The Emergency & Fire Management Services Pathway is for students who enjoy working with their hands, helping others, using hand and power tools, and working outdoors. Possible careers in this field include Firefighter, Investigator, and Detective.

Course Descriptions

For More Information: Career Cluster Poster

Introduction to Law, Public Safety, Correction, and Security - 1 Unit - Grades 9-10

College Preparatory 

NOTE: Students who have prior participation in a local fire department and/or Fire Explorer Post are not required to take this course and may go straight to Firefighter 1.

This course provides basic career information for entry into fire protection, public safety, security, and legal services.  Each student will develop a personal plan for his/her career path in public safety. The course includes skills in the areas of Firefighter. Effective communication is reinforced heavily to help students in the area of community relations.  Work-based learning strategies appropriate for this course may include job shadowing; apprenticeships and cooperative education are not available for this course.  SkillsUSA competitive events, community service, and leadership activities provide additional opportunities for students to apply essential standards and workplace readiness skills.  Students are required to participate in weekly physical training.  

[650500CW] 

Firefighter 1 - 2 Units - Grades 10-12

College Preparatory 

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Introduction to Law or prior participation in a local fire department and/or Fire Explorer Post;  (students must be 16 years of age before the course begins)

Firefighter 1 prepares students for the opportunity to earn the Firefighter 1 certification. Learning objectives are based on those listed in IFSTA’s Essentials of Firefighting, 7th Edition (2013), Stillwater, OK: Fire Protection Publications, Oklahoma State University. The South Carolina Fire Academy has modified these objectives to meet the needs of the South Carolina fire service. Objectives include firefighter safety, OSHA standards, HazMat training, SCBA and protective gear use, communication, fire behavior, building materials & construction, fire extinguishing devices, ropes & knots, structural search, victim removal, firefighter survival, and more. Certification qualifications include being 16 years old, passing a physical exam, and being approved for SCBA use.  Students 16 years of age or older will participate in a live burn.  Students may be required to pay some fees.  Course completion alone does not meet the criteria for achieving national certification for Firefighter I. Certification testing is separate. Requirements for meeting NFPA 1001 (2013), Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications can be viewed online at NFPA.org.  

[651400CD]

Firefighter 2 - 1 Unit - Grades 11-12

College Preparatory
Prerequisite: 75% or higher in Firefighter 1 with teacher recommendation

Firefighter 2 builds upon the knowledge and skills gained in Firefighter 1. Objectives in level 2 include fire department communications, rescue tools, vehicle extraction, fire hose use, fire streams, fire origin and cause determination, fire protection systems, fire and life safety initiatives, and more. Students 16 years of age or older will participate in a live burn. Firefighter 2 prepares students for the Firefighter 2 certification process. Course completion alone does not meet the criteria for achieving national certification for Fire Fighter 2. Certification testing is separate. Requirements for meeting NFPA 1001 (2013), Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications can be viewed online at NFPA.org. Students may be required to pay some fees.   

[651500CW]