Eastern Kentucky University | 859-622-1000 | admissions@eku.edu
EKU Logo
EKU Logo
Apply Now Get Info Search
Hero Image

Certificate in Industrial Fire Protection

School of Safety, Security & Emergency Management

College of Justice, Safety & Military Science

Certificate in Industrial Fire Protection

School of Safety, Security & Emergency Management

College of Justice, Safety & Military Science

Online

Program

33 Credit Hours

to Graduate

Online Tuition Rate

$443 Per Credit Hour

Low-Cost Textbooks

For All Students

Give Yourself a Competitive Edge in the Industry

EKU’s online industrial fire protection certificate provides students with the skill sets needed to protect life and property. EKU combines the latest technology and expert instruction to offer students a competitive edge in the job market.

Apply Now Schedule a Visit

Learn More

Loading…

Career Outlook

Employment of firefighters will increase by 4 percent from 2021 to 2031 and employment of fire inspectors and hazardous materials workers is projected to grow 6 percent in the same time period.

– U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Leadership within the fire industry will be increasingly important to ensure operations run smoothly and the emergency needs of communities are met.

Job Titles Include:

  • Firefighter
  • Fire investigator
  • Fire marshal
  • Fire safety director or officer

Fire science is a dynamic, multidisciplinary field of study that prepares students for a wide range of career options.

Employers Include:

  • Indiana State Fire Marshal
  • LaBella Associates Construction Engineering Company
  • City of Cambridge, Massachusetts
  • Forensic Fire Consultants, Ltd.

The Office of Academic and Career Services is a one-stop shop for all your career and professional development needs.

Services Include:

  • Creating/updating your resume and cover letter
  • Interviewing tips and coaching
  • Career documents review
  • Job search

Why EKU?

  • Low-cost textbooks through EKU BookSmart
  • No application fee
  • Reduced tuition for active-duty military members and their spouses
  • IFSAC-accredited programs
  • Accelerated 7-week terms
  • Nationally renowned instructors comprised of former fire chiefs, fire marshals, engineers and investigators, prominent for their professional achievements and success in the field
  • Courses begin 6 times per year
  • Generous credit transfer policy
  • No campus visits required
  • Personal advisors stay with you from application to graduation
  • Free online tutoring and career services assistance
  • Dynamic, supportive learning environment

Curriculum & Admission

EKU’s curriculum blends academic and professional preparation through topics such as fire behavior, prevention, response and investigation, providing graduates a competitive edge in the job market.

A minimum of 24 credits are required to graduate.

View the degree requirements:

EKU Academic Catalog

Please review the admissions requirements before applying for this or any program. If you have questions about the program or are planning to register for classes, please speak to the program advisor.

TermApplication
Deadline		Classes
Begin
Fall AJuly 31August
Fall BSeptember 30October
Spring ADecember 31January
Spring BFebruary 28March
Summer AApril 30May
Summer BMay 31June

All applicants must provide an application and evidence of appropriate scholastic achievement through prior educational experience.

Please note that certain degree programs have special admission requirements. Admission to the University does not mean automatic admission to all degree programs.

The completed application and all required supporting documentation must be received by the University no later than:

• August 1 for fall enrollment
• December 1 for spring enrollment
• May 1 for summer enrollment

To apply for undergraduate admission to Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), submit an application at apply.eku.edu and submit your materials noted below electronically or by mail to:

Office of Admissions
Eastern Kentucky University
Whitlock Bldg. 112, CPO 54
521 Lancaster Avenue
Richmond, KY 40475-3154.

The Fire, Arson and Explosion Investigation bachelor’s degree is accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC).

Enrolling & Advising Information

EKU’s College of Justice, Safety, and Military Science is committed to delivering high-quality enrollment and academic advising for our students. We strive to create an atmosphere of mutual trust and meaningful engagement to help students reach their academic goals and have a rewarding educational experience.

