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Firefighter I and II
with Robert Beel
Your Fire Career Starts Here
Prepare for a career in the fire service through comprehensive Firefighter I (FFI) and Firefighter II (FFII) training that combines classroom instruction with hands-on, fire-ground experience. Students, ages 18 years or older, will develop essential skills in fire suppression, structural firefighting, hazardous materials, wildland firefighting, traffic incident management, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) use, and other critical emergency response operations. The program includes practical skills training, live-fire exercises, job performance requirements, and written examinations aligned with Arkansas Fire Training Academy (AFTA) standards and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1010. Successful completion of the required coursework and examinations may lead to AFTA, International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC), and Pro Board certification in Firefighter I and II. The complete FFI & FFII pathway requires a minimum of 360 hours of training and is designed to prepare students to perform safely, confidently, and effectively as professional firefighters. This program is a partnership between the participating fire departments of Independence County and the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB).
Tuition
The Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship will cover 100% of the tuition for eligible students.
Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
- Must be an Arkansas resident for at least 6 months.
- Must be a high school graduate or have received a high school equivalency (GED).
Get Started
To register for this program and secure tuition coverage through the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship, follow these steps:
- Apply to the program by clicking "Add to Wait List" at the link above.
- Get a signed Student Sponsorship Letter from your Fire Chief. This process includes completing a physical exam through your fire department.
- Provide a copy of your high school diploma, transcript, or GED to workforce@uaccb.edu.
- Call 870-612-2082 or email workforce@uaccb.edu to schedule an appointment to complete your Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship application.
Class Schedule and Location
- Dates: October 6, 2026 – April 15, 2027
- Days & Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Saturday Skills Review: November 21, 2026; January 23, 2027 and February 20, 2027
- Course Hours: 360
- Location: White River Firefighter Training Center at UACCB
Prerequisites & Clearances
Prerequisites and clearances required for enrollment must be completed before registering for the Firefighter Rookie School.
Required Before Enrolling in Firefighter Rookie School
- Students must be 18 years of age or older to start the program.
- Students must be CPR Certified to start the program.
- Physical & Administrative Clearance — Required clearance confirming the student meets the program’s physical and administrative requirements.
- Medical Clearance — A full physical evaluation clearing the student for rigorous physical training and hands-on practical activities.
- Student Sponsorship Letter — A signed letter from the student’s Fire Chief confirming the student’s sponsorship, clearance, and completion of required prerequisites.
Required Certifications
Must Be Completed Prior to Firefighter I Testing
The following certifications must be completed before the student is eligible for Firefighter I testing:
- TIMS — Traffic Incident Management Systems
- ICS-100 — Introduction to the Incident Command System
- ICS-200 — Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
- IS-700 — National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction
- IS-800 — National Response Framework, An Introduction
- Wildland Firefighting
Important: Students should carefully review these requirements and begin completing the required certifications early. The prerequisites & clearances listed above must be completed before registering. The required certifications must be completed prior to Firefighter I testing.
How to Submit
Once completed, submit your Student Sponsorship Letter using any of these methods:
- In-Person: Bring documents to the Welcome Center.
- Email: Send documents to workforce@uaccb.edu.
- Phone: Call 870-612-2082 to finalize your enrollment.
The deadline to register and have all requirements completed is 2 weeks prior to the course. Deadline is September 22, 2026.
Act fast — seats are limited!
A minimum of 6 students is required for the class to run. The maximum enrollment is 20 students.
Take the first step today
- Your career as a certified firefighter starts here!
- Call 870-612-2082
- Email workforce@uaccb.edu
- Visit the Welcome Center on UACCB's campus
Medical Billing and Coding (Voucher Included)
with UACCB Online Training
This medical billing and coding training program offers valuable training in medical, legal, ethical, and regulatory concepts central to this field, including HIPAA compliance, official coding guidelines, third-party payer requirements, and much more. You will discover all the phases of the revenue cycle—from patient registration through medical coding, claims submission, reimbursement, and collections.
Start your career in medical billing and coding with a cost-effective education that builds in-demand job skills. You will also be able to choose a voucher for the professional certification that best aligns with your interests and career goals.
Scholarship Eligibility:
This course qualifies for the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship, which may significantly reduce the out-of-pocket tuition costs for eligible students.
To be eligible, you must:
- Be an Arkansas resident for at least 6 months.
- Provide proof of high school completion, such as a high school diploma, transcript, or GED.
If you are interested in applying for the scholarship to assist with tuition costs, call 870-612-2082 to receive a special registration link. This link will allow you to apply for the program and begin the scholarship application process.
