These programs have a common first semester, so there is no need to decide right away; as long as you are enrolled in one of them, you are on the right path!

The two-year Fire Protection Engineering Technician program focuses on the fire alarm protection industry.

The three-year Fire Protection Engineering Technology program uses the extra year of studies to prepare students for the Alarm industry as well as:

• Sprinklers (Design, Installation, Maintenance)
• Code-consulting
• Insurance / Risk Management
• Fire Inspection/Prevention, Public Education, Fire Investigation

Both programs have high employment rates, but the three-year FPT program provides more diversity in career paths.

Graduating from either program offers acceptance to the Firefighter, Pre-service Education and Training program.

As a Seneca Fire Protection Engineering Technician or Technology student, you can obtain the following certifications:

• CFAA (from Canadian Fire Alarm Association)
• C.E.T. (from Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists)
• BCIN (from Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing)
• NFPA certifications (from Ontario Fire Marshall, IFSAC and ProBoard seal)
  1. NFPA 472 Awareness
  2. NFPA 1031 Level I and II
  3. NFPA 1033 (for graduates hired by a fire department)
  4. NFPA 1035 Level I and II
  5. NFPA 1041 Level I
• CRM (from Canadian Risk Managers)
• CIP (from Certified Insurance Professionals)

*** Certifications may require specific courses to be taken, specific grades to be achieved and may require an additional fee for the certification process ***

Our programs have intakes starting in September and January. Starting in September, second semester would be January to April and third semester would be the following September. Starting in January, second semester would be May to August, and third semester would be the following September with the people who started in September.

Due to the laboratory requirements for sprinklers, alarms and other systems, these programs can only be taken as a full-time student, during the day.

A typical semester has 20 hours per week, Monday to Friday. A typical day will have about four hours of class but these classes can be scheduled anytime between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. We do our best to schedule classes as close together as possible, but this is not always possible.

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent with:

• Grade 12 English: ENG4(C) or ENG4(U) and
• Grade 12 Mathematics: (C) or (U) or Grade 11 Mathematics: MCR3(U)

OR Mature Student Status (age 19 or older) with the above prerequisite course(s), their equivalent(s) or appropriate Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) Certificate program credits (see Academic Upgrading).

Yes, a Skills Assessment is required for all students accepted to an Ontario College program. Your results from these tests determine the Math and English courses you will be placed in.

If you are unsuccessful in a Skills Assessment test, you will be placed in an alternate credit course that may result in paying an additional fee over your time in College.

Practice tests can be completed prior to attempting your Skills Assessment and are strongly encouraged.

We have several agreements with universities to allow students to continue towards a degree. You can see all pathways to Seneca programs at Degree and Credit Transfer. Graduates of the Technician or Technology program can continue on to the Pre-service Firefighting program if they would like to pursue firefighting.

If you have previous fire protection education, or work experience, you can submit transcripts to the Transfer Credit office to get credit for similar courses in our program. While at Seneca, if you want to take courses ahead of schedule, this is dependent on having the pre-requisite course as well as the course being offered that term and fitting your schedule of required courses.

Yes, you can apply to enter our co-op program and you will do your co-op as your summer job between second and third year, as a successful applicant. Our program laboratories also offer work experience using the devices and systems you will be responsible for when you start your career!

Since this is a life safety career, the demand is very high and we typically have more career postings than graduates.

Since there are varied careers for our graduates, this question is difficult to answer. Depending on the career, your work could be:

• Office environment
• Construction sites
• Travelling to inspect various buildings (existing and under construction)

Each year fire protection students have a dedicated career fair, on campus, to help graduating students get hired; companies attend from across North America! Companies also set up interviews, on campus, to find their next employees from our graduating class!

No, every College program is required to have General Education courses, mandated by the Ministry of Education. Our programs require College English, three General Educations and Technical Writing. For more details on these courses, visit General Education courses.

Yes, the better you can make your resume, the more likely you are to receive interviews and to be successful in the hiring process.

Courses may require a textbook, lab supplies or additional fees for certifications. Each semester is different but first semester fees are available on the Office of the Registrar for the Technology, Technician and Pre-Service programs.