Office of Financial Aid

Firefighters Taking Fire Science Courses

The purpose of this exemption is to encourage persons employed as fire fighters or active members of volunteer fire departments to take college courses designed to help them in their work by providing an exemption from tuition and laboratory fees for courses offered as part of a fire science curriculum.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Employed as a paid fire fighter by a political subdivision of the State of Texas or active members of volunteer fire departments who hold an accredited advanced certification (or the equivalent), under the State Firemen’s and Fire Marshal’s Association of Texas volunteer certification program, OR a Phase V (Firefighter II) certification (or the equivalent) under the Texas Commission of Fire Protection’s voluntary certification program under Section 419.071, Govt Code.
• Enroll in courses offered as part of a Fire Science Curriculum. To access a listing of Fire Science courses, view the Fire Science Programs.
• Enroll in classes for which the college receives tax support (i.e., a course that does not depend solely on student tuition and fees to cover its costs).
• To receive a continuation award, the fire fighter must meet the institution’s financial aid satisfactory academic progress requirements.
• New Requirements Fall, 2014: Senate Bill 1210 (83rd Texas Legislature, Regular Session) adds a Grade Point Average requirement for persons to receive continuation awards through the program. The Bill also establishes a Limit to the Total Number of Hours, cumulative, that a student may take and continue to receive awards through this program. These changes go into effect in fall, 2014. .

The Exemption for Firefighters Taking Fire Science Courses should be submitted to the University Registrar’s Office by the Census Day of the semester or summer session in which you are applying.

No funds may be used to pay tuition for continuing education classes for which the college receives no state tax support. To receive continuation awards, a firefighter (paid or volunteer) must meet the institution’s financial aid academic progress requirements. The exemption may not be applied to additional tuition charged to an undergraduate student with excess or repeated hours under TEC. 54.014(a) or (f), or the additional tuition charged to a graduate student with excess hours under TEC. 61.059(l)(1) or (2).

To apply to the Firefighters Exemption.