Fire Science/EMS

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What Will I Learn?

The Fire Science program at JJC provides entry level students with the firefighter certifications and EMS licensure required by local fire departments and fire protection districts in northern Illinois.  Job applicants often need these qualifications before they are hired, or even before they apply!  We recognize the current dire shortage of cross-trained firefighter/EMT's and firefighter/paramedics - and our program is designed to provide local agencies with more qualified providers. 

What Degree/Certificate Can I Receive?

JJC's program offers several degree and certificate options for both new and veteran fire service/EMS providers.

Our Fire Science and EMS AAS Degree combines Gen Eds, EMT licensure, a BOF fire academy and many elective choices to assure full qualifications for entry-level hiring upon graduation.

Our Fire and Emergency Services Professionals AAS Degree allows firefighters already on the job, with certs and licenses in hand, to get credit for those qualifications and finish up a handful of Gen Eds and electives for a degree that can help in the promotional process.  

All of our fire degrees work with our Emergency Medical Services AAS degree as well, which offers EMT and paramedic licensure along with the ability to focus on medical or public safety fields other than the fire service.

We also offer:

A Fire and EMT Certificate of Completion, which combines our EMT course with our fire academy internship for students who do not require a full degree for hiring or promotion.

An EMT Certificate of Completion, which combines our EMS 101/EMR course with our EMT course (EMS 101 is a required pre-requisite to the JJC EMT course) for students who do not plan to advance to paramedic or a degree program.

What is Unique About Our Fire Science Program?

We have three degrees to meet all fire/EMS student needs! 

• We are the first community college in this area to fully combine EMS and fire science training in one degree to reflect cross training required by local fire departments (the Fire Science and EMS AAS). 
• Our non-transfer Fire and Emergency Services Professionals AAS allows working professionals to apply OSFM certs and EMS licenses to degree requirements - while taking Gen Eds online or hybrid for scheduling convenience. 
• And students who wish to focus primarily on the EMS side of the profession have the option of our EMS AAS degree, which is easily applicable to our fire degrees or transfer to SIU.

Additionally, our fire science courses are recognized by the National Fire Academy for a commitment to the nationally recognized Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) model of standardized professional development education criteria.

All fire science faculty are degreed current or retired firefighters and EMS providers with experience from every level of the profession. JJC also has an articulation agreement with Southern Illinois University (SIU). Our fire and EMS degrees are designed to easily transfer into SIU’s Fire Service Management Bachelor Degree Program, which is taught at our Romeoville campus.

Lastly, the Kim Crawford Memorial Scholarship is available exclusively for JJC Fire Science/EMS students. Students in their second year who have a GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale and demonstrate financial need can apply. For more information, visit the JJC Scholarships page.

Fire and EMS students must meet with a faculty advisor to make sure they are in the right program for their needs and goals.  Contact the program secretary at 815.280.2356 or cdeboer@jjc.edu for more information.

Career opportunities in the Fire Service!

See who is hiring around our area and what they require to apply (spoiler alert, most require EMT or paramedic on application or hire, and many require a BOF as well).

• TheBlueLine
• IO Solutions
• ApplyToServe
• Indeed firefighter positions