefighter coursework, students may continue into a third semester to complete Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training.

On-Campus Training Model

Students in the Metro Area Concurrent Firefighter Academy attend classes Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Training includes both classroom instruction and hands-on firefighter skills development throughout the semester.

The on-campus academy model allows students to train in a structured environment while gaining direct access to firefighter equipment, instructors, and practical skills training necessary for firefighter certification.

Certifications and Career Pathway Opportunities

Students completing the academy have the opportunity to earn nationally recognized firefighter certifications while building the foundation needed for employment within the fire service.

Potential certification pathway opportunities include:

• Firefighter I
• Firefighter II
• Hazardous Materials Awareness
• Hazardous Materials Operations
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) pathway opportunity

Concurrent enrollment students receive a tuition waiver but are responsible for applicable course fees.

Document Resources

OSSAA Physical Form
Concurrent Enrollment Approval Form
Concurrent Enrollment Student Checklist
Concurrent Enrollment General Info
Concurrent Enrollment Parent Edition
Off-campus HS Concurrent Fire Academy Information
On-campus HS Concurrent Fire Academy Information

For more information

For more information on OSU-OKC high school concurrent enrollment, visit the Concurrent Enrollment page.

For more information, contact joebe@okstate.edu or (405) 945-8672