I can not say enough about Chief Drennan and his staff!!! If you are looking to get into the best career in the world I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND taking the programs offered by Fire Officer Training Academy.
I took all of the classes offered for the entry level firefighter program. These classes were very thorough and well ran. The entire staff is dedicated to your success!!
After taking these programs, it put me in the top 10 on my list.
I can not thank Chief Drennan and the entire staff at Fire Officer Training Academy enough for their dedication and hard work!! They provide top notch instruction and guidance for all levels of training!

Chris Hansson Entry Level FF

Fire Officer Training Academy thoroughly prepares you for what is to come. I took the physical and academic prep classes and both give you priceless insight on how to approach questions and answer to maximize your score. You are getting taught by Chiefs and experienced officers first hand! The attitude of the academy and more specifically, Chief Paul Drennan, is positive, inspiring and focused. Putting your own hard work in mixed with these prep classes will land you in the top percent of your list. I scored in the top 3%! Chief Drennan truly cares and you can feel that he wants you to succeed rather than the class just being a business. Thank you Fire Officer Training Academy.

Lee Garrett Entry Level FF

Fire officer training academy is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if you are planning to take the NJ state fire exam to be a career firefighter. The staff at the academy is the most professional and experienced on how to prepare the student to be the most competitive on the exam. The academy provides study manuals, and practice tests so you can prepare for the exam after the class is complete. The academy has alternate classes to take mock exams similar to what the students will experience the day of your exam. They are timed practice tests to see where you are strong and weak during the testing so you can prepare to be the strongest on all aspects of the exam. The goal is success for every student that attends the classes. The academy also will prep students for the physical exam. They have a state of the art obstacle course, ladder climb and the maze that you crawl through to complete the test. My son Nicholas took every class the academy offered and as of 3-02-2020 he is a Jersey City firefighter. Complete success because of the training and prep he received from Fire Officer Training Academy.

Paul Mcginley Entry Level FF

The fire officer training academy was the best choice I ever made to prepare myself for the written and ppt civil service exams. I was able to obtain confidence and an extra edge to excel on both exams. I ranked top on my lists and will be heading to the academy next month. Thanks again to DC Drennan and the whole team. God bless.

Hector Londono, Entry Level FF

Great team! Paul Drennan and his staff will help guide you to be the best firefighter you can be. They teach you the correct ways to prepare for any test or obstacle. Very motivated program, and they all love to help others achieve their goals. I got a great score on the written exam, and was ranked high on my list. Highly recommend!

Travis, Entry Level FF

Paul and his dedicated team of instructors are exactly what you need to train for the NJ PPT test! From knowledge and expertise to patience with every little question, the team is second to none. Every one of them is a professional and passionate firefighter. Special shout out to Danny, a future fire captain and great assistant and motivator!

Jonah Schwartz, Entry Level FF

Some of the best Officers in the business. Got me to where I’m at today. Living my dream job! Thanks for teaching me and helping me push through!

Kurt W, Entry Level FF
I have taken the civil service test twice.  The first time I did not study with Paul, but rather with another prominent test prep provider in a classroom setting. It did not give me the edge I needed to obtain a competitive score.  When the next test came around a friend of mine told me of a test prep that did one on one sessions.  I had already taken the classroom style prep for the second time by then, but this person stressed the value of this particular course.  This course was run by Paul Drennan.
From the start I could tell Chief Drennan’s class was in a league of its own.  Paul is a Deputy Chief in Jersey City and is extraordinarily passionate about his job.  He doesn’t just teach you, he takes you under his wing.  The value in that cannot be overstated.
 Like other classes Chief Drennan supplies study materials.  These practice exams are excellent in their own right, being more current and simply better put together than those provided by the other classes I experienced.  However, the real difference is that you are not simply left with these study materials.  Once I completed my practice exams I returned to Chief Drennan knowing my strengths and weaknesses.  From there I was personally walked through all of the aspects of the civil service exam that challenged me.
I was one of over 900 applicants to take the civil service exam for Jersey City.  Today I am one of 23 fire recruits chosen by Jersey City to attend fire academy.  The results speak for themselves.
Sam Springsteen, Entry Level FF

