Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Fire department lieutenant education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a fire department lieutenant. Fire department lieutenants usually study fire science and protection, criminal justice, or medical technician. 35% of fire department lieutenants hold a bachelor's degree, and 30% hold an high school diploma. We analyzed 198 real fire department lieutenant resumes to see exactly what fire department lieutenant education sections show.
The most common colleges for fire department lieutenants are the Queens College of the City University of New York and the Queens College of the City University of New York.
There are also many online fire department lieutenant courses to help get the education required to be a fire department lieutenant.
What education do you need to become a fire department lieutenant?
What degree do you need to be a fire department lieutenant?
- Bachelor's, 35%
- High School Diploma, 30%
- Associate, 27%
- Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become a fire department lieutenant?
- Criminal Justice, 12%
- Medical Technician, 11%
- Business, 7%
- Other Majors, 41%
Most common colleges for fire department lieutenants
| Fire department lieutenant common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Queens College of the City University of New York | 8.33% |
| Columbia Southern University | 8.33% |
| Southern Illinois University Carbondale | 8.33% |
| Lewis & Clark College | 8.33% |
| Florida Institute of Technology | 4.17% |
Best majors for fire department lieutenants
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fire Science And Protection | 29.3% |
| 2 | Criminal Justice | 12.0% |
| 3 | Medical Technician | 10.7% |
| 4 | Business | 6.7% |
| 5 | Law Enforcement | 5.3% |
Best colleges for fire department lieutenants
The best colleges for fire department lieutenants are Northeastern University, George Washington University, The, and University of Tulsa.
A fire department lieutenant with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for fire department lieutenants. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become fire department lieutenants.
1. Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$11,895
Enrollment
1,873
2. Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK • Private
In-state tuition
$9,019
Enrollment
20,323
3. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
4. Eastern New Mexico University
Portales, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$6,326
Enrollment
3,347
5. University of Nebraska - Omaha
Omaha, NE • Private
In-state tuition
$7,790
Enrollment
12,230
6. John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,270
Enrollment
12,852
7. University of Idaho
Moscow, ID • Private
In-state tuition
$7,864
Enrollment
7,528
8. University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK • Private
In-state tuition
$6,657
Enrollment
4,657
9. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Enrollment
31,321
10. Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ • Private
In-state tuition
$17,050
Enrollment
53,209
20 best online courses for fire department lieutenants
Advertising disclosure
1. The Effect of Fires on People, Property and the Environment
Fires impact people, property and the environment in all countries around the world. In some cases, the resulting losses are extraordinary, causing hundreds of deaths, widespread damage to property and contents and significant impacts on the environment. More often, fires may cause a single casualty or affect a single home, though the effects are still highly significant to those affected and collectively are substantial. This course will provide an overview of the challenges posed by fire as...
2. Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation
In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1) assess a basic medical patient 2) describe general pharmacologic principles and the skills associated with medication administration, 3) explain airway physiology, the assessment of the airway and available interventions for airway management, 4) identify, assess and formulate a plan to stabilize a patient with a...
3. Basic Fire Safety Awareness
Basic Fire Safety Awareness - Your Gateway towards Career in Fire Safety...
4. Fire Safety: Become A Fire Safety Expert
Become an expert in Fire Safety, Fire Hazards Control, Fire Evacuation Plans, and Fire Risk Assessment...
5. Medical Emergencies: CPR, Toxicology, and Wilderness
In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: (1) Identify the signs and symptoms associated with a patient in shock, to describe the major categories of shock, to assess a patient with signs of shock and formulate a plan for treatment to stabilize the patient for transport, (2) Identify a patient in cardiac arrest and to describe the components of high performance CPR...
6. Become an EMT
Health care is an exciting and ever growing profession that can take you many different directions. You can apply the fundamentals you learn here about emergent patient care, stabilization, and disease processes toward becoming an EMT or further health care pursuits. In this specialization you will learn to care for stable and unstable patients before they get to a hospital, how to identify time sensitive diseases, and medical and traumatic conditions that affect both adults and pediatric...
7. NEBOSH FIRE SAFETY
Managing Fire Safety in Workplace...
8. Fire Safety and Prevention Planning
Become an expert in understanding Fire Safety and Prevention Planning for your workplaces and organizations...
9. Mantaflow Fire & Smoke Simulation Guide in Blender
Learn everything there is to know about the Fire and Smoke Simulation in Blender!...
10. Sales Fire: B2B Sales & Business Development for Startups
The Ultimate Sales Methodology for Business Development & B2B Sales to Learn Sales Strategy, Sales Skills & Deal Closing...
11. Fire Starter Sessions Video Workshop with Danielle LaPorte
Strengthen your voice. Prioritize what's sacred. Define success — on your own terms. For Creatives & Entrepreneurs...
12. Introduction to Medical Imaging
Your guide to the history, science, math, and economics of medical imaging systems (e.g., X-ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound)...
13. Medical Terminology
Introduction to the meaning of various roots, terms and combining forms that are components of medical words...
14. Preventing and Surviving an Active Shooter Incident
Active Shooter/Violent Intruder Prevention and Response...
15. ICD 10 & 11 Medical Coding and Billing
Preparation for Medical Coding Certification Exam...
16. Medical Writing for Healthcare Professionals
Launch your scientific and medical writing career today. Learn from an experienced medical writer!...
17. Occupational Health & Safety Training
Workplace Health and Safety Course For Employees & Managers...
18. A Specialty Approach to Learning Medical Billing and Coding
Volume One: Medical Hematology...
19. Medical Terminology 101
For those in healthcare, billing, and more. Boost earning ability and marketable skills by learning to speak medicine...
20. ISO 13485 Demystified - Medical Devices' QMS 360° Insights
Deep dive into the world of ISO 13485 international standard for medical devices' QMS, basic concepts & requirements...
Top 10 most affordable universities for fire department lieutenants
The most affordable schools for fire department lieutenants are Florida International University, john jay college of criminal justice of the city university of new york, and university of south florida.
If the best universities for fire department lieutenants are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for fire department lieutenants.
1. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
2. John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,270
Cost of attendance
14,177
3. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
5. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
6. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
7. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
8. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-state tuition
$7,064
Cost of attendance
15,576
9. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
10. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for fire department lieutenants
The hardest universities for fire department lieutenants to get into are Northeastern University, George Washington University, The, and University of Tulsa.
Some great schools for fire department lieutenants are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for fire department lieutenants based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
2. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
3. University of Tulsa
Tulsa, OK • Private
Admissions rate
41%
SAT average
1,321
4. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
5. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
Admissions rate
40%
SAT average
1,376
6. Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
58%
SAT average
1,304
7. American University
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
32%
SAT average
1,320
8. University of Georgia
Athens, GA • Private
Admissions rate
49%
SAT average
1,345
9. University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
59%
SAT average
1,367
10. Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
66%
SAT average
1,319
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for fire department lieutenants
The easiest schools for fire department lieutenants to get into are Gwynedd Mercy University, barry university, and la roche college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a fire department lieutenant without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for fire department lieutenants.
1. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
2. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
3. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
4. Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,017
5. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
6. AdventHealth University
Orlando, FL • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,016
7. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
8. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
9. California University of Pennsylvania
California, PA • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,007
10. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
Average fire department lieutenant salary by education level
| Fire department lieutenant education level | Fire department lieutenant salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $67,118 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $49,803 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $60,831 |
| Doctorate Degree | $71,006 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $52,102 |
Fire department lieutenant education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.
Search for fire department lieutenant jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025