Centennial College

Firefighter Courses Help You Develop Skills in Various Areas

To become a firefighter, dedication is key right from the beginning when students attend a firefight program, such as Centennial College’s Pre-Service Firefighter Education And Training. As such, this offering has stringent admission requirements for applicants. Academically, students must have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. Also required are compulsory English Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent and math Grade 11 or 12, C or U, or equivalent. Applicants must also be able to wear a breathing apparatus and are required to produce a medical certificate indicating ability to perform the duties of a firefighter. Applicants should be aware that a career with many municipal fire services may also require further qualifications, including the following: 20/30 vision in each eye without corrective lenses, satisfactory completion of a color vision assessment, normal and unaided hearing, no conviction for a criminal offence for which a pardon has not be granted and possession of a Class DZ driver’s license.

Once accepted to this firefighter program, students will discover an offering that is collaboration between Centennial College and Toronto Fire Services, which ensures that the know-how and practical knowledge obtained is relevant to the field. Additionally, the program is in accordance with the approved curriculum developed by the Ontario Association of the Fire Chiefs (OAFC) and the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM). Covered during the three semesters students spend in the firefighter courses at Centennial College are various topics such as: introduction to fire services, fire ground operations, emergency patient care, fire equipment, fitness, rescue operations, environmental protection, fire safety inspection and more.

Additionally, to round out firefighter courses, students have access to the training facilities at Toronto Fire Services and Centennial College’s state-of-the-art patient care lab. At these locations, students apply what they have learned and benefit from simulation training under the guidance of qualified instructors, while also enjoying ample time in smaller group-learning scenarios.

Successful completion of Centennial College’s firefight program gives students the skills and knowledge they need to write the Ontario Fire Marshal Provincial Testing. Among these skills are the ability to: demonstrate role performance in fire suppression, community education and fire prevention, firefighter emergency patient care, environmental protection and special rescue operations; use safe practices and techniques with fire department apparatus, tools and equipment; communicate effectively using verbal, non-verbal, written or electronic methods including recognized and appropriate fire service terminology; interact with others in a variety of emergency and non-emergency situations in a manner that demonstrates confidence, professionalism and sensitivity to others and to the situation; demonstrate respect when communicating effectively with diverse communities and their members; use effective and appropriate problem-solving and decision-making skills in emergency and non-emergency situations; work effectively with other members of the fire service team, pre-hospital emergency care providers and other emergency service-related groups to provide comprehensive service in emergency and non-emergency situations; and more.