Interested in enrolling? Reach out to your college enrollment counselor.

professional photo of Jacinda Bertie-Cockerham

Jacinda Bertie-Cockerham

College Enrollment Counselor

Call: 859-622-6520
Text: 859-305-1198
jacinda.bertie@eku.edu

Schedule an Appointment
photo of jacob mobley

Jacob Mobley

Enrollment Advisor

859-622-2877
Jacob.Mobley@eku.edu

Schedule an Appointment

Additional Contact Info

Admissions: 859-622-2106
Academic Testing: 859-622-1281
Big E Central (Financial Aid & Student Account Services): 859-622-2361
Military & Veterans Affairs Office: 859-622-2345

Student Stories & Features

  • Patrick Spear

    EKU Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology Graduate
    My favorite part of being an online student at EKU was having opportunities to challenge myself both through my coursework as well as through the internship I experienced. I continually was blown away by the challenges to learn things that I thought I already was competent in.

  • Bryan B. O’Neil

    EKU Fire Protection Administration Graduate
    With the leadership tools I gained during my time at EKU I am better able to evaluate emergency situations and keep my team and civilians safe under dangerous circumstances. I am also better equipped to evaluate our performance and suggest administrative and policy changes to improve the services that we deliver to our community.

  • Benjamin Schultz

    EKU Fire, Arson & Explosion Investigation Graduate
    It has been a career goal to obtain a bachelor’s degree. As a member of our fire investigation team, I have been able to provide a stronger value to the team.

Quick Links

Upcoming Events

Calendars
Venues
Days of the Week
Time of Day
List
Grid
Plain
Thu
04

Fall 2025 Graduation

December 4, 2025 at – December 5, 2025 at calendar-multiday
Thu
12

Provost's Leadership Institute

February 12, 2026 at – February 13, 2026 at calendar-multiday
Thu
19

High School Honor Band Festival

February 19, 2026 – February 21, 2026calendar-multiday
Mon
02

EKU Choirs: NYC Preview Concert

at – calendar-day
Tue
03

EKU Wind Ensemble and Concert Band Performance

at – calendar-day
Fri
20

Middle School Honor Band Festival

calendar-day

News & Updates

Mining for Knowledge: EKU Student Turns Real-World Experience into Safer Workplaces

After nearly two decades of working in coal mines, Joshua Vereen knows the meaning of hard work. As an online student at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), he’s turning that experience into leadership, helping shape safer workplaces for the next generation of miners.  “The coal mining industry has long been a part of Appalachia’s economy, and […]

‘Go Here, Go Anywhere’: Fire Engineering Takes EKU Grad Around the World and Back

As a kid, Tony Cole, ’93, never imagined his dream of becoming a firefighter would lead him to Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), then across the world meeting foreign dignitaries as a fire protection engineer for Saudi Aramco, and now operating a fire protection firm in Lexington. When Cole graduated high school in the late 1980s, […]

Igniting a Career: Fire and Arson Student Interns with National Park Service

Towering red rock arches, sweeping canyons and century-old dwellings set the stage for Rachel Dickey’s summer adventure. The Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) Fire, Arson and Explosion Investigation student interned with the National Park Service (NPS), gaining hands-on experience while helping protect the iconic landscapes of Arches, Canyonlands, Hovenweep and Natural Bridges National Parks and Monuments […]

Related Programs

Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection & Safety Engineering Technology

Common Job Titles: fire protection and prevention systems designer, building inspector, fire safety director

Modalities: online and on-campus

Credit Hours: 120

Certificate in Wildland Firefighting

Common Job Titles: firefighter, fire investigator, search and rescue coordinator

Modalities: on-campus

Credit Hours: 20

Contact Information

School of Safety, Security & Emergency Management

Stratton Building
Room 245
4453 Kit Carson Drive
Richmond, Ky 40475

859-622-1978
jus.dean@eku.edu

Department Directory