There are many accrediting bodies/agencies for colleges and universities. To ask whether a school is accredited is not enough. Colleges and universities across the country rely on regional accreditation to know that a standard level of education is being met. To have the most options available to you, it is recommended that you choose a school that is accredited. Accredited schools will generally only accept credits from other accredited schools. This is important to note for several reasons. First, never make the assumption that the degree you are currently pursuing is the only degree you ever want. You don't want to find out when you decide to pursue an advanced degree that the credits you earned will not transfer and you have to start all over. Second, never assume that you will complete your degree where you start. You may have to move or you may not like the school or program you have chosen.

There are traditional classes where you sit in the classroom and there are online courses of different types; where you follow a schedule and self paced classes. One roadblock for traditional classes is the work schedule. If your schedule allows you to attend traditional classes or if you know of someone else in the department attending college you can coordinate schedules with, you can attend traditional classes. This gives you the student-teacher exchanges that can't be replicated outside the classroom. Taking online courses for the first time may be difficult for some. It's advisable to take online courses at a local college to become familiar with the online format while still being able receive help in person if necessary. There are some websites and companies that you can buy material to study a specific course and take a challenge test or CLEP exam and get credit for the course. Do thorough research and see which is best for you.

Once you have chosen a school, it is time to apply. You will need to supply them with transcripts from high school or other colleges you may have attended. Some people may have attended college a long time ago and think that the courses they took are too old. This is not always the case. You may also be able to receive credit for a college course for some training courses that you have taken before. You will need to provide them with a certificate and this will be the decision of the academic advisor. You may need to take a placement test if you have never attended college.

There are several different ways to get your college degree and all are at different costs. Are you aware of all the programs available to you if you are attending college? If you have been in the military, you may be entitled to money from the government through veteran's education benefits. Check with the college that you register with. Did you know that as a certified firefighter in the state of Texas, you are exempt from the payment of tuition and lab fees? That's correct; you can attend and earn college hours at a reduced cost. According to Education Code chapter 54, section 54.208 certified firefighters in the State of Texas are entitled to a limited tuition and fee exemption at some of the state colleges in Texas.

There are several colleges in Texas which offer the Fire Science curriculum. Del Mar college offers these courses and there are several others that offer online classes. There are also colleges that offer degrees in Emergency Management and Public Safety.

Once you complete classes, you can turn in your hours to the department and earn education pay. See Article V Section 6 of collective bargaining agreement to see what you are entitled to from the department.