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Printed on 5/25/2025

Wildland Firefighter

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10-058-1 Associate Degree (AAS) Part Time, Full Time 62 Credits Financial Aid Eligible Location*: Appleton

*If general education courses are required, they may be available at multiple locations.

Your interest in the outdoors and intense physical activity could lead to a rewarding career protecting life, property and natural resources from wildfires. Gain the skills you need to use planned, controlled fire as a tool in wildlife management, forestry or endangered species management. You’ll learn about the ignition and suppression of wildland and prescribed fire, along with the safe operation of equipment. You’ll also get plenty of hands-on experience in live fire situations. Your training will cover ecosystem-based management, emergency response, hazardous materials, structural and wildland fire practices. You’ll be part of an elite and uniquely qualified group of wildland firefighters.

COURSE LIST

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Course list for reference only. Current students please refer to your individualized program plan or see your advisor.
**Outside effort hours are an estimate based on state standards, and may vary from person to person.

    Technical Studies (43 Credits)

    Course Title
    Course Number
    Credits
    Instructional Hours
    Outside Effort Hours**
    Early College Credit Options
    Prior Learning Credit Eligibility
  • Ecology
    10-057-109
    2Credit
    36
    72
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 36
    • Outside Effort Hours: 72
    • Course Number: 10057109
    • Credits: 2.00

    Examines the relationships and interrelationships of living organisms in their environment. Students study natural selection and speciation, environmental conditions, populations and competition, succession, energy flow and biogeochemical cycles, and the diversity of ecosystems.

    Coreq: Student has completed or is simultaneously enrolling in ANY of the following options:

    • COMMUNIC 10801136 - English Composition 1

    • COMMUNIC 10801195 - Written Communication
  • Wildlife Mgmt - Nongame and Hunted Species
    10-057-128
    3Credit
    72
    90
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 90
    • Course Number: 10057128
    • Credits: 3.00

    Introduces wildlife ecology and management. The course focuses on habitat restoration and maintenance, deer management, wildlife damage control, ecological concepts and population dynamics.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    • NATURE 10057109 - Ecology

    • NATURE 10057143 - Natural Resources Common Topic

    • NATURE 10057183 - Exploring Natural Resources

    • COMMUNIC 10801195 - Written Communication

    • MATH 10804107 - College Mathematics
  • Forest Recreation Environmental Education
    10-057-131
    3Credit
    81
    81
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 81
    • Outside Effort Hours: 81
    • Course Number: 10057131
    • Credits: 3.00

    Emphasis will be creating and presenting environmental education activities to various audiences. The design and delivery of environmental curriculum is the focus and will be augmented with additional public presentations and volunteering at area environmental centers. Individual and group laboratory projects and presentations are required.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    • NATURE 10057109 - Ecology

    • NATURE 10057183 - Exploring Natural Resources

    • COMMUNIC 10801195 - Written Communication
  • Forestry 1
    10-057-132
    3Credit
    72
    90
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 90
    • Course Number: 10057132
    • Credits: 3.00

    Covers tree and shrub identification (dendrology), forest mapping, stand inventory, basic forest ecology, silvicultural practices and timber types. This course prepares students to perform more specific job-related tasks in Forestry 2.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    • NATURE 10057109 - Ecology

    • NATURE 10057143 - Natural Resources Common Topic

    • NATURE 10057183 - Exploring Natural Resources

    • COMMUNIC 10801195 - Written Communication

    • MATH 10804107 - College Mathematics
  • Forestry 2
    10-057-133
    3Credit
    72
    90
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 90
    • Course Number: 10057133
    • Credits: 3.00

    A continuation of Forestry 1 with studies of aerial photography applications, logging operations, lumber scaling and grading, fire weather and fire suppression, tree planting and seeding operations, forest diseases and insects of the lake states. It culminates with field trips to natural resource agencies to view the practices and principles learned during class.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    • NATURE 10057132 - Forestry 1
  • Plant Identification
    10-057-140
    1Credit
    36
    18
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 36
    • Outside Effort Hours: 18
    • Course Number: 10057140
    • Credits: 1.00

    Provides a basic study of the trees, grasses, herbs and aquatics of Wisconsin. The class focuses on the principal species of seven major plant communities: forest, bog, agriculture, prairie, marsh, shrub and beach.

