I am guessing you are asking about the ones that non-firefighters can attend (college sort of ones) rather than department run ones.

Just wanted to clarify

Hi Doberman,

I've recently been researching the same thing. I have no idea which academies are considered "best," but here's what I've found just in terms of what's out there. Hope it helps.

-TonyP

http://www.cftda.org/programs.php
A list of all community college fire tech programs in california

www.arc.losrios.edu
America River College

www.clpccd.cc.ca.us/cc
Chabot College

www.evc.edu
Evergreen Valley College

www.losmedanos.net
Los Medanos College

http://www.missioncollege.org/depts/fire/index.html
Mission College West

http://www.gocsm.net
San Mateo College

www.santarosa.edu
Santa Rosa College
This message was edited by TonyP on 6-25-04 @ 5:07 PM

You forgot The South Bay Fire Academy
http://theacademy.ca.gov/
You will have to call them for info cause it's not listed on the website cause the next one's already full. I'm in it now and it's great.

You forgot The South Bay Fire Academy
http://theacademy.ca.gov/
You will have to call them for info cause it's not listed on the website cause the next one's already full. I'm in it now and it's great.

I went to Mission College in Santa Clara> Mission has a very good book theory side. I think that the best bet would be to:
1. Go to Mission, After meeting basic requirements you are placed with a local agency (South County/CDF, Palo Alto, Moffett, UTC, etc...) for a 1 year Firefighter I internship. This is a way to do excellent networking, get ton's of hands on experience, and possibly get a badge (it's how I got mine) Then go to a fire academy (South Bay is good and has ecelent instrucotrs.
2. Go to someplace Like MPC, Butte, etc... The have combined academies/ degree programs