Ozarks Technical Community College’s Fire Science Technology Program achieved formal Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) Recognition. FESHE’s mission is to establish an organization of post-secondary institutions that promote higher education and enhance the recognition of the fire and emergency services as a profession to reduce loss of life and property from fire and other hazards.
With this recognition, OTC students who complete one of the six core FESHE courses within the Fire Science Technology Program will also receive a certificate of completion from the National Fire Academy. The FESHE program mark represents the idea that firefighters and fire officers, armed with knowledge and a college degree, can reduce the human and economic impact of fires in their communities.
OTC’s Fire Science Technology Program is the only community college program in the state accredited through the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC). The program now holds the distinction of being the only community college program in the state that is both accredited and FESHE recognized.
About OTC’s Fire Science Technology Program
OTC’s Fire Science Technology Program teaches students the science behind fire prevention and emergency services, hazardous materials and more. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to apply for firefighter certification through the Missouri Division of Fire Safety. The program includes both degree and certificate options that allow students to seek employment upon graduation. OTC Fire Science Technology graduates find work as firefighters, fire inspectors and safety instructors. Some find employment in the military or the U.S. Forest Service.