Course Policies

Course Fees:

For Industrial Course Fees – Contact Instructor Chief Nick Ragan (nragan@msfa.ms.gov).
For contract courses or any other course not listed, contact the Academy at (601)932-2444 and you will be directed to the appropriate personnel.

Course package fees are listed by each individual course, with a Group A, or Group B designation. Course fees include the instructional fee, facility use fee, dorm fees (if applicable), meals (if applicable), and may include a supply fee for consumable commodity supplies used in the course.

Most course fees are listed in our course catalog.

Course Fee Groups:

Group A fee students represent: Mississippi Municipal (career or volunteer) fire departments, Mississippi County (career or volunteer) fire departments, state employees, county fire arson investigator (County Fire Arson and Investigator course), emergency management, military personnel assigned full time to a Mississippi Base and Choctaw Fire Department.

Group B fee students represent: Industrial organizations, federal affiliates, out of state students, for profit entities, law enforcement, medical entities, dispatchers, etc.

Dormitory rooms will be assigned on a first-come basis and after the dormitory is filled, students will be responsible for making outside accommodations. Courses are usually scheduled to coincide with dormitory capacity. (Note: The dorm is closed on the weekends unless a weekend class is being held.)

Breakfast and lunch are included in course fees (unless stated otherwise) and will be served at the Academy on weekdays only.

Registration:

Preregistration will not be accepted by telephone. Students’ applications will be accepted only after a completed and signed General Admission Application form is received. The General Admission Application forms are located in back of catalog and on our website.

NOTE: Applications for Distant Learning courses, Certified Rural Fire Apparatus-Driver/Operator-I, Fire Fighter Field Day, and Volunteer Fire Fighter Certification I Skills Testing Day registration must include course fee when submitted in order for application(s) to be accepted and processed. Departments may submit a purchase order or check for registration for pre-pay classes.

Application Processing Fee:

There is a $40 application processing fee for all courses, which is included in the cost of the course. This fee will be charged to the sponsoring department/organization once any changes are made to a registered student (i.e., cancellation or student substitution). This policy will also apply to fee waived (grant funded) courses.

No Show Policy For All Courses:

There will be a $60 fee for all students who are registered to attend a course and fail to attend on the first day. The fee will be charged to the sponsoring department/organization. (Except for 1001-I-II and Smoke Diver. See these course descriptions for pricing).

No Show Policy for Fee Waived (Grant Funded) Courses:

There will be a $60 fee for all students who are registered to attend a course and fail to attend on the first day. The fee will be charged to the sponsoring department/organization. In addition, the student will not be able to register for any other fee- waived (grant funded) courses for a period of one year. Additionally, if the student is currently registered for a fee waived class later in the same year, the registration will be voided and the student will be removed from the class.

Cancelling a Registered Student:

A request for cancellation for a registered student must be in writing (mail or fax to 601-932-2819) by the fire chief or other responsible official. The notice should contain the department name, student name, the course name and delivery date. Cancellations CAN NOT be taken verbally. Cancellations should be received no later than ten (10) working days prior to course start date. A $40 processing fee (Section 4 above) will apply and be invoiced to the sponsoring department/organization (regardless if application is marked student financially responsible). Fee does not apply to pre-paid classes.

Student Substitution:

A request for student substitution for a registered course must be in writing (mail or fax to 601-932-2819) by the fire chief or other responsible official. The notice should contain the department name, both student names, the course name and delivery date. An application for the new student must be submitted with the request. Substitution request CAN NOT be taken verbally. A $40 processing fee (Section 4 above) will apply and be invoiced to the sponsoring department/organization (regardless if application is marked student financially responsible).

Student Withdrawal:

1. When students withdraw for an emergency reason during a course, the Academy will enroll them in the next available course. The entity will be billed a pro rata fee. This policy does not include the Smoke Diver course.
2. When students withdraw from a course due to illness or injury, the Academy will enroll them in the next available course, at the point at which the student withdrew, with a documented medical statement releasing said student for participation. The entity will be billed a pro rata fee. This policy does not include the Smoke Diver course.
3. When students withdraw from a course for any other reason, all application, course and supply fees will be forfeited.
4. This policy also applies to grant funded courses. (See Section 6 of general admission application)

Students will be notified, through their department, upon acceptance in a course and their dormitory status.

For any admission application that is marked student responsible, the payment must be received 30 days prior to course begin date or the student may be removed from the class.

REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE:

The Academy’s charge for a replacement certificate is $2.50. If the replacement certificate is for an IFSAC accreditation course and you want a replacement seal, add an additional $5.00. All requests for replacement certificates should be sent to the Admissions Office with the student’s name, student ID, course attended, date attended, and the address to mail the certificate(s) to. Replacement of ProBoard certificates is the responsibility of the student. Applications can be obtained from the Curriculum Coordinator’s office.

Student Eligibility:

1. Student must be a minimum of 18 years of age.
2. Student must be employed or sponsored by one of the following: Municipal, County, or Industrial fire protection department/organization (MS Code Annotated 1972, Section 45-11-8(1)).