Frequently Asked Questions

Southwest Fire Academy is a registered Private Career College that prides itself on providing forward-thinking, quality, and affordable Firefighter Pre-Service training in Ontario. This program is very flexible, as the theoretical portion of the course is done independently, on your own time. SFA’s unique training experience provides the most realistic firefighting environment, as the bootcamp portion of the program requires students to live on campus in a firehouse setting 24 hours per day. This enables students to learn what it truly means to be immersed in the world of firefighting, working together with your crew members to learn and complete tasks. All of our instructors are currently employed or retired from the fire service, and many of them work on the departments that you wish to join! At SFA, you will be trained by the best.  

We have an extensive list of other courses available, for those looking to advance their knowledge and skills as firefighters. Such courses include: vehicle rescue, rope rescue, hazardous materials courses, medical first response, and various officer development courses. SFA also provides training to over 60 fire departments and industrial clients in Ontario, so the education quality and reputation speaks for itself.  

Yes! Southwest Fire Academy’s Firefighter Pre-Service Course is approved as a vocational program under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005 and is an approved training provider through the Office of the Fire Marshal. At the end of the Firefighter Pre-Service Program, the OFMEM attends the campus and administers IFSAC and ProBoard Certification Exams. 

This part-time, blended program is delivered in three key phases:

1. Self-Directed Online Learning
Duration: ~ 4 months (flexible schedule)

Includes: IFSTA Essentials of Firefighting (7th Ed.) and online modules

Note: Must be completed before starting bootcamp

2. On-Campus Pre-Bootcamp Training
Duration: 4 days

Focus: Hands-on training with PPE and tools, firefighter skills, equipment orientation, and practice exams

Extras: Access to study areas, training props, and live instructors

3. Firefighter Bootcamp (16 Days)
Full-time immersive training – live on campus and train like a firefighter

Includes: Certification testing for IFSAC and ProBoard

NOTE: In total you will be onsite at SFA for 20 days.

The course cost is $8,795.00, plus taxes. This includes everything that you will need in order to complete your training. All of your meals, accommodations, gear rental, and examination fees are included in this price. At SFA, there are no hidden costs. 

While our stand-alone courses do not qualify for financial assistance, the Firefighter Pre-Service Program certainly can! This program can qualify for RESP payments and Better Jobs Ontario funding. We also offer our own in-house financing plan.  

The SFA financing plan requires you to pay a deposit of 20% of your tuition, plus a $200+ tax financing fee, upon registration. An additional 20% of the tuition fee is required every thirty days thereafter, until 100% of the fee has been paid. Please note that the full tuition must be paid prior to the beginning of the bootcamp portion of the course. 

If successful, you will receive NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level I and Level II, as well as NFPA 1072 Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations Levels certification

Upon completion of your exam, you can typically expect to wait six to ten weeks for your results, and approximately twelve weeks before receiving your certificate; however, there may be delays that are beyond the control of the OFM. This being said, the OFM is beginning to offer much of the testing in an electronic/online capacity, and test results will be generated immediately. As this is not yet entirely implemented, we recommend you reach out to the OFM directly for further information.  

Once your enrollment has been confirmed, you may request to rebook your Bootcamp if needed. Rebooking is subject to course availability and must comply with the contractual requirement to complete your program within one year of your original enrollment date. If rebooking into a new calendar year, additional fees may apply.

Rebooking Fees:

• $500 – If rebooking is requested after enrollment and more than 30 days before the Bootcamp start date.
• $1,000 – If rebooking is requested between 30 and 14 days before the Bootcamp start date.
• $1,500 – If rebooking is requested within 14 days of the Bootcamp start date.
• $4,000 – If rebooking is requested after the Bootcamp has started, or due to unsuccessful academic performance or incomplete course requirements.

Please note: All rebooking requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and availability in future sessions is not guaranteed.

SFA offers many different courses, to help you advance your capabilities as a firefighter. Our courses include: pump operations; hazmat courses; officer courses; various technical rescue courses, including vehicle rescue, trench rescue, and ice rescue; and an array of specialized Beyond the Academy courses, offering a unique opportunity to learn specified skills from experts in the business. Check out a full list of our courses here.  

Yes! You have the opportunity to reside on campus when taking any SFA course. The fee for accommodations is $50 plus taxes (total) for a 1 – 2 night stay, and $100 plus taxes (total) for any stay 3 or more nights in duration. The maximum fee for accommodations of any duration is $100 plus taxes.

This fee grants you access to your firehouse-style dorm room with your own bunk, our washroom and showering facilities, parking, and a communal kitchen. 

You are provided your IFSTA 7 textbook by SFA for the Firefighter Pre-Service Program. If you wish to purchase a textbook for any other course, a good resource to utilize is the Firehall Bookstore. You can also look elsewhere online, as some websites offer electronic textbooks.  

SFA reserves the right to cancel any course. As a more practical guideline, if a course is not filled to 75% capacity 7 days before the beginning of the course, it is likely that it will be cancelled. In this event, you will be provided a full refund. Generally, this is the only reason a course will be cancelled. We try our very best to follow through with our commitments, and we do everything in our power to keep our scheduled courses on the books. 

We are located about 25 minutes North of Barrie, just off of Highway 400. The campus address is 36 Hazel Street, in Waubaushene, Ontario. 

Call us at 705-510-9501 or email us at registrations@fire-academy.ca. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have.