The Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH), New Hampshire Department of Safety, Police Standards and Training Council and Sen. David Watters (D-4), proudly announce expanded eligibility for the First Responder program, designed to support development, recruitment and retention efforts to bolster public safety statewide.

Effective with the passage of House Bill 2 for Fiscal Year 2026, public safety telecommunicators and dispatchers are now also eligible to participate in the program, which provides reimbursement for the cost of one or more courses per semester, including required tuition and fees, for non-credit or degree courses at any of the seven institutions in New Hampshire’s community college system. Reimbursements are subject to eligibility, available funding and successful completion. Participating employees must be certified as eligible by their employers and complete the documentation required by CCSNH.

Law enforcement officers and current full-time career, part-time, on-call or volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians already qualified for reimbursements during the initial version of the program, which was first announced in December 2023. Sen. Watters, of District 4, representing Barrington, Dover, Rollinsford and Somersworth, was the primary sponsor of the initial bill that was later signed into law. 

Firefighters who attend the New Hampshire Fire Academy are also eligible for full reimbursement for the cost of the academy not covered by other funding sources. Additional information, including specific programs and courses offered, is available on the CCSNH website.