Fire academy in Iowa

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

3 schools offer these firefighter programs, and Iowa 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 Iowa, 2 of the 4 programs take students without a high school diploma and 2 ask for a diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 4 programs here are fire science (associate degree, 3 programs) and fire science certificate or diploma (1 program).

See the 4 programs

How much does fire academy cost in Iowa?

Two-year degrees (3 programs): $11,840 to $13,335all 3 with a price
Other firefighter programs (1 program): $5,920the one with a price

What you pay yourself for the whole program, as the schools report it.

In the typical program

Finished the program: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length: Not enough data; 4 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 Iowa may also offer fire academy training. How these figures are made

Is there free fire academy training in Iowa?

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 cost $11,840 to $13,335.Other firefighter programs here cost $5,920.

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

All 4 firefighter programs in Iowa approved for WIOA funding

4 programs

Fire science (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent
Entry-Level Firefighter
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Kirkwood Community College, Cedar RapidsFire science (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$33,500
Price if you pay yourself$13,335
Program website, Entry-Level Firefighter at Kirkwood Community College
More details about Entry-Level Firefighter at Kirkwood Community College
Finished
10%
Working at 6 months
84%
Earned in a quarter
$8,379
Length
64 weeks, 16 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,357
Students counted
618
Earned a year, estimated
$33,500
Price if you pay yourself
$13,335
Program website, Entry-Level Firefighter at Kirkwood Community College
Fire science (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Fire Science
Iowa Central Community College
Fort Dodge
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Iowa Central Community College, Fort DodgeFire science (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$25,500
Price if you pay yourself$13,315
Program website, Fire Science at Iowa Central Community College
More details about Fire Science at Iowa Central Community College
Finished
38%
Working at 6 months
80%
Earned in a quarter
$6,383
Length
60 weeks, 20 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$1,830
Students counted
80
Earned a year, estimated
$25,500
Price if you pay yourself
$13,315
Program website, Fire Science at Iowa Central Community College
Fire science (associate degree)In personNo diploma needed
Fire Science Technology AAS
Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny
Accredited school
No diploma needed
Des Moines Area Community College, AnkenyFire science (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimated$23,300
Price if you pay yourself$11,840
Program website, Fire Science Technology AAS at Des Moines Area Community College
More details about Fire Science Technology AAS at Des Moines Area Community College
Finished
11%
Working at 6 months
94%
Earned in a quarter
$5,819
Length
74 weeks, 16 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,868
Students counted
66
Earned a year, estimated
$23,300
Price if you pay yourself
$11,840
Program website, Fire Science Technology AAS at Des Moines Area Community College
Fire science certificate or diplomaIn personNo diploma needed
Fire Protection Technology Certificate
Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny
Accredited school
No diploma needed
Des Moines Area Community College, AnkenyFire science certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$5,920
Program website, Fire Protection Technology Certificate at Des Moines Area Community College
More details about Fire Protection Technology Certificate at Des Moines Area Community College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
32 weeks, 14 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$1,590
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$5,920
Program website, Fire Protection Technology Certificate at Des Moines Area Community College

How to pay for fire academy training in Iowa

WIOA funding can pay for fire academy training in Iowa

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.

Fire academy in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Fort Dodge and other Iowa cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in Iowa

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

Where the Iowa firefighter program numbers come from

Which Iowa firefighter programs are on this list?

These are the firefighter programs Iowa 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 Iowa offers.

How the prices and results of Iowa 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 Iowa

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources

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