Fire and Life Safety Systems Technician (Co-op option available)

Program Overview

The Fire and Life Safety Systems Technician program is designed to prepare you for career opportunities in the fire prevention industry by providing a curriculum that directly aligns with current employer demands – giving you an edge when it is time to enter the workforce. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the design and technical methodologies for various fire and life safety such as fire detection and suppression systems. Furthermore, students will acquire a strong understanding of life safety planning and skill requirements vital for immediate success.

This program is designed for individuals who enjoy challenging projects, which require the knowledge, practical skills and accepted practices used in the fire detection systems and life safety industries. You will also have two options to gain valuable skills in the workforce and will either complete a field placement or a co-operative education (co-op) experience. Completion of this two-year diploma program will prepare you for immediate service in both expanding sectors. Upon graduating, students are also qualified to apply for their Canadian Fire Alarm Association (CFAA) designation and C.Tech designation from the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologist (OACETT).

Co-operative Education

Alert

Fire Prevention

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)
Grade 12 mathematics (C, M or U)

Intakes and Availability

Date	Domestic Availability	International Availability
September 2020	Open	Closed

Tuition

Year one domestic: $2,722 (CDN)
Year one international: $13,322 (CDN)

View Full Costs

Co-operative Education (co-op)

The best way to succeed in your field is to immerse yourself in it! Co-op is an excellent way to build your professional network, explore career paths and apply in-class teachings to real work situations. Co-op is a model of education that integrates academic learning with workplace learning in fields relevant to our students’ academic and personal goals. Similar to an academic course, work terms are a mandatory component to this form of experiential learning.

Semester 1 Courses

View All Courses

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Alarm or alarm systems specialist
Alarm systems technician
Code consultant
Fire alarm designer
Fire alarm electronics technician
Fire alarm systems servicer
Fire equipment sales
Fire inspector
Fire investigator
Fire prevention officer
Fire protection systems consultant
Fire protection technician
Fire protectionist
Preventive maintenance technician
Project manager
Sprinkler designer

View all Career Options

Program Details

This program is designed for individuals who enjoy challenging projects, which require the knowledge, practical skills and accepted practices used in the fire alarm and life safety systems industries. Completion of this two-year diploma program will prepare you for immediate service in both expanding sectors.

Students will have two options to gain valuable skills in the workforce and will either complete a field placement or a co-operative education (co-op) experience. Students completing the field placement will participate in a 100 hour, unpaid work placement completed 2 days per week during semester 4. Students who qualify for the co-op experience will complete a four-month paid work experience in between first and second year of their program.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

A strong understanding of the building control systems, fire codes and standards used at the municipal, provincial and national levels
Close to 100 hours of placement experience with employers in the final semester, allowing for work on several different projects and the gaining of essential, hands-on skills
Critical thinking skills for the design of fire alarm and life safety systems equipment (e.g. sprinklers, suppression systems, elevators, strobe lights, building automation systems, etc.) using current codes, standards, regulations and laws
Testing, verifying, troubleshooting and maintenance of fire alarm and life safety systems including extensive laboratory experience in second year to gain relevant practical knowledge

As a graduate, you will be eligible to work toward certification by the Canadian Fire Alarm Association following one year of employment. Please visit,

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)
Grade 12 mathematics (C, M or U)

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Courses and course descriptions are subject to change.

Costs

YEAR ONE FEES	Domestic	International
Tuition	$2,722	$13,322
Compulsory Ancillary	$1,337	$1,812
Program Incidental	$80	$80
Total Fees:	$4,139	$15,214

Please note: fees are based on the 2019-2020 academic year and do not include textbooks. For more information please see Other fees to consider.

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Alarm or alarm systems specialist
Alarm systems technician
Code consultant
Fire alarm designer
Fire alarm electronics technician
Fire alarm systems servicer
Fire equipment sales
Fire inspector
Fire investigator
Fire prevention officer
Fire protection systems consultant
Fire protection technician
Fire protectionist
Preventive maintenance technician
Project manager
Sprinkler designer

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

Alarm systems sales and marketing
Code consulting companies
Insurance companies
Engineering firms
Fire departments
Fire prevention services
Fire protection companies
Provincial or municipal governments

Field Placement

Students completing a field placement will participate in a 100-hour, unpaid work experience completed two days per week during the fourth semester. This will provide the opportunity to integrate theory with practice under the supervision of an industry professional.

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:

Please visit pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree

Co-operative education (co-op)

Students in the Fire and Life Safety Systems Technician program will be invited to apply to the co-op option during their first academic semester. Entrance to the co-op option is limited and the processes for securing a work term are competitive. Students who qualify for co-op will be eligible to complete a four-month, paid work term between the second and third academic semesters of their program.

Supports are available through the Co-op office to assist students with securing their work terms. In addition, the Co-op office is in contact with co-op students and the employers during their work terms to help with any questions. Upon completing the work term, co-op students return to campus to complete their third and fourth academic semesters of the program before graduating.

Program sequence

	Fall (September to December)	Winter (January to April)	Summer (May to August)
Year 1	Academic semester 1	Academic semester 2	Co-op work term 1
Year 2	Academic semester 3	Academic semester 4

Courses

CO-OP Option

SEMESTER 1

SEMESTER 2

CO-OP WORK TERM

Co-op Work Term 1 (FLSC 1000)
The co-op work term will provide students with work experience in the fire alarm and life safety systems industries. The co-op work term expands students’ learning environment to real work settings where they will be challenged to apply their academic knowledge and then return to campus with a deepened understanding of industry demands and required skills.

SEMESTER 3

SEMESTER 4

Courses and course descriptions are subject to change.

Co-op administrative fee

Once transferred to the co-op option of a program, students will have a co-op administrative fee of $475 assessed to their accounts. The administrative fee goes to support the broad array of support services provided to co-op students. These services are dedicated to support student success.

Learn more

Find more information about the benefits of becoming a co-op student.

Find more information about the benefits of becoming a co-op employer.

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

Recommended

Intakes and Availability

Tuition

Co-operative Education (co-op)

Semester 1 Courses

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Program Details

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

Admission Requirements

Recommended

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

Field Placement

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Co-operative education (co-op)

Program sequence

Courses

CO-OP Option

SEMESTER 1

SEMESTER 2

CO-OP WORK TERM

SEMESTER 3

SEMESTER 4

Co-op administrative fee

Learn more

Fire and Life Safety Systems Technician (Co-op option available) in the news

Helpful Resources

College guide September 2020 [PDF]

College guide September 2020 [Interactive]

Graduate Employment Report [PDF]