The Cal-JAC Academy is designed to provide an opportunity to qualifying cadets to earn their Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic course completion certificate as a first step toward a career in the fire service.

Over the course of the academy, cadets will complete the entry-level steps needed to launch a career as a firefighter. In addition to obtaining the skills required of a nationally registered EMT or Paramedic, academy cadets will physically train for the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT), receive preparatory instruction for the Cal-JAC written exam, and hone their interview skills through the guidance of a firefighter mentor.

For those who graduate this rigorous and comprehensive pathway into the fire service, they will earn a place on the Firefighter Candidate Testing Center’s Statewide Eligibility List, which is used by more than 155 California fire departments when it comes time to hire.