Fire Academy

If you’re driven to serve your community and pursue a hands-on path in public safety, Catawba Valley Community College’s Fire Academy offers a direct route into the fire service.

At CVCC, the Fire Academy is carefully designed, developed, and continuously updated to align with the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal’s Firefighter Training Program. In just approximately three months, students engage in an intensive, weekday schedule from 7 am to 5 pm, gaining the essential training needed for entry-level employment.

Through this immersive program, students build critical, real-world skills using state-mandated topics and methods of instruction. Training covers key areas such as fire behavior, building construction, personal protective equipment, forcible entry, ladders, ventilation, and rescue—ensuring graduates are prepared for the demands of the field.

Students are required to successfully complete and pass all units of study mandated by the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal, reinforcing a high standard of readiness and professionalism.

Graduates of the CVCC Fire Academy are well-positioned to begin careers in public safety, securing roles as firefighters with state, county, or municipal agencies, as well as in private industry.