Fire Protection (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$47,024

Est. from national median (25 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$8,000

Est. from OH median (3 programs)

Analysis

A $8,000 investment in fire protection training, based on what similar certificate programs in Ohio typically require, positions graduates to enter a field where financial returns arrive quickly. With first-year earnings around $47,000—drawn from national benchmarks for these programs—this translates to a debt burden of just 17% of first year income, well below thresholds that typically create repayment stress.

What makes this estimate credible is the tight clustering among fire protection programs nationwide. The median sits at $47,024, with three-quarters of programs landing below $49,810—a narrow band suggesting this field produces consistent outcomes regardless of specific training location. Ohio's fire protection programs appear to track slightly below the national figure at $44,364, though the gap isn't dramatic. Similar career and technical centers in the state report outcomes ranging from $41,349 to $47,379, reinforcing that these short-term credentials deliver predictable entry points into the profession.

The limited data available for this specific program means parents are evaluating on pattern recognition rather than verified outcomes. However, fire protection represents one of the more standardized career pathways—certifications matter more than institutional prestige, and hiring tends to follow regional needs rather than credential hierarchy. If your student is committed to firefighting or fire prevention work, a low-debt certificate that gets them credentialed and working quickly aligns with how this field actually operates.

Where Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all fire protection certificate's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

Fire Protection certificate's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (24 total in state)

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School	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking CountyNewark	$47,024*	—	$8,000*	—
Butler Technology and Career Development SchoolsMonroe	$47,379*	—	$6,607*	0.14
Great Oaks Career CampusesCincinnati	$41,349*	—	$8,000*	0.19
National Median	$47,024*	—	$9,557*	0.20

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with fire protection graduates

Fire Inspectors and Investigators

Inspect buildings to detect fire hazards and enforce local ordinances and state laws, or investigate and gather facts to determine cause of fires and explosions.

$75,480/yrJobs growth:

Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

Enforce fire regulations, inspect forest for fire hazards, and recommend forest fire prevention or control measures. May report forest fires and weather conditions.

$75,480/yrJobs growth:

Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach vocational courses intended to provide occupational training below the baccalaureate level in subjects such as construction, mechanics/repair, manufacturing, transportation, or cosmetology, primarily to students who have graduated from or left high school. Teaching takes place in public or private schools whose primary business is academic or vocational education.

$62,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Firefighters

Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.

$59,530/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County, approximately 16% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 25 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.