Fire academy in Missouri

11 firefighter programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

9 schools offer these firefighter programs, and Missouri has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Firefighters put out fires and answer emergencies that put people, property or the environment at risk. Most need a high school diploma, must pass written and physical tests and an interview, and then train for a few months at a fire academy run by a fire department or the state. Firefighters may also need EMT or paramedic certification.¹

In Missouri, 6 of the 11 programs take students without a high school diploma, 4 ask for a diploma or equivalent and 1 asks for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 11 programs here are fire science (associate degree, 6 programs), fire academy (Firefighter I and II, 3 programs) and fire science certificate or diploma (2 programs).

See the 11 programs

How much does fire academy cost in Missouri?

Two-year degrees (6 programs): $9,054 to $12,605most of them, usually 64 weeks long
Other firefighter programs (5 programs): $4,416 to $7,419most of them, usually 32 weeks long

What you pay yourself for the whole program, as the schools report it. "Most" is the middle half of the programs with a price.

In the typical program

Finished the program: Not enough data; 1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later: Not enough data; 1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Length: 32 to 64 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Missouri may also offer fire academy training. How these figures are made

Is there free fire academy training in Missouri?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.²³⁴For a degree, the job center first looks at grants such as a federal Pell Grant; WIOA pays toward what they don't cover.⁴
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁵ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁴
Or pay yourself. Two-year degrees here mostly cost $9,054 to $12,605.Other firefighter programs here mostly cost $4,416 to $7,419.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

How to pay for fire academy training in Missouri

WIOA funding can pay for fire academy training in Missouri

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for fire academy training

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁶⁷

GI Bill for fire academy training

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁸

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Fire academy in Missouri

lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare: 14th of 15
firefighter programs here, against the typical state's 4: 11 vs 4

State comparisons use the same figures as the fire academy training by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Fire academy in Kansas City, Springfield, Poplar Bluff and other Missouri cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 2 in smaller cities and towns and 1 online.

Other training in Missouri

How fire academy training compares with the rest of public safety: First responder training in Missouri

Where the Missouri firefighter program numbers come from

Which Missouri firefighter programs are on this list?

These are the firefighter programs Missouri approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁹ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Missouri offers.

How the prices and results of Missouri firefighter programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about fire academy training in Missouri

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Fire academy in Missouri

How much does fire academy cost in Missouri?

Is there free fire academy training in Missouri?

All 11 firefighter programs in Missouri approved for WIOA funding

Fire Science Technology

Fire Science

Fire Science Technology AAS

Fundamental Firefighting Certificate

1Year-Fire Science

AAS-Fire Science

Fire Fighter I & Ii