Application Cycles

August 2026 Admission

CPAT Verification Letters will only be accepted for fall 2026 from May 1, 2026 until June 30, 2026. The first 24 CPAT Verification Letters received will be admitted to the course. Any received after the 24th may be accepted for the next available start term. 

If you do not receive placement in the August cohort, please be aware that your CPAT verification letter must remain active and unexpired in order to be eligible for consideration in the next available cohort beginning in January (Spring).
 

January 2027 Admission

CPAT Verification Letters will only be accepted for spring 2027 from September 1, 2026, until November 30, 2026. The first 24 CPAT Verification Letters received will be admitted to the course. Only students who submit all required documents within this timeframe will be considered for placement in the January cohort.

If you do not receive placement in the January cohort, please be aware that your CPAT verification letter must remain active and unexpired in order to be eligible for consideration in the next available cohort beginning in August (Fall).

To see if seats are available before scheduling your CPAT test, please email Alicia VanDusen at fireacademy@phsc.edu.

Important CPAT Information

CPAT verification letters are time sensitive. Expired CPAT results cannot be accepted, and students will be responsible for obtaining an updated CPAT if their current verification expires before the August cohort selection period.

To remain eligible for future placement, applicants are encouraged to:

  • Check the expiration date on their CPAT verification letter.
  • Schedule a new CPAT early if their certification is set to expire before August.
  • Monitor program communications for updates on cohort selection timelines.

Maintaining an active, valid CPAT verification ensures you can be considered automatically when the next cohort opens.

Application Procedure

Please ensure that you fulfill the specified academy admission requirements and follow the academy admissions process.

Step 1

  • Complete PHSC College Application. After submission, it is the student’s responsibility to monitor their application and ensure all items on the checklist are met.
  • Must pass the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT).
  • Attend CPR course (NCH0050)

Step 2

  • Monitor Student Email for information regarding orientation.
    • Orientation takes place about one month before the beginning of classes, and attendance is mandatory. 

Special Notice

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:

  • 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.

To learn more and apply, click on the Florida First Responders Scholarship Application link under the On This Page section.

State Licensure Information

To determine the state(s) in which the program meets or does not meet the requirements, or if PHSC was unable to determine if the program meets the licensing requirements, see below.

  • Meets: Florida
  • Does Not Meet: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands

Veterans

VA funding approved effective August 16, 2021.