Florida First Responders Scholarship Program
The Florida First Responders Scholarship Program (FFRS) has been created to assist in the recruitment of law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and firefighters within the state by providing financial assistance to eligible trainees who enroll in a commission-approved training program. The scholarship shall be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. If eligible to be awarded the scholarship, the amount shall be up to, but not exceeding, the costs necessary to complete the student’s training program, less any state/federal financial aid received by the trainee.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the scholarship, the student must:
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be determined to have a financial need.
- Not be sponsored by an employing agency that is already covering the cost of the training program, and
- Be enrolled in one of the following programs:
- A commission-approved basic recruit training program at a postsecondary institution for the purposes of meeting the minimum qualifications under s. 943.13(9), F.S, for employment or appointment as a law enforcement officer,
- An emergency medical technician training program under s. 401.2701, F.S., that is approved by the Department of Health as equivalent to the most recent Emergency Medical Technician-Basic National Standard Curriculum or the National EMS Education Standards of the United States Department of Transportation,
- A paramedic training program under s. 401.2701, F.S., that is approved by the Department of Health as equivalent to the most recent EMT-Paramedic National Standard Curriculum or the National EMS Education Standards of the United States Department of Transportation, or
- A firefighter minimum standards course training program at a Florida Certified Training Center approved by the Division of State Fire Marshal for the purpose of meeting the minimum qualifications under s. 633.408, F.S. Department of Transportation.
Award Details
The award to eligible trainees shall be an amount equal to any costs and fees that are necessary to complete the student’s training program, less any state and federal financial aid received by the trainee up to the student’s maximum financial need.
The award to trainees shall cover:
- The cost of standard in-state tuition for postsecondary vocational or career certificate programs
- Specific fees required for workforce education programs offered at Florida College System institutions under s. 1009.22 F.S. and s. 1009.23, F.S., which are the activity and service fee, financial aid fee, capital improvement fee and technology fee.
- Up to $1,000 for eligible expenses as determined by the program. Examples include:
- Certification and Examination fees
- Textbooks
- Uniforms
- Required equipment and gear, including but not limited to, ammunition and stethoscopes
- Required insurance
- Any other costs or fees for necessary consumable materials required to complete the respective training program.