Fire academy in Arizona

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

10 schools offer these firefighter programs, and Arizona 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 Arizona, 6 of the 15 programs take students without a high school diploma, 4 ask for a diploma or equivalent and 5 ask for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 15 programs here are fire academy (Firefighter I and II, 6 programs), fire science (associate degree, 5 programs), fire science certificate or diploma (2 programs), firefighter and EMT combined (1 program), and 1 more of one other kind.

See the 15 programs

How much does fire academy cost in Arizona?

Certificates and short courses (10 programs): $3,736 to $4,377most of them, usually 16 to 33 weeks long
Two-year degrees (5 programs): $7,310 to $9,539most of them

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: 19%
Working 6 months later: 100%
Earned a year, estimated: about $43,800
Length: 16 to 33 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 Arizona may also offer fire academy training. How these figures are made

Is there free fire academy training in Arizona?

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 21 people at 2 of the 15 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. Certificates and short courses here mostly cost $3,736 to $4,377.Two-year degrees here mostly cost $7,310 to $9,539.

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

How to pay for fire academy training in Arizona

WIOA funding can pay for fire academy training in Arizona

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 Arizona

lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare: 8th of 15
other states where the typical program's graduates earned less: 6 of 9
firefighter programs here, against the typical state's 4: 15 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 Tucson, Phoenix, Prescott Valley and other Arizona cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 2 more programs are in 2 other areas, 2 in smaller cities and towns.

Other training in Arizona

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

Where the Arizona firefighter program numbers come from

Which Arizona firefighter programs are on this list?

These are the firefighter programs Arizona 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 Arizona offers.

How the prices and results of Arizona 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 Arizona

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Fire academy in Arizona

How much does fire academy cost in Arizona?

Is there free fire academy training in Arizona?

All 15 firefighter programs in Arizona approved for WIOA funding

Fire & Emergency Services Higher Edu (FESHE) ' AAS

Fire Science Technology A.A.S.

Fire Academy Certificate

Fire Science Academy Track - Certificate

Fire Science AAS

Fire Science Technology - certificate

Fire Science Intermediate Certificate with EMT

Fire Science Technology - AAS degree

Firefighter Operations Certificate

Fire Science - Level I - Certificate of Proficiency

Firefighter 1&2

Fire Academy - Certificate

Fire Service-Kingman

Fire Science Community Risk Manager Certificate

Fire Science - AAS