Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Rescue instructor education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a rescue instructor. Rescue instructors usually study fire science and protection, business, or education. 39% of rescue instructors hold a bachelor's degree, and 39% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 146 real rescue instructor resumes to see exactly what rescue instructor education sections show.
The most common colleges for rescue instructors are the Columbia Southern University and the Columbia Southern University.
There are also many online rescue instructor courses to help get the education required to be a rescue instructor.
What education do you need to become a rescue instructor?
What degree do you need to be a rescue instructor?
- Bachelor's, 39%
- Associate, 39%
- Master's, 12%
- High School Diploma, 7%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a rescue instructor?
- Business, 14%
- Education, 6%
- Communication, 6%
- Other Majors, 52%
Most common colleges for rescue instructors
| Rescue instructor common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Columbia Southern University | 17.24% |
| Southern Illinois University Carbondale | 10.34% |
| Eastern Washington University | 6.90% |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | 6.90% |
| Oklahoma State University | 6.90% |
Best majors for rescue instructors
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fire Science And Protection | 21.9% |
| 2 | Business | 14.1% |
| 3 | Education | 6.3% |
| 4 | Communication | 6.3% |
| 5 | Elementary Education | 4.7% |
Best colleges for rescue instructors
The best colleges for rescue instructors are University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Vanderbilt University.
A rescue instructor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for rescue instructors. 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 rescue instructors.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
5. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
6. University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$13,226
Enrollment
31,568
7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
8. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA • Private
In-state tuition
$17,653
Enrollment
16,405
9. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$53,740
Enrollment
5,567
10. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
In-state tuition
$49,816
Enrollment
6,840
20 best online courses for rescue instructors
Advertising disclosure
1. 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...
2. Fire Safety: Become A Fire Safety Expert
Become an expert in Fire Safety, Fire Hazards Control, Fire Evacuation Plans, and Fire Risk Assessment...
3. Fire Safety and Prevention Planning
Become an expert in understanding Fire Safety and Prevention Planning for your workplaces and organizations...
4. Basic Fire Safety Awareness
Basic Fire Safety Awareness - Your Gateway towards Career in Fire Safety...
5. NEBOSH FIRE SAFETY
Managing Fire Safety in Workplace...
6. Management Skills Training for New & Experienced Managers
Management Skills Certification in Developing People, Leading Teams & Improving Processes in the Hybrid Work Culture...
7. OSHA Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)
Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...
8. Implementing Positive Behaviour Management in the Classroom
Practical Strategies to Address Behaviour Issues in any Classroom...
9. Operations Management: Supply Chains, Products and Services
Master Supply Chain Management and Product and Service Development in Manufacturing and Service Organizations...
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. The Operations Management Training Program
Learn how to design, plan, direct, and improve all the activities that transform resources into goods or services...
12. OSHA Safety Training: Heat Stress Management
A Workplace Safety Management Course for Current and Future Safety Professionals...
13. Planning and Implementing a Security Incident Response
Learn all about planning and implementing a Security Incident Response along with best practices and recommendations...
14. From Puppy To Dog Training
The Complete Dog Obedience Training Course To A Fantastic Life With Your Dog...
15. Mantaflow Fire & Smoke Simulation Guide in Blender
Learn everything there is to know about the Fire and Smoke Simulation in Blender!...
16. Project Management Training
Project Management Certification Training with 4 Full Practice Tests...
17. OSHA Safety Pro: Deadly Concrete Dust. Crystalline Silica.
OSHA's General, Construction, and Maritime Industries Hazard Prevention and Safety Standard...
18. Operations Management: Facilities Planning and Management
Operations Management Training Program (Course 8 of 8)...
19. My Google Classroom: Google Classroom Made Easy to Beginners
Master Google Classroom: Discover How to Successfully Setup and Start Teaching With Google Classroom in Minutes!...
20. Operations Management A-Z: Business Processes and Systems
Operations Management: Supply Chain & Business Processes in Industry for Manufacturing and Services Organizations...
Top 10 most affordable universities for rescue instructors
The most affordable schools for rescue instructors are University of Florida, california state university - bakersfield, and california state university - los angeles.
If the best universities for rescue instructors 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 rescue instructors.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
3. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
4. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
5. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
6. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
7. California State University - Fresno
Fresno, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,587
Cost of attendance
16,915
8. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
9. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
10. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for rescue instructors
The hardest universities for rescue instructors to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Vanderbilt University.
Some great schools for rescue instructors 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 rescue instructors 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. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
3. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
5. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
6. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
7. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
8. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA • Private
Admissions rate
26%
SAT average
1,427
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,434
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for rescue instructors
The easiest schools for rescue instructors to get into are D'Youville College, oklahoma wesleyan university, and holy names university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a rescue instructor 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 rescue instructors.
1. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
3. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
4. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
5. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
6. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
7. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
8. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
9. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
10. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
Average rescue instructor salary by education level
| Rescue instructor education level | Rescue instructor salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $56,411 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $45,392 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $51,501 |
| Doctorate Degree | $61,957 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $49,592 |
Rescue instructor education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
Search for rescue instructor jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025