Firefighters

Section 54.208 of the Texas Education Code. This Section, entitled “Firemen Enrolled in Fire Science Courses,” provides a limited tuition and fee exemption for Texas firefighters:
 
The governing boards of the states institutions of collegiate rank supported in whole or in part by public funds shall exempt from the payment of tuition and laboratory fees any person who is employed as a fireman by any political subdivision of the state and who enrolls in a course or courses offered as part of a fire science curriculum.
 
Attorney General's Opinion, click here to read the full Attorney General's opinion.
 
A Texas  fire fighter is exempt from paying tuition and laboratory fees at public junior colleges and four-year colleges and universities for courses that fall within a designated fire science curriculum, as well as a course that is primarily related to fire service, emergency medicine, emergency management, or public administration, regardless of whether that course falls within a curriculum designated as “fire science.”
 
A fire fighter seeking an exemption from tuition need not be pursuing a degree in fire science and may already have a degree in fire science.


 
Institutions offering online or hybrid programs:
 
Austin Community College - an associate's degree in Fire Protection Technology
 
West Texas A&M - a bachelor completion program in Emergency Administration.