2025 Schuylkill County Training Academy Courses
All Students must pre-register for courses. No walk-ins accepted. If the minimum number of students has not been met 10 days before the start date, students will receive email notification of cancellation of the course.
There is no fee for students from member companies of the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association.
For Non-member or Out-of-County students there is a fee. Students must bring a check made payable Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
Click here for a calendar view of courses
Emergency Services Driver Training (EVDT) 4/22/25 at New Ringgold
Emergency Services Driver Training (EVDT)
FSC: 0235 Hours: 16.0 (Lecture: 8.0hrs / Lab: 8.0hrs)
Prerequisites: Age 18 and up, Current Driver’s License
Description: This course is suitable for both novice and veteran emergency vehicle operators. This course provides instruction for emergency personnel who may be involved in operating emergency vehicles. Topics included: defensive driving, emergency response, vehicle maintenance, and a driver training obstacle course. Students will be responsible for securing apparatus to drive.
Out of County Cost: $51, please make checks payable to the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
Instructor: Mike Kitsock
Dates & Times: Tuesday 4/22 1800-2200, Thursday 4/24 1800-2200, & Saturday 4/26 0800-1600
Location: Community Fire Co. New Ringgold 25 E Railroad Ave. New Ringgold, PA 17960
Mod 4: Interior Firefighter 4/29/25 at SCTA
Interior Firefighter (ELIF)
FSC: 2463 Hours: 40.0 (Lecture: 12.0hrs / Lab: 28.0hrs)
Prerequisites: Age 18 and up (Age 17 with Act 155 permission form), Exterior Firefighter (ELEF), or Bucks Basic Academy, or Firefighter I, and Hazardous Materials Operations
Description: This entry level course is designed to introduce new firefighters to interior fire ground operations including Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), Search and Rescue Procedures, Firefighter Survival, Ventilation, Utility and Loss Control, Origin and Cause, and Fire Control (Suppression). This is the fourth of five levels (courses) in the curriculum.
Out of County Cost: $50, please make checks payable to the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
Instructor: Kevin Sibbett
Dates & Times: 4/29 1800-2200, 5/1 1800-2200, 5/4 0800-1600, 5/6 1800-2200, 5/8 1800-2200, 5/13 1800-2200, 5/15 1800-2200, 5/20 1800-2200, & 5/22 1800-2200
Location: Schuylkill County Training Academy
Structural Fire Rescue 5/6/25 at SCTA
Structural Fire Rescue (SFR)
FSC: 0325 Hours: 16.0 (Lecture: 5.0hrs / Lab: 11.0hrs)
Prerequisites: Age 18 and up, Interior Firefighter, or Bucks Basic Academy, or FF 1
Description: This course will instruct the student in the methods of rescuing victims from buildings under fire conditions. Topics to be discussed and practiced are search procedures, victim handling techniques, and methods of removing victims from above and below grade situations.
Out of County Cost: $40, please make checks payable to the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
Instructor: Brian Markovchick
Dates & Times: 5/6 1800-2200, 5/8 1800-2200, & 5/10 0800-1600
Location: Schuylkill County Training Academy
Pump Operations 1 5/6/25 at SCTA
Pump Operations I (PUOP)
FSC: 0420 Hours: 16.0 (Lecture: 10.0hrs / Lab: 6.0hrs)
Prerequisites: Age 18 and up
Description: This course provides the fire fighter with an introduction to basic pump construction and theory as well as operating techniques. Emphasis is placed on getting water to the pump, getting water from the pump for hose streams, and prevention of common mistakes in pump operations.
Out of County Cost: $59, please make checks payable to the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
Instructor: Mike Kitsock
Dates & Times: 5/6 1800-2200, 5/8 1800-2200, & 5/10 0800-1600
Location: Schuylkill County Training Academy
Pump Operations II 5/27/25 at SCTA
Pump Operations II (PUOA)
FSC: 0421 Hours: 16.0 (Lecture: 8.0hrs / Lab: 8.0hrs)
Prerequisites: Age 18 and up, Pump Operations I
Description: This course is designed to instruct the student in advanced techniques of operating fire pumps. Topics covered include friction loss, relay pumping, master streams, and elevated master streams.
Out of County Cost: $71, please make checks payable to the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
Instructor: Mike Kitsock
Dates & Times: 5/27 1800-2200, 5/29 1800-2200, & 5/31 0800-1600
Location: Schuylkill County Training Academy
Structural Burn Session 5/27/25 at SCTA
Structure Burn Session (SBS)
FSC: 0600 Hours: 16.0 (Lecture: 4.0hrs / Lab: 12.0hrs)
Prerequisites: Age 18 and up, Interior Firefighter, or Bucks Basic Academy, or FF 1 (Age 17 with Act 155 permission form),
Description: This course will provide the student with a review and application of the techniques used in safe firefighting practices in an actual structural fire environment. Emphasis is placed on safety for both interior and exterior operations.
