Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters, and Emergency Medical Technicians Career Development, Recruitment, and Retention Program - Community College System of New Hampshire

Funding has been made available by the State of New Hampshire to support the career development, recruitment and retention of emergency response personnel working in the Granite State.

Eligible first responders can take a course at any of New Hampshire’s community colleges, including courses offered by CCSNH online. The program currently covers tuition and required fees for one course per semester, subject to eligibility and available funding. Short-term workforce training courses (not for credit) are not eligible for funding.

Note: This program is being updated. Starting the Fall 2025 semester, the program will pay for three courses, up to 12 credits maximum, per semester (12 credits is the maximum that will be covered). Short-term workforce training courses are also included (no cap). Only short-term workforce training courses offered directly by the NH community colleges are eligible for reimbursement (courses offered by third-party vendors are ineligible for reimbursement). Starting Fall of 2025, eligible public safety telecommunicators and dispatchers may participate in the program.

Participating employees will be certified as eligible by their employers and will be reimbursed upon successful completion of the course (completing the course with a grade of C or better). Find programs and courses offered at each college on the Programs at a Glance page, or on the college websites.

Note: some courses may have prerequisites or be subject to space limitations. Law Enforcement Officers and current full-time career, part-time, on-call or volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians are eligible under this program.

Individuals employed as firefighters in New Hampshire are eligible for the above or for reimbursement of certain approved costs of the New Hampshire Fire Academy.

Courses through CCSNH

Fall semester courses begin on Aug. 25, 2025. CCSNH also offers late-start courses that have other start dates within the semester. If you are planning ahead to the Spring semester, classes begin on Jan. 20, 2026. Short-term workforce training courses have a variety of start dates. Registering for courses/paying for courses and submitting the form for reimbursement are two separate steps. The courses must be paid in full by a refundable method of payment to qualify for reimbursement. Application for reimbursement is made through the College Bursar’s office. Applications can be submitted upon registration or no less than 14 days prior to the end of the course. Please contact the College Bursar if you have any questions about the form and requirements.

Courses through NH Fire Academy

This program provides funding for reimbursement of certain costs of the NH Fire Academy.
View additional information (PDF) or fill out a reimbursement form above based on the campus where you took the course.

NH Police Academy

Starting Fall 2025, certain expenses of the NH Police Academy will be eligible for reimbursement. Information will be updated in the coming weeks.

Questions? Please contact:

Keith Wilding, Paramedic Emergency Medicine Program
603-271-6484 x 4213

Mike Raymond, Criminal Justice Program
603-271-6484 x 4284

Nick Mercuri, Fire Science and EMS Program
603-366-5326

Jeffrey Phillips, Assistant Director, Division of Fire Standards and Training & EMS – Concord
603-419-9457

“This program is an important step in supporting our state’s efforts to recruit and retain a first responder workforce that is critical to every New Hampshire community.”

-Robert Quinn, Commissioner of the NH Department of Safety.

Courses through CCSNH

Great Bay Community College

Lakes Region Community College

Manchester Community College

Nashua Community College

NHTI

River Valley Community College

White Mountains Community College

Courses through NH Fire Academy

NH Police Academy

Questions? Please contact: