Fire and Life Safety Technician - Certificate of Achievement

Effective: Fall 2025

Catalog Description

To be a Fire and Life Safety Apprentice an applicant must first be employed by a member company of the WBFAA UATC. As a Fire and Life Safety Technician he/she will install, maintain and repair burglar and fire alarm systems. Working with low voltage wiring systems, the apprentice learns safety practices, data; video (Cable TV, Closed Circuit), Security Systems (Alarms. Cameras, Access Control), Cabling using Copper (twisted pair and coax), Fiber Optics, Wireless, OSHA Safety Practices, First Aid/CPR, Grounding and Bonding techniques in a structured cabling system, Computer Literacy and Networking.

Career Opportunities

All Apprentices start off with an hourly wage and fringe benefit package determined by the employer and the wages increase based on advancement within the program. Upon completion of the apprenticeship program, the graduate may be employed at the journey level by contractors, or may pursue an entrepreneurial path. Upon completion of the program, the median hourly rate is $31 (2023 rate, Bay Region). LMI projections for the Bay Region project 412 openings per year for Fire and Life Safety Technicians.

TOP Code 0956.70 - Industrial and Occupational Safety and Health*

CIP Code 15.0703 - Industrial Safety Technology/Technician.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of the program the student should be able to:

Support a safe and healthy work environment through analysis of the environment and application of safe policies and practices.
Demonstrate the skills to follow plans and blueprints, perform relevant calculations, and effectively use the tools and techniques to install, test, and maintain fire and life safety systems in accordance with industry practice, workmanship standards, and regulations.

Required Core

31.0-44.0

APFL 9701

Orientation Fire/Life Safety (Active)

5.0

APFL 9702

Electrical Materials, Blueprint Reading, Cabling Systems (Active)

5.0

APFL 9703

Electrical Theory, Test Equipment, and Power Quality (Active)

5.0

APFL 9704

Low Voltage Electrical Systems, Components, Terminations, and Testing (Active)

5.0

APFL 9705

Networking Principles, Fiber Optic Implementation, and Video Applications (Active)

5.0

APFL 9706

Advanced Systems Maintenance and Supervision (Active)

5.0

APFL 9795

Occupational Work Experience - Fire/Life Safety Apprenticeship (Active)

1.0-14.0

Total: 31.0-44.0