Fire academy in Alaska

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

2 schools offer these firefighter programs, and Alaska 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 Alaska, all 3 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 3 programs here are fire science (associate degree, 1 program), short fire course (1 program) and wildland firefighter course (1 program).

See the 3 programs

How much does fire academy cost in Alaska?

$840 to $18,000

from the lowest-priced program to the highest, if you pay yourself

In the typical program

Finished the program: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length: Not enough data; 3 programs report 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 Alaska may also offer fire academy training. How these figures are made

Is there free fire academy training in Alaska?

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 3 people at 1 of the 3 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. These programs cost $840 to $18,000.

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

All 3 firefighter programs in Alaska approved for WIOA funding

3 programs

Fire science (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Fire Science (AAS)
University of Alaska Fairbanks - UAF
Fairbanks
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
University of Alaska Fairbanks - UAF, FairbanksFire science (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$37,400
Price if you pay yourself$18,000
Program website, Fire Science (AAS) at University of Alaska Fairbanks - UAF
More details about Fire Science (AAS) at University of Alaska Fairbanks - UAF
Finished
54%
Working at 6 months
82%
Earned in a quarter
$9,358
Length
60 weeks, 15 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$4,500
Students counted
131
Earned a year, estimated
$37,400
Price if you pay yourself
$18,000
Program website, Fire Science (AAS) at University of Alaska Fairbanks - UAF
Short fire courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Advanced Fire Fighting
AVTEC - Alaska Vocational Technical Center
Seward
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
AVTEC - Alaska Vocational Technical Center, SewardShort fire course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$58,800
Price if you pay yourself$840
3 students trained with WIOA funding
Program website, Advanced Fire Fighting at AVTEC - Alaska Vocational Technical Center
More details about Advanced Fire Fighting at AVTEC - Alaska Vocational Technical Center
Finished
100%
Working at 6 months
78%
Earned in a quarter
$14,698
Length
1 week, 32 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
33
Earned a year, estimated
$58,800
Price if you pay yourself
$840
students trained with WIOA funding
3
Program website, Advanced Fire Fighting at AVTEC - Alaska Vocational Technical Center
Wildland firefighter courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Wildland Fire Science (OEC)
University of Alaska Fairbanks - UAF
Fairbanks
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
University of Alaska Fairbanks - UAF, FairbanksWildland firefighter course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$3,300
Program website, Wildland Fire Science (OEC) at University of Alaska Fairbanks - UAF
More details about Wildland Fire Science (OEC) at University of Alaska Fairbanks - UAF
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
15 weeks, 9 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$825
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$3,300
Program website, Wildland Fire Science (OEC) at University of Alaska Fairbanks - UAF

How to pay for fire academy training in Alaska

WIOA funding can pay for fire academy training in Alaska

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.

Other training in Alaska

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

Where the Alaska firefighter program numbers come from

Which Alaska firefighter programs are on this list?

These are the firefighter programs Alaska 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 Alaska offers.

How the prices and results of Alaska 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 Alaska

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