Course Code: GES1014
Course Hours: 370
Optician Certification Training
with UACCB Online Training
Modern optical care improves countless lives for those who experience vision issues today. However, despite increased access to care, many eye problems are growing more common due to changes in our lifestyles and the aging population—making now a great time to obtain your optician certification online. No matter which area of opticianry you choose, you will be in high demand in the job market because the need for eye care professionals is constantly expanding.
The World Health Organization predicts that 3.36 billion people worldwide will be nearsighted by 2030, an increase of 29% over the number of nearsighted people in 2020. In the U.S. alone, myopia (nearsightedness) rates have soared over the past 50 years, from 25% in 1971 to nearly 42% in 2017, according to the National Eye Institute. The condition called presbyopia, or age-related farsightedness, has also increased in case volume as it is most prevalent in our growing aging population.
In this optician course, you can gain the skills and knowledge you need to obtain an entry-level job as an optician within applicable states. The optician certification training program provides a solid foundation for a successful career in opticianry—from essential topics for aspiring opticians, including the anatomy of the eye, refractive errors, contact lens fitting, and relevant laws and regulations. Course content also dives into understanding the eye and common conditions, basic math and algebra for opticians, ophthalmic lens designs, materials, treatments, and more. You will even have a lesson covering a potential career roadmap.
The optician certification program concludes by preparing you to take the Basic American Board of Opticianry (ABO) and National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) exams, which include the NOCE (National Opticianry Competency Exam) and the CLRE (Contact Lens Registry Exam), which is required by many states to work as an optician or as a stepping-stone to career advancement.
Patient Care Technician (Voucher Included)
with UACCB Online Training
Patient care technicians (PCTs) are crucial healthcare professionals who play a vital role in assisting nurses and other medical staff in providing care to patients. With the occupation demand at an all-time high, after successfully completing this patient care technician program and certification exam, you can become a technician primarily focused on direct patient care and support within a hospital, clinic, long-term care facility, or home health care.
This patient care technician certification course will give you a comprehensive overview of working as a patient care technician. During this asynchronous training course, you will learn how to demonstrate your knowledge of the healthcare delivery system. You will learn how to apply knowledge and skills to provide individualized basic nursing care to a diverse population of patients and how to problem solve and use critical thinking skills within the PCT scope of practice while fostering a positive patient outcome.
This patient care technician training course will also provide you with comprehensive, all-inclusive training, which will assist you in pursuing a new career as a patient care technician and includes a complimentary voucher to sit for either the Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) certification exam through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), or the Patient Care Technician (PCTC) certification exam through American Medical Certification Association (AMCA), upon eligibility.
The medical terminology course introduces key concepts of medical language and human anatomy, emphasizing the interconnectedness of body systems in health and disease. Students with prior knowledge can optionally test out by achieving a minimum score of 80%, replacing course content if desired. It is important to understand that this course feature only applies to the online Medical Terminology course.
Pharmacy Technician (Voucher Included)
with UACCB Online Training
This online pharmacy technician certification course will prepare aspiring pharmacy technicians to effectively assist the pharmacist in the packing and distribution of medication. You will receive didactic and hands-on pharmacy technician training to develop the skills necessary for successful employment in the field.
This pharmacy technician training program will empower you to pursue entry-level pharmacy tech positions by teaching you medical and pharmaceutical terminology, basic anatomy related to the pharmacology of medications, and pharmaceutical calculations. Through this pharmacy technician certification course, you will obtain hands-on practice in retail pharmacy procedures through an online lab module.
You will learn what information is necessary to process prescriptions and physician orders and apply that knowledge to fill mock prescriptions. The curriculum in this pharmacy technician certification course also includes the ethics of pharmacy practice and education about prescription medications, patient care and interaction, and charges and reimbursement.
Upon completion of this pharmacy technician training course, you will be prepared to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). This course includes a voucher which covers the fee for the exam. As a part of completing your pharmacy tech course online, you will also have the option to perform a hands-on, 130-hour Clinical Experience. Clinical Experiences are based on individual state board requirements.
Learn more about this online course >>
Scholarship Eligibility:
This course qualifies for the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship, which may significantly reduce your out-of-pocket tuition costs for eligible students.
To be eligible, you must:
- Be an Arkansas resident.
- Provide provide proof of high school completion, such as a high school diploma, transcript, or GED
If you have questions about your eligibility or would like assistance applying for the scholarship, please call 870-612-2082. Our staff will be happy to help you through the process.