Studies & Degrees in Fire Science and Technology
Fire Science and Technology Study Programs
Fire science and technology is the study of how fires start, spread and are put out, and of how fire and rescue services are organised. The US National Fire Academy, through its Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) initiative, describes the field's degree programmes as those that emphasise firefighting response, fire prevention, fire administration and emergency medical services management.
A degree is not the same as firefighter training. Recruits learn the job at a fire academy, and public fire services select their staff through their own tests. The programmes described here add technical knowledge and prepare for inspection, investigation and management posts.
Qualifications and levels
- Certificate: a short programme focused on basic operations. College of Lake County in Illinois, for example, has a Firefighter Basic Operations certificate and aligns its courses with the requirements of the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal.
- Associate degree: the most common format, taught at community and technical colleges. A full-time student at College of Lake County completes the Associate in Applied Science in Fire Science Technology in two years.
- Bachelor's degree: the University of New Haven in Connecticut offers a B.S. in Fire Science with two concentrations, Fire Administration and Fire/Arson Investigation, next to an associate degree in Fire Science and a B.S. in Fire Protection Engineering.
- Master's degree: specialised programmes such as the M.S. in Fire and Explosion Investigation and the M.S. in Emergency Management at the University of New Haven.
- Vocational training in Spain: the official route is vocational training (FP). The Técnico en Emergencias y Protección Civil is an intermediate cycle (grado medio) of 2,000 hours, and the Técnico Superior en Coordinación de Emergencias y Protección Civil is a higher cycle (grado superior) of 2,000 hours, both in the professional family Seguridad y Medio Ambiente.
In the United States, the FESHE Recognition certificate acknowledges that a college degree programme in emergency services meets the minimum standards set by FESHE committees and the National Fire Academy.
What students learn
Typical course subjects are fire behaviour and combustion, firefighting strategy and tactics, building construction, fire prevention and codes, fire protection systems such as alarms and sprinklers, hazardous materials, fire investigation, emergency medical care, and the administration and law of the fire service. At the University of New Haven, practical work includes fire-detection software and alarm panels, a fire and arson investigation laboratory where live fires are produced, and a fire dynamics laboratory.
The Spanish intermediate cycle trains students to maintain equipment, to watch for and put out forest fires and urban fires, to intervene in natural and technological emergencies and to inspect buildings and events for fire prevention. The higher cycle focuses on emergency planning, risk assessment and the coordination of teams.
Where to study it
SpainExchange lists 44 active schools for this subject: 38 in the United States, 2 in Spain, and one each in Australia, the United Kingdom, China and Canada. Most of the US schools are community and technical colleges, such as College of Lake County in Grayslake, Lansing Community College, Broward College in Fort Lauderdale and Onondaga Community College in Syracuse. Universities in the list include the University of New Haven, the University of Florida and Idaho State University, and Central South University in Changsha, China.
The two Spanish entries are private training centres. Campus Training prepares candidates for the public examinations (oposiciones) for firefighter posts, and CEAS Internacional in Palencia offers courses in security and risk management. Neither replaces the official FP cycles.
Careers
In the United States, firefighters typically need a high school diploma and training in emergency medical services; candidates must pass written and physical tests and train at a fire academy, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS counted 355,300 firefighter jobs in 2025 and projects growth of 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 26,800 openings a year. For fire inspectors it counted 17,600 jobs in 2025 and projects growth of 6 percent, and it notes that employers may prefer candidates with a 2- or 4-year degree in fire science.
In Spain, the intermediate FP title leads to work as a forest firefighter or as a firefighter in municipal, provincial, regional, airport or company services, according to the ministry's TodoFP portal. Posts in public fire services are filled through oposiciones. Campus Training states that candidates need Spanish or EU nationality, the Bachiller certificate or equivalent (some local authorities ask only for compulsory secondary education) and driving licences B and C, and that the process includes a theory test, psychometric tests and physical tests.
Frequently asked questions
Is a fire science degree required to become a firefighter?
No. In the United States firefighters typically need a high school diploma, emergency medical training and fire academy training. A degree helps for inspection, investigation and management posts.
How long does a fire science programme take?
An associate degree takes two years of full-time study. The Spanish FP cycles in emergencies and civil protection have 2,000 hours each.
What is the official qualification in Spain?
The vocational titles Técnico en Emergencias y Protección Civil (grado medio) and Técnico Superior en Coordinación de Emergencias y Protección Civil (grado superior).
Are physical tests part of the selection?
Yes. US fire departments require physical tests, and the Spanish oposiciones include a phase of physical tests such as swimming, running and rope climbing.