General Registration FAQ
Program Specific FAQ
Q: How old do I have to be to join CSRIPS?
A: You must be at least 18 years old to apply for the Firefighter I&II program. You do not need to be 18 years old for the EMT program as long as you have parental consent and have a high school diploma or the equivalent.
Q: Do I need to be a High School graduate?
A: You must have at least a high school diploma or GED. A diploma from college is also acceptable. For those entering the Firefigher I&II program, diplomas from schools in other countries are not accepted unless approved by the Bureau of Fire Standards. Contact their office at 352-369-2800.
Q: What if I have been home schooled?
A: For individuals who have completed a home school program, we need documentation that the education program has met the requirements of Section 1002.41. F.S., of the Department of Education from the state where the home school program was completed.
Q: What if I do not have a Social Security card, can I still apply?
A: Your SSN is required for all 3 programs in order to complete the required background checks.
Q: I have a green card, can I apply?
A: Yes.
Q: I had a physical recently, can I submit this with my application?
A: You must use the forms that are part of our application. Medicals for Fire are only valid for a six month period. This application must be completed by a physician, surgeon, or physician’s assistant per ch. 459; or an advanced registered nurse practitioner per ch. 464. Information is on the application. Medicals for EMS are valid for one year. Please refer to the applications tab.
Q: What if I have a DUI from years ago?
A: You would need to contact The Bureau of Fire Standards for an answer to this question. 352-369-2800.
Q: Can I get college credits for these courses and are they transferable?
A: We do not assign credits to our courses. We do offer transcripts for our accredited courses for a fee. Other schools may assign credits to our courses, but you must check with that school.
CSRIPS does have a partnership with Broward College to offer credits towards an Associates or Bachelors degree. You must contact Broward College for further information. Please call Debra Hart at 954-201-2241.
Q: Am I guaranteed a job after graduation?
A: It is your responsibility to investigate the job market. South Florida is very competitive. You increase your chances of finding a position if you are a certified EMT, Paramedic and Firefighter.
*NEW* Q: Are COVID vaccines required for any of the programs?
A: CSRIPS has not mandated the COVID Vaccine for Firefighter I&II or the EMS programs.
HOWEVER
Broward Health has made the initial full dose of the COVID-19 vaccine a requirement through COMPLIO.
If a EMT or Paramedic student does not have the required vaccines, as mandated by Broward Health, they will be unable to complete the Clinical requirement for their program and their application will be rejected during the Step 2 check.
At this time, Broward Health has not made any medical or religious exceptions for their vaccine requirements. If you have more questions about vaccine requirements, please contact Broward Health.
*UPDATED* Q: Do I have to take Fire class before EMT? Or, EMT before Firefighter I&II?
A: We require students to have completed an EMT program prior to registering for Firefighter I&II. The Bureau of Fire Standards requires that all students be First Responder, EMT or Medic certified in order to take the State test at the end of the Fire program. Please call our office for more information.
Q: I am moving here from another state and was a firefighter there, do I need to go to school here again?
A: You may contact the Bureau of Fire Standards at 352-369-2800 and discuss this with them. However, most people do need to re-certify in Florida.
Q: Can I take two classes at once?
A: There are some requirements to allow a student to be able to do this. Please review the Program Catalog and Student Reference Guide or contact our Student Services Advisor for more information.
*NEW* Q: I took the CPAT at a different facility, can I use that to register for Firefighter I&II instead of the EPAT?
A: No, we do not accept CPAT completion in place of our Entrance Physical Ability Test (EPAT).
The EPAT is specifically designed to test the physical and endurance capabilities without requiring students to have prior Firefighter skill knowledge, unlike the CPAT.
Passing the EPAT ensures that those students will make it through the first week of our Firefighter I&II program.
Q: Can I get college credits for these courses and are they transferable?
A: We do not assign credits to our courses. We do offer transcripts for our accredited courses for a fee. Other schools may assign credits to our courses, but you must check with that school.
CSRIPS does have a partnership with Broward College to offer credits towards an Associates or Bachelors degree. You must contact Broward College for further information. Please call Debra Hart at 954-201-2241.
*NEW* Q: Does CSRIPS Supply my bunker gear for Firefighter I&II?
A: We do not provide bunker gear or SCBA masks for our Firefighter I&II. We do provide non-affiliated resources within the student’s class materials, after they have been accepted into the Program, however students are not required to specifically utilize those companies.
Finance FAQ
Q: Can I make payments? Do you take cash?
A: For Firefighter I&II and EMT-Basic, full payment will be due prior to class beginning. For the Paramedic program, you have the option of a full payment or 4 payment plan. Please refer to the class information for specific deadlines for monies and applications. WE DO NOT ACCEPT CASH. Acceptable forms of payment are VISA, MasterCard, Florida Prepaid, Florida 529, Sallie Mae and VA Benefits. We will also accept cashier’s check and money order.
Q: Can I use Chapter 30 or Chapter 33 benefits here?
A: Yes! You may use Chapter 30 and Chapter 33. Please contact our office for more information. You may also contact the VA for further clarification.
Q: Is there financial aid? Do you take Florida Prepaid?
A: Yes, we do accept Florida Prepaid. We do not offer financial aid such as grants or loans.
We accept payments on the students’ behalf from scholarship funds. The checks would need to be made out to the Coral Springs Fire Department. Payment due dates are listed under class information. We urge you to call us for more information. If you are a veteran, we are VA approved for benefits Chapter 30.
WE WILL CONTINUOUSLY ADD FAQ’S. HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION THAT WE HAVE NOT ANSWERED HERE, PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICE AT 954-346-1774.