FIRE SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN VERMONT

Vermont is home to 280 firefighters and first-line supervisors, and 570 emergency medical technicians and paramedics. These fire service professionals work hard to protect the state’s residents, land, and property from fire loss and damage. Hopefuls wishing to join this network of firefighters can get prepared at the state fire academy or earn an associate degree in fire science at Vermont Technical College.

Annual salaries for Vermont fire service professionals differ depending on a variety of factors such as location, education, and years of experience and service, for example. Let’s get a quick glance at annual wages for firefighters and fire service supervisors in Vermont at the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles:

VERMONT’S FIRE SCIENCE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

Vermont firefighters are required to earn the dual Firefighter I and Firefighter II certifications. Students can take necessary coursework to earn these at Vermont Fire Academy or another accredited and approved institution. After completing the required classes, students will have to take a series of exams to earn the certificates. In addition to earning these certificates, students will also have to undergo physical training and a physical exam to ensure that they are fit and capable of completing strenuous tasks that firefighters have to take on under high-stress emergency incidents.

While a college degree is not mandatory to become an entry-level firefighter in Vermont, many do go for the associate degree in fire science just to stay competitive among a large pool of candidates. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that students with higher education have better job opportunities and more options to choose from. At the associate level, students can expect to learn the basics of fire science like those in the certificate level do, but they’ll also have to take general education and elective courses like math, history, and English to develop strong communication and reasoning skills. Students with a fire science degree may pursue a variety of leadership and management roles.

FIRE SCIENCE COLLEGES IN VERMONT

Prospective firefighters can pursue a certificate, associate, or bachelor’s degree in fire science and obtain EMT training from the following schools in Vermont:

FIRE SCIENCE: DISTANCE LEARNING

Distance learning is a viable route for those who live in Vermont’s remote locations or have personal obligations to attend to. Online degree programs allow students to learn the same material as those would in a traditional classroom setting on the Internet. A strong drive to succeed, ability to work well independently, and excellent time management skills are important for online learners.

How does distance learning work? It’s relatively simple and rather convenient; students are expected to watch lectures in video format on their own time and turn in assignments via email on due dates. Additionally, they are responsible for interacting and taking part in class discussions with other peers and the instructors via chat programs or a virtual classroom discussion board. Students can craft their own schedule and fit studying in whenever works best for them.

Because firefighting is a hands-on profession, students may still be required to meet on-campus every now and then to engage in hands-on tasks and projects in order to finish certain classes. These are designed to prepare students for the working world and allow them to put their book learning into perspective.