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Fire academy in Tennessee

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

2 schools offer these firefighter programs, and Tennessee 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 Tennessee, 1 of the 2 programs takes students without a high school diploma and 1 asks for a diploma or equivalent.

Both are the same kind of program: fire science (associate degree).

See the 2 programs

How much does fire academy cost in Tennessee?

$3,531 to $9,242

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

These two programs

Finished the program
76%
Working 6 months later
97%
Earned a year, estimated
about $74,600
Length
Left out
The 2 figures filed fail our checks

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

Is there free fire academy training in Tennessee?

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

All 2 firefighter programs in Tennessee approved for WIOA funding

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2 programs

  • Fire science (associate degree)In personNo diploma needed

    Fire Science

    WSCC Morristown Campus

    Morristown

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    WSCC Morristown Campus, MorristownFire science (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$74,600
    Price if you pay yourself$9,242
    School website, Fire Science at WSCC Morristown Campus
    More details about Fire Science at WSCC Morristown Campus
    Finished
    76%
    Working at 6 months
    97%
    Earned in a quarter
    $18,656
    Length
    Left out
    Cost of supplies
    $11,700
    Students counted
    92
    Earned a year, estimated
    $74,600
    Price if you pay yourself
    $9,242
    School website, Fire Science at WSCC Morristown Campus

  • Fire science (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Fire Science

    Southwest Tennessee Community College

    Memphis

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Southwest Tennessee Community College, MemphisFire science (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$3,531
    School website, Fire Science at Southwest Tennessee Community College
    More details about Fire Science at Southwest Tennessee Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Left out
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,531
    School website, Fire Science at Southwest Tennessee Community College

How to pay for fire academy training in Tennessee

WIOA funding can pay for fire academy training in Tennessee

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 Morristown, Memphis and other Tennessee cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in Tennessee

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

Where the Tennessee firefighter program numbers come from

Which Tennessee firefighter programs are on this list?

These are the firefighter programs Tennessee 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 Tennessee offers.

How the prices and results of Tennessee 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 Tennessee

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Firefighters
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List