Fire academy in Texas

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

8 schools offer these firefighter programs, and Texas 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 Texas, 8 of the 16 programs take students without a high school diploma and 8 ask for a diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 16 programs here are fire academy (Firefighter I and II, 9 programs), fire science (associate degree, 4 programs), fire science certificate or diploma (2 programs) and fire inspector or investigator course (1 program).

See the 16 programs

How much does fire academy cost in Texas?

$3,826 to $8,058 is what most firefighter programs in Texas cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 16 programs with a price. All of them: $2,400 to $9,926

In the typical program

Finished the program: 60%
Working 6 months later: 78%
Earned a year, estimated: about $33,500
Length: Not enough data; 1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5

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

Is there free fire academy training in Texas?

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.²³⁴In program year 2024 it paid toward the training of at least 9 people at 1 of the 16 programs here.
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. Most firefighter programs in Texas cost $3,826 to $8,058. Prices on this page run from $2,400 to $9,926.

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

How to pay for fire academy training in Texas

WIOA funding can pay for fire academy training in Texas

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 Texas

lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare: 9th of 15
other states where the typical program's graduates earned less: 1 of 9
firefighter programs here, against the typical state's 4: 16 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 Amarillo, Athens, El Paso and other Texas cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 1 more program is in 1 other area and 2 online.

Other training in Texas

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

Where the Texas firefighter program numbers come from

Which Texas firefighter programs are on this list?

These are the firefighter programs Texas 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 Texas offers.

How the prices and results of Texas 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 Texas

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Fire academy in Texas

How much does fire academy cost in Texas?

Is there free fire academy training in Texas?

All 16 firefighter programs in Texas approved for WIOA funding

Fire Academy

Fire Protection Technology

Fire Technology Basic Firefighter AAS with Remedials 5

Fire Protection Basic Firefighter Certificate

Fire Science

Basic Firefighter Level II (FIFT.CER2)

Firefighter Certificate Level I Certificate

Fire Science Technology AAS

Fire Protection Technology / Fire Science

Fire Protection Advanced Firefighter Certificate

Fire Protection Intermediate Firefighter Certificate

Fire Inspector and Investigator TCFP/ Fire Science

Fire Rescue Operations/ Fire Science

Fire Technology Basic Firefighter Certificate of Completion Credit

Basic Structural Firefighter Training

Basic Firefighter Option (Fsfo.AAS)