Recruit Candidate Academy | Emergency Services

Can you handle the heat?

From Recruit to Career Ready in just 15 weeks.

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About the RCA Program

Our Instructors

All RCA instructors are currently working as emergency responders in their communities, meet them here.

Fire Apparatus

Largest fleet of fire academy engines in the region.

Top Facilities

The RCA at UVU utilizes state of the art live fire facilities where students experience what they study.

"The RCA was one of the best experiences I have had on my journey to becoming a firefighter. It was also one of the toughest and most rewarding. The RCA really sets the tone for what you can expect from the fire service and what you should expect from yourself moving forward. To its core, it is a program that is physically and mentally demanding. It provides you with a choice: to crumble under the pressure and call it quits, or to rise above and become a better, more resilient version of yourself. If you stick it out through the program, the RCA will provide you with many opportunities moving forward. The RCA doesn’t just open the doors to furthering your career in the fire service, it provides life long memories, friends, and skills. If you are considering the fire service, look to the RCA. You won’t regret it."

Dillon Ricks, Class 86

Program Requirements

Course Requirements:

Must be admitted to UVU
Complete pre-requisites of ESFF 1000 and ESFF 1120 with a grade of C- or higher
Be NREMT certified or complete an EMT course through UVU or another recognized agency/institution
Demonstrate competency in English and Math (by one of the following: ACT, SAT, High School Transcript, College Level courses, degrees, and/or RCA entrance exam.)
Be at least 18 years of age before class starts
Have any valid form of Government Issued Photo Identification (Driver’s license, State ID or Passport)

Graduation Requirements:

Completion of a minimum of 32 credits.
Overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) or above, with completion of each Emergency Services class with a C- or higher.
Residency hours -- Minimum of 10 credits required through course attendance at UVU.
Without NREMT certification you will not be eligible for the Certificate of Completion through UVU, but will still be able to participate in the RCA program. If EMT is taken outside of UVU, must be NREMT certified to complete the Firefighter Recruit Candidate Academy, Certificate of Completion.

STATE FIRE CERTIFICATIONS: Upon successful completion of the Basic Firefighter Recruit Candidate Academy, students are eligible for State certification at the Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Hazardous Materials Operations levels through the Utah Fire Service Certification Council.

Complete the following:		Credits
ESFF 1120	Principles of Fire and Emergency Services Safety and Survival	3
ESFF 250A	Firefighter Recruit Candidate Academy I	8
ESFF 250B	Firefighter Recruit Candidate Academy II	8
ESEC 1140	Emergency Medical Technician Basic	9
ESFF 1000	Introduction to Emergency Services	4
	Total Program Credits:	32

FIREFIGHTER RECRUIT CANDIDATE ACADEMY (RCA) CERTIFICATION PASS RATES

RCA Events

Firefighters fighting a fire

Rookie Challenge

Experience whats it's like to be an RCA student for one evening with current RCA students and instructors.

Rookie Challenge Video

Next Rookie Challenge will be held
September 26, 2025

More information

Engaged learning and hands on training is what we do

Student Engagement

RCA students engage with children in their community in grades K-3 with fire and life safety messages. Over 11,000 children have been impacted by these messages.