Out of County Cost: $59, please make checks payable to the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
*Non-Donor company members will be charged $50 to attend*
Instructor: Kevin Sibbett
Dates & Times: 5/27 1800-2200, 5/29 1800-2200, & 6/1 0800-1600
Location: Schuylkill County Training Academy
Basic Rigging for Rope Rescue 5/31/25 at North End Pine Grove
Basic Rigging for Rope Rescue (ROBR)
FSC: 0341 Hours: 16.0 (Lecture: 4.0hrs / Lab: 12.0hrs)
Prerequisites: Age 16 and up, Introduction to Safety & the Training System
Description: Participants in this course will be introduced to rope, rope hardware, patient packing, and basic haul systems, which can be used in various aspects of rescue. The intent of this course is to provide rope and basic rigging experience for anyone interested in rope rescue, but particularly those who do not want to, or are unable, to rappel.
Out of County Cost: $40, please make checks payable to the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
Instructor: Floyd Wise
Dates & Times: 5/31/25 0800-1600 & 6/1/25 0800-1600
Location: North End Fire Co. 118 N Tulpehoken St. Pine Grove, PA 17963
Emergency Services Driver Training (EVDT) 6/7/25 at Sacramento
Emergency Services Driver Training (EVDT)
FSC: 0235 Hours: 16.0 (Lecture: 8.0hrs / Lab: 8.0hrs)
Prerequisites: Age 18 and up, Current Driver’s License
Description: This course is suitable for both novice and veteran emergency vehicle operators. This course provides instruction for emergency personnel who may be involved in operating emergency vehicles. Topics included: defensive driving, emergency response, vehicle maintenance, and a driver training obstacle course. Students will be responsible for securing apparatus to drive.
Out of County Cost: $51, please make checks payable to the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
Instructor: Ron Radel
Dates & Times: Saturday 6/7/25 0800-1600 & Sunday 6/8/25 0800-1600
Location: Sacramento Community Fire Company, 2206 E Main St. Sacramento, PA 17968
Solar Panel Awareness for the Fire Service 6/25/25 at Joliett Porter Twp
Solar Panel Awareness for the Fire Service
FSC: 0381 Hours: 4.0 (Lecture: 4.0hrs / Lab: 0.0hrs)
Prerequisites: Age 16 and up
Description: This course is intended for Emergency Responders, as well as, other private or municipal agencies. This course is an awareness level program covering system types, code compliant installations, associated hazards, and safe work practices near solar PV systems. The course will introduce students to solar PV system operations, components, design and recommended practices.
Out of County Cost: $33, please make checks payable to the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
Instructor: Guy Arndt
Dates & Times: Wednesday 6/25/25 1800-2200
Location: Joliett Fire Company, 401 Main St. Joliett, PA 17981
Electric Vehicle Safety for Emergency Responders 7/7/25 at Joliett Porter Twp
Electric Vehicle Safety for Emergency Responders
FSC: 0120 Hours: 6.0 (Lecture: 6.0hrs / Lab: 0.0hrs)
Prerequisites: Age 14 and up
Description: This program contains information on hybrid and electric vehicle safety and technology upgrades, which may pose concerns with extrication efforts. This course covers basic vehicle safety and technology changes at an emergency response level. Operating systems, construction and safety features are discussed throughout the program. Safety features such as: air bag systems, seat belt pretention systems, fuel system and charging stations, safe work zones, low, medium, and high voltage systems, vehicle construction materials, hybrid vehicles, and passenger compartment upgrades. Changes to size-up, extrication techniques, and the use of a Field Operations Guide will also be presented in this program.
Out of County Cost: $36, please make checks payable to the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
Instructor: Guy Arndt
Dates & Times: Monday 7/7/25 1800-2100 & Thursday 7/10/25 1800-2100
Location: Joliett Fire Company, 401 Main St. Joliett, PA 17981
Tanker Water Supply 7/15/25 at SCTA
Tanker Water Supply (TAWS)
FSC: 0415 Hours: 16.0 (Lecture: 12.0hrs / Lab: 4.0hrs)
Prerequisites: Age 16 and up
Description: This course will provide instruction for supplying the fire ground with water from tank trucks as the main source of water. Topics covered include tanker construction, water supply sources and set up, water flow requirements, tanker shuttle systems, and safe and efficient operations.
Out of County Cost: $57, please make checks payable to the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
Instructor: Mike Kitsock
Dates & Times: 7/15 1800-2200, 7/17 1800-2200, & 7/19 0800-1600
Location: Schuylkill County Training Academy