NVCC Fire Science Part of the Annandale Campus' Business and Public Services Division Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE:  Questions and answers are added to this page as necessary.

How can I get credit for training I have already received through my Fire Department, Rescue Squad, Military, etc?
You have 3 options:

1. Follow the guidelines for Advanced Standing
2. Obtain a Transcript from ACE or the military
3. Use the PLACE program.

Options 1 and 2 are described here
Information on option 3 can be obtained by contacting the PLACE coordinator: http://www.nvcc.edu/home/lschaefer/

How long does it take for advanced standing or transfer credit to be applied to my transcript?
This depends entirely on the professional transcript evaluators and tends to vary from campus to campus.  Some students will find that credits will be on their transcripts within a week or less, while others can take up to a semester.  You and your advisor can check to see if the credits have been added, but has no control over when they will be applied.  Generally speaking, expect 3 to 4 weeks or longer near the beginning or end of a semester when they get busy and backlogged. 

Does the Fire Science Department have online courses?
Yes. Check the current class schedule for specifics.   Effective Fall 2011 all of the FST courses required for the AAS degree will be available online.  

I want to take an in-person course, but I'm going to miss a class due to my work schedule.  Can I still take the class?
Yes.  All of the Fire Science faculty will work with you to make sure you can complete the class. Exception: for courses that carry VDFP/Proboard certification (see below) 100% attendance is required.

Does NVCC offer Fire Officer 1, Instructor I or other classes that carry VDFP/NFPA/Pro Board certification?
The short answer is "Not usually".    However, the the community college and VDFP have an agreement that allows students to "test out" of Fire Officer 1 and Fire Officer II for completing the required courses in the crosswalk.  To be eligible to test for Fire Officer 1, a student must complete or get credit for FST 100, FST 115 and FST 120.  Once those classes are completed, the student should contact the VDFP division office in their area and make arrangements to take the exam. For Fire Officer II, students need to take FST 210, FST 220 and FST 240.  Occasionally, and usually at the request of a local fire department, we may be able to teach Fire Instructor 1, Fire Officer 1, Fire Officer II and Fire Officer III, but since none of these classes are required for the degree, they're not a regular part of our offerings.
See the second page of the crosswalk for details.

I'm a [pick whatever specialty training you have] and/or a [pick your very impressive rank] and I have [some impressive number of] years of service and I have every VDFP/ProBoard certificate ever issued.  Is there any way that degree requirements can be waived for me?
No. NVCC cannot waive any degree requirements for any student. In addition to putting the college's accreditation at risk, its just a bad idea.  While there are programs that can reduce the number of credits a student will need to earn at NVCC for a particular degree by awarding credit for college equivalency (see the advanced standing handbook), years of experience and technical certification are not the same thing as a college degree.  Graduating from college doesn't mean a person is better or smarter, it means that they went to college and made a commitment to study.  Employers often reward people who have demonstrated that they were able to complete their commitment and finish college, and have come to expect a minimum skill set from college graduates, most importantly the ability to read critically, write and communicate clearly, and do basic math. In addition to being able to read, write and do math, students who have a degree should also have some baseline level of knowledge in their particular area of study, but for most employers that is a secondary concern. The bottom line is that at some point, you are going to have to actually take a college class to get a college degree, and this shouldn't be a surprise.

But, I've been in the department for [some impressive number of] years.  I shouldn't have to do this.  It isn't fair. I mean seriously, I joined the fire department because college wasn't for me.  I demand exceptions to rules and policies because I am special. What am I going to get out of college at this point in my career? 
With an attitude like that, probably nothing except for a piece of paper.  But maybe that piece of paper is important for you for some reason. Here's the degree breakdown using the least possible amount of college credits actually earned at a college.