Chief,

I wanted to thank you and your crew of instructors for all of the classes you held in your Fire Training Academy. I wanted to let you know I scored number 1 for the Jersey City Fire Department civil service exam. Your courses in both the written portion for the entry level exam and the mock PT course that you run helped me tremendously. I wouldn’t have scored that high without going through your classes. I felt more prepared then anyone else going through the written and PT portion on the test. Thanks again for all of your help.
Joe Lancellotti, Entry Level FF

This was the best decision i made to get prepared for the physical portion of the Firefighter exam. Not only that, but the environment motivated and reaffirmed my decision to become a firefighter… coming from someone who just works to make another company more money, I wish i could have a boss like Paul Drennan. I highly recommend Fire Officer Training Academy because it will give you an idea of how ready you are for the real course and how much more training you will need. Don’t hesitate, Pauly D is the best!

Ray Mohammed, Entry Level FF

Chief,
I’d like to thank you and your fellow instructors for the mock PPT course you guys put together in Jersey City last month. Yesterday I got a phone call from the Director congratulating me on becoming a City of New Brunswick Firefighter. You guys just weren’t in it for the money making aspect, you truly wanted to see your students get on the job. Again thank you very much and I look forward to taking more classes with you and your company.

Derek J Merrill, Entry Level FF
“I would like to begin by saying how grateful I am for the Fire Officers Training Academy. This training not only leaves you with the confidence and knowledge that is needed to become a great firefighter, but it also leaves you with great personal growth. Through intense training, the staff helps you identify your weaknesses so you can strengthen and overcome them in a manner that leaves you empowered. Their care, knowledge and passion that was given to me during this training left me feeling strong and limitless. They invite and encourage you to be the best that you can be and created an even greater desire to serve.
My sincere thanks and gratitude to Deputy Chief Paul Drennan and his extraordinary staff for creating and offering this great training. The Fire Officer Training Academy has not only left me with the confidence and desire of becoming the best firefighter I can be but it also taught me to be the best I can be in all areas of my life.

Domenico Monaco, Entry Level FF
I highly recommend attending Chief Paul Drennan’s Fire Officer Training Academy, Entry
Level Firefighter Preparation course for the written and physical examinations. Chief Drennan
and his team gave me the information and guidance I needed to succeed on my first civil service
examination. I have taken several classes through Fire Officer Training Academy to ensure I
placed well on the list, and their coaching and feedback lead to my success on the examination.
They give you the proper tools and information to studying, but it is important when you leave to
take the time and studying on your own. If you follow the Chief’s program and guidance you
will surely walk into the test with confidence. On numerous occasions I have called or texted the
Chief and he was always there to give me the proper information I was seeking. I would like to
thank Chief Drennan and the Fire Officer Training Academy team for their constant support and knowledge that led to my confidence and success.
Nick McGinley, Entry Level FF
I took your classes for the PPT and the CS Entry Level Firefighter Exam. I just wanted to check in and say thank you for the help with not only the test but also some background info on how Jersey City FD/Civil Service help vets with scoring and accommodations for active guardsmen. I ended up with a 91.86 on the test and am at number 8 on the list for Jersey City. I’m grateful for your help and also thankful to the other instructors in their assisting me with achieving my dream of becoming a firefighter in the best department in the state. So thank you again and I hope to see you on the job soon.
Tommy Welch, Entry Level FF
If you want a training program to prepare for a career in the fire service and want a group of professionals passionate and motivated to still continue to better themselves as firefighters as well as prepare you then you have no better option than the fire officer training academy ran by Chief Drennan. For a great price you will get the essentials in to prepare yourself for your test but as they stress throughout every class they teach it’s up to you to show you’re as passionate and motivated as them to not only use the tools given to you but to be the very best firefighter you can be to help your brothers and sisters in the firehouse. Choose Fire Officer Training Academy you won’t regret it.
William Gaskill , Entry Level FF
“I highly recommend Chief Drennan and Fire Officer Training Academy for that individual that is looking for that competitive edge over other test takers. The Firefighter Written Entry Class provided me with knowledge to succeed and gave me the tools to fully prepare for the written examination. Deputy Chief Drennan and his crew provided in-depth discussions and detailed explanations that were far better than any other classes offered. Additionally, Chief Drennan encouraged and inspired me to work hard and to study as much as I possibly could. On the day of the written examination, I felt confident and prepared and I wouldn’t be able to say that if it wasn’t for Fