Fire Science Technology AAS

Blinn College Fire Science Program started on September 1, 1994. The Fire Science Program was developed in response to local and national needs for an advanced degree in the field of fire protection and life safety. In 2006, the Blinn College Board of Trustees approved expanding the college's Fire Science Program to include training at the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) world-renowned Brayton Fire Training Field in College Station, TX. The board approved a memorandum of agreement with TEEX, a member of the Texas A&M University System. The partnership allows Blinn fire science students to receive 12 weeks of practical training with firefighter props, equipment, and apparatus in addition to classroom instruction in fire protection, life safety, and program management.

The partnership allows Blinn fire science student’s two pathways to choose from for firefighter certification.

1. A traditional 12-week in-person fire academy comprised of intense classroom and physical, hands-on training.
2. A blended 12-week online fire academy followed by 4 weeks of intense, in-person, physical, hands-on training.

More information regarding the Blinn College/TEEX fire academies can be found at https://www.blinn.edu/fire-science/fire-academy.html

Credit for Experiential Learning/Prior Learning Assessment

Blinn College offers college credit for experiential learning, allowing students to build on their existing certifications and experience.

Eligibility for Six (6) Hours of Credit

The student must have completed no less than six (6) hours at Blinn College before requesting credit for experiential learning.

Residency is equal to 25% of the degree plan which is 15 semester credit hours. Residency courses must be within the Fire Science Technology AAS degree plan. Experiential learning credit may not be used to meet the minimum (25%) residence requirement for the Fire Science Technology AAS Degree. Credit will not be applied to the student’s transcript until residency has been met.

EMT Experiential Learning

The EMT courses are integrated into the Fire Science Technology AAS Degree and the Fire Science Technology Certificate – Level 1.

Students may receive 6 hours of college credit for coursework completed through a non-college-based program by providing:

• Current certification from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT), and/or
• Current certification as an EMT from the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS).
• Certification as EMT implies successful completion of state approved EMT course, or a higher level of certification, such as EMT-Paramedic, may be accepted for this purpose.

Credit awarded for EMT courses:

• EMSP 1501
• EMSP 1160

Experiential learning is awarded by completing the prior learning assessment form and paying the $1 fee per contact hour associated with EMSP 1501 and EMSP 1160 which is equal to $224.00. Credit will not be applied to the transcript until residency has been met and prior learning assessment form has been completed. Additional information can be found at https://www.blinn.edu/emergency-medical-services/experiential-learning-information.html or by contacting the Blinn College EMS and Fire Science Office, 979.691.2130 or mally.hance@blinn.edu.

Fire Academy Experiential Learning

Students may receive twenty-four (24)hours of college credit for coursework completed through a non-college-based program by providing:

• Completion of an International Fire School Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) and/or Texas Commission on Fire Protection accredited fire school program and provide proof of current fire fighter certification.

• Proof of a higher level of certification may be accepted for this purpose from one of the following:
  • Pro Board Certification or Advanced Certification through the State Fireman and Fire Marshals Association. Courses for which credit will be awarded are FIRS 1203, FIRS 1301, FIRS 1407, FIRS 1313, FIRS 1319, FIRS 1323, FIRS 1329, and FIRS 1333. 

• These courses will only apply to the Fire Science Technology AAS degree.

• Credit will not be applied to the transcript until residency has been met and prior learning assessment form has been completed.

Experiential learning is awarded by completing the prior learning assessment form and paying the $1 fee per contact hour associated with FIRS 1203, FIRS 1301, FIRS 1407, FIRS 1313, FIRS 1319, FIRS 1323, FIRS 1329, and FIRS 1333 which is equal to $544.00. Additional information can be found at https://www.blinn.edu/fire-science/experiential-learning-information.html or by contacting the Blinn College Fire Science Office, 979-691-2130, mally.hance@blinn.edu.

Course Summary for Fire Science Technology AAS Degree

(CIP Code: 43.0203)