  • Natural Resources Common Topics
    10-057-143
    2Credit
    72
    36
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 36
    • Course Number: 10057143
    • Credits: 2.00

    Introduces U.S. public land surveys, topographic maps, orienteering principles and mapping. Other topics include the polar planimeter, dot grid, abney levels and clinometers, basic aerial photo uses, and chainsaw use and maintenance.

    Coreq: Student has completed or is simultaneously enrolling in ALL of the following:

    • MATH 10804107 - College Mathematics
  • Exploring Natural Resources
    10-057-183
    3Credit
    90
    72
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 90
    • Outside Effort Hours: 72
    • Course Number: 10057183
    • Credits: 3.00

    Provides basic study of natural resources, focusing on their abundance, importance, and conservation. The physical biological variables of the environment will be studied in field and classroom settings. Career development will be incorporated to expose students to job-related activities for the following core areas: wildlife and fisheries, forestry, surveying, outdoor recreation, soils, and water quality and wastewater management.

  • Advanced Fitness Qualification
    10-058-159
    1Credit
    36
    18
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 36
    • Outside Effort Hours: 18
    • Course Number: 10058159
    • Credits: 1.00

    Builds upon and maintains the physical fitness standards introduced in Fitness Qualification Prep 1. Prepares students to maintain physical fitness during fire season as well as in the off-season. Develop workout regimes to prepare students in the off-season in preparation for the first day of active fireline duty and beyond. The course prepares students to complete the firefighter fitness test as well as the work capacity test at the arduous level, 3 miles with a 45-pound pack in under 45 minutes. 

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    • NATURE 10058173 - Fitness Qualification Prep 1
  • Wildfire Intro S130/S190/L180
    10-058-160
    2Credit
    45
    63
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 45
    • Outside Effort Hours: 63
    • Course Number: 10058160
    • Credits: 2.00

    Prepares new firefighters in basic firefighting skills and behavior factors that will aid them in the safe and effective control of wildland fires.

  • S212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws
    10-058-162
    1Credit
    36
    18
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 36
    • Outside Effort Hours: 18
    • Course Number: 10058162
    • Credits: 1.00

    Provides introduction to the function, maintenance and use of internal combustion engine-powered chainsaws and their tactical wildland fire application.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    • NATURE 10058160 - Wildfire Intro S130/S190/L180

    • EMS 10531105 - EMR with CPR OR current basic First Aid & CPR certification

    OR ALL of the following:

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
  • S290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior
    10-058-163
    1Credit
    36
    18
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 36
    • Outside Effort Hours: 18
    • Course Number: 10058163
    • Credits: 1.00

    Designed to prepare the prospective supervisor to undertake safe and effective fire management operations.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ANY of the following options:

    • NATURE 10058160 - Wildfire Intro S130/S190/L180

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
  • S-219 Firing Operations
    10-058-164
    1Credit
    27
    27
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 27
    • Outside Effort Hours: 27
    • Course Number: 10058164
    • Credits: 1.00

    Planning, execution, safety, coordination and evaluation of an ignition operation on a wildland or prescribed fire.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ANY of the following options:

    • NATURE 10058160 - Wildfire Intro S130/S190/L180

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
  • History of Wildfire
    10-058-171
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10058171
    • Credits: 3.00

    Examines the role of wildland fire and firefighting throughout history to the present.

  • Fitness Qualification Prep 1
    10-058-173
    1Credit
    36
    18
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 36
    • Outside Effort Hours: 18
    • Course Number: 10058173
    • Credits: 1.00

    Introduces the student to the requirements for the 1.5 mile run, 3 mile pack test and step test which are required by wildland fire hiring agencies.

  • Fire Experience
    10-058-179
    3Credit
    108
    54
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 108
    • Outside Effort Hours: 54
    • Course Number: 10058179
    • Credits: 3.00

    Allows students to gain valuable fire experience for the resume. While not guaranteed, students may be paid for some forest fire suppression duty.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    • NATURE 10058160 - Wildfire Intro S130/S190/L180

    Coreq: Student has completed or is simultaneously enrolling in ALL of the following:

    • NATURE 94058000 - Wildland Fire Gear
  • Prescribed Fire
    10-058-181
    1Credit
    72
    0
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 0
    • Course Number: 10058181
    • Credits: 1.00

    Consists of student participation in prescribed fire application for management and fuel reduction objectives. Emphasis will be on safety, ignition patterns and holding crews.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ANY of the following options:

    • NATURE 10058160 - Wildfire Intro S130/S190/L180

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
  • Fire Prep
    10-058-182
    1Credit
    36
    18
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 36
    • Outside Effort Hours: 18
    • Course Number: 10058182
    • Credits: 1.00

    Prepares the student for fire season. Topics include writing burn plans, burn site checks, equipment inventory, organization and maintenance.

  • S270 Basic Air Ops
    10-058-184
    1Credit
    18
    36
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 18
    • Outside Effort Hours: 36
    • Course Number: 10058184
    • Credits: 1.00

    Covers aircraft types and capabilities, aviation management and safety for flying in and working with agency aircraft, tactical and logistical uses of aircraft, and requirements for helicopter take-off and landing areas.

  • S134 & RT130 Annual Refresher
    10-058-185
    1Credit
    18
    36
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 18
    • Outside Effort Hours: 36
    • Course Number: 10058185
    • Credits: 1.00

    Compiles two NWCG classes. S-134 is a safety course focusing on personal firefighter safety. RT-130 is the annual fire line safety refresher training required for all firefighters. Topics differ by year based on industry recommendations and identified training needs. Includes annual shelter deployment practice for all participants.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ANY of the following options:

    • NATURE 10058160 - Wildfire Intro S130/S190/L180

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
  • S211/S131 Pumps/FF1
    10-058-186
    2Credit
    36
    72
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 36
    • Outside Effort Hours: 72
    • Course Number: 10058186
    • Credits: 2.00

    Combines two NWCG classes. S-131 is Firefighter Type 1 training. Sometimes called Squad Boss, these are the entry-level supervisors in wildland firefighting. Topics include operational leadership, communications, LCES, and tactical decision making. S-211 consists of three skill areas including supply, delivery and application of water.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ANY of the following options:

    • NATURE 10058160 - Wildfire Intro S130/S190/L180

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
  • Wildfire Equipment Operation
    10-058-188
    2Credit
    72
    36
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 36
    • Course Number: 10058188
    • Credits: 2.00

    Operation of heavy equipment of hand tools used in wildland fire.

  • Emergency Medical Responder with Healthcare Provider CPR
    10-531-105
    2Credit
    76
    32
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 76
    • Outside Effort Hours: 32
    • Course Number: 10531105
    • Credits: 2.00

    Teaches and evaluates the knowledge/skills needed to respond to medical or trauma situations. It includes AED, Combitube, EpiPen, Spinal Immobilization, CPR and skills needed to assist the ambulance crew. This course meets Wisconsin and National licensure guidelines. Students receive an AHA Healthcare CPR card and FVTC Emergency Medical Responder certificate.

    General Studies (19 Credits)

    Course Title
    Course Number
    Credits
    Instructional Hours
    Outside Effort Hours**
    Early College Credit Options
    Prior Learning Credit Eligibility
  • Written Communication
    10-801-195
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10801195
    • Credits: 3.00

    Develops writing skills which include prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. A variety of writing assignments are designed to help the learner analyze audience and purpose, research and organize ideas, and format and design documents based on subject matter and content. Also develops critical reading and thinking skills through the analysis of a variety of written documents.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    OR ALL of the following:

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
  • Oral/Interpersonal Comm
    10-801-196
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10801196
    • Credits: 3.00

    Focuses on developing effective listening techniques and verbal and nonverbal communication skills through oral presentation, group activity, and other projects. The study of self, conflict, and cultural contexts will be explored, as well as their impact on communication.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    OR ALL of the following:

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
  • College Mathematics
    10-804-107
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10804107
    • Credits: 3.00

    This course reviews key math concepts in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, measurement, and data. Topics include simplifying algebraic expressions, solving linear equations and inequalities with one variable, proportions, and percent applications, and working with geometric figures.  It covers the Pythagorean Theorem, trigonometric ratios, and unit conversions between U.S. customary and metric systems. Data analysis focuses on organizing and summarizing data, central tendency, and measures of dispersion. Emphasis is on problem-solving, critical thinking, and logical reasoning.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ANY of the following options:

    • Accuplacer Arithmetic 263+ OR HS GPA 2.75+ OR ACT Math 18+ OR Arithmetic Level 2 Coursework

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
  • General Biology
    10-806-114
    4Credit
    90
    126

    • Instructional Hours: 90
    • Outside Effort Hours: 126
    • Course Number: 10806114
    • Credits: 4.00

    This course introduces general biological concepts and principles.  It emphasizes cell structure and function, genetics, evolution, taxonomical relationships, and the diversity of life.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    OR ALL of the following:

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
  • Economics
    10-809-195
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10809195
    • Credits: 3.00

    This course is designed to give an overview of microeconomics, macroeconomics, and international economics. Concepts include scarcity, resources, alternative economic systems, growth, supply and demand, monetary and fiscal policy, inflation, unemployment and global economic issues.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    OR ALL of the following:

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
  • Intro to Psychology
    10-809-198
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10809198
    • Credits: 3.00

    This science of psychology course is a survey of multiple aspects of behavior and mental processes. It provides an overview of topics such as research methods, theoretical perspectives, learning, cognition, memory, motivation, emotions, personality, abnormal psychology, physiological factors, social influences, and development.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    OR ALL of the following:

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
×

Expected Competencies

For more information visit our Credit For Prior Learning page.
×

Eligible Dual Credit Course

What is Dual Credit?

FVTC courses taught at the high school by certified high school teachers. These teachers receive mentorship from FVTC faculty to ensure alignment in competencies, curriculum, and assessments.


  • Students earn both high school and college credits, with grades applying to both transcripts.
  • There is no cost to the school district or family.
  • Dual Credit course availability varies by high school based on factors such as lab space, equipment, and teacher qualifications.

Process:

As part of the annual course planning, students and families should meet with their High School Guidance Counselor to discuss future college and career goals. This conversation will help identify Dual Credit courses that best align with specific pathways.

×

Recommended Start College Now Course

What is Start College Now?

Qualified public-school juniors and seniors may enroll in college level classes at FVTC or online, if a comparable course is not offered within their district.

Student Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must have parent/guardian approval.
  • Must meet all course entry requirements.
  • Must be in good academic standing with an acceptable disciplinary record.

Application Process:

Interested students should consult their High School Guidance Counselor to explore course options and complete a “Start College Now” application. Applications must be submitted to High School Counselors by March 1st for fall courses and October 1st for spring courses. If approved by the school board, the cost is covered by the high school.

×

Eligible Dual Credit & Recommended Start College Now Course:

What is Dual Credit?

FVTC courses taught at the high school by certified high school teachers. These teachers receive mentorship from FVTC faculty to ensure alignment in competencies, curriculum, and assessments.

  • Students earn both high school and college credits, with grades applying to both transcripts.
  • There is no cost to the school district or family.

**Dual Credit course availability varies by high school based on factors such as lab space, equipment, and teacher qualifications.

What is Start College Now?

Qualified public-school juniors and seniors may enroll in college level classes at FVTC or online, if a comparable course is not offered within their district.

Student Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must have parent/guardian approval.
  • Must meet all course entry requirements.
  • Must be in good academic standing with an acceptable disciplinary record.

Application Process:

Interested students should consult their High School Guidance Counselor to explore course options and complete a “Start College Now” application. Applications must be submitted to High School Counselors by March 1st for fall courses and October 1st for spring courses. If approved by the school board, the cost is covered by the high school.

×

N/A

This course is not available for Dual Credit or Start College Now due to factors such as course rigor, necessary equipment, and prerequisite requirements.