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Accredited first responder schools in California

40 accredited schools in California offer first responder programs approved for WIOA funding

These schools are on the US Department of Education's list of accredited schools, and California has approved their programs for workforce funding. Between them they offer 113 of the 175 first responder programs on the state's list.

The Department doesn't accredit schools itself. It reviews accrediting agencies and lists the ones it recognizes as reliable judges of the quality of the education they accredit.1 Each school below names its accreditor, the year it was first accredited where the list records it, and its next review.

WIOA funding doesn't require accreditation. Besides colleges, a state can approve other public and private training providers,2 so many short courses come from schools that aren't on the Department's list. Their programs and results are on each field's page.

First responder training in California, every school, with costs and results

All job training programs in California

More accredited schools in California: Trade schools · Nursing schools · Medical certification programs · Allied health programs · IT schools · Business schools · Beauty schools · Transportation schools · Culinary and hospitality schools · Child care and social services programs

Accredited first responder schools in other states

Accredited EMT and paramedic programs in California

26 of the 39 schools with EMT and paramedic programs on California's list are accredited. They offer 34 of the 49 programs. See these programs with prices and results

Show the other 16 accredited schools

  • College of Marin

    Greenbrae

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegessince 1952, next review 2031

    1 program

  • College of the Redwoods

    Eureka

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegessince 1967, next review 2031

    1 program

  • College of the Siskiyous

    Weed

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegessince 1961, next review 2030

    1 program

  • Cuesta College

    San Luis Obispo

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegessince 1968, next review 2027

    1 program

  • Downey Adult School

    Downey

    Accredited by Council on Occupational Educationnext review 2029

    1 program

  • Fresno City College

    Fresno

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegessince 1952, next review 2027

    1 program

  • Lassen Community College

    Susanville

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegesnext review 2027

    1 program

  • MiraCosta Community College

    Oceanside, listed as Miracosta College

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegesnext review 2030

    1 program

  • Mt. Diablo Adult Education

    Concord

    Accredited by Council on Occupational Educationsince 2014, next review 2026

    1 program

  • Mt. San Antonio College

    Walnut

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegesnext review 2031

    1 program

  • Mt. San Jacinto Community College

    San Jacinto, listed as Mt San Jacinto College

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegesnext review 2032

    1 program

  • Napa Valley College

    Napa

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegessince 1952, next review 2030

    1 program

  • Porterville College

    Porterville

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegessince 1952, next review 2033

    1 program

  • Sacramento State-College of Continuing Education

    Sacramento, listed as California State University - Sacramento

    Accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commissionsince 1951, next review 2027

    1 program

  • University of Antelope Valley

    Lancaster, listed as University of Antelope Valley - Parkview Classroom Location

    Accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commissionsince 2016

    1 program

  • Yuba College

    Marysville

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegessince 1952, next review 2033

    1 program

Accredited firefighter programs in California

19 of the 23 schools with firefighter programs on California's list are accredited. They offer 26 of the 32 programs. See these programs with prices and results

Show the other 9 accredited schools

  • Crafton Hills College

    Yucaipa

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegessince 1975, next review 2027

    1 program

  • Feather River College

    Quincy

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegesnext review 2033

    1 program

  • Lassen Community College

    Susanville

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegesnext review 2027

    1 program

  • Los Angeles Trade Technical College

    Los Angeles

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegesnext review 2030

    1 program

  • Mendocino College

    Ukiah

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegessince 1980, next review 2027

    1 program

  • Merced College

    Merced

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegessince 1965, next review 2031

    1 program

  • Moreno Valley College CTE

    Moreno Valley, listed as Moreno Valley College

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegessince 2010, next review 2027

    1 program

  • Mt. San Jacinto Community College

    San Jacinto, listed as Mt San Jacinto College

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegesnext review 2032

    1 program

  • Porterville College

    Porterville

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegessince 1952, next review 2033

    1 program

Accredited police and corrections programs in California

15 of the 16 schools with police and corrections programs on California's list are accredited. They offer 25 of the 26 programs. See these programs with prices and results

Show the other 5 accredited schools

  • Fresno City College

    Fresno

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegessince 1952, next review 2027

    1 program

  • Los Medanos College

    Pittsburg

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegessince 1977, next review 2027

    1 program

  • San Bernardino Valley College

    San Bernardino

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegessince 1952, next review 2027

    1 program

  • San Joaquin Delta College

    Stockton

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegessince 1952, next review 2027

    1 program

  • West Hills College Lemoore

    Lemoore, listed as Lemoore College

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegessince 2006, next review 2031

    1 program

Accredited criminal justice programs in California

11 of the 14 schools with criminal justice programs on California's list are accredited. They offer 25 of the 28 programs. See these programs with prices and results

Show the other 1 accredited school

  • San Bernardino Valley College

    San Bernardino

    Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegessince 1952, next review 2027

    1 program

Accredited security guard programs in California

3 of the 25 schools with security guard programs on California's list are accredited. They offer 3 of the 40 programs. See these programs with prices and results

How we matched California's schools to the accreditation list

Which schools are counted?

Schools with programs California approved for WIOA funding in public safety, from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).3 The two lists share no ID number, so we matched each school by its website and name in the same state, and checked every unclear case by hand. A school that only hosts a college's classes doesn't count as the college. Where we couldn't tell, the school is left out.

How current is the accreditation?

We read the Department's list of October 24, 2026 and count only current accreditation. The Department notes that agencies report this information, that it isn't audited, and that the agency itself has the latest status.1 Before you enroll, check the school's standing with its accreditor.

Sources for the accreditation facts about California

Show the 3 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Department of Education, Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), data files of 2026-10-24
  2. 20 CFR 680.410, What is an eligible training provider? (eCFR)
  3. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List