ONONDAGA — The International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) has awarded reaccreditation to Onondaga Community College’s (OCC) fire-protection technology degree program. 

IFSAC awards the accreditation to only one institution in each of the 50 states, OCC said, and it is the one in New York state. The designation provides students the opportunity to be internationally certified as firefighters, fire officers, or fire-service instructors.

OCC offers training, testing, and certification in specific disciplines including fire fighter, fire investigator, fire officer, fire service instructor, fire department incident safety officer, hazardous materials awareness, hazardous materials operations core, hazardous materials personal protective equipment, and hazardous materials product control.

Over the past 30 years, more than 80 percent of the graduates of OCC’s fire protection technology degree program have gone on to careers in public safety, the college noted.

Students in OCC’s fire-protection technology degree program have the chance to serve the community by participating in the bunk-in program. While living at the fire station free of charge, a bunk-in student participates in drills, training, and responds to emergency calls. Students get real-world experience while simultaneously assisting fire departments that are facing staffing shortages. 

A total of 13 fire departments across Onondaga County participate in the bunk-in program. They include Clay, DeWitt, East Syracuse, Fairmount, Fayetteville, Liverpool, Manlius, Moyers Corners, North Syracuse, North West (Baldwinsville), Solvay, South Onondaga, and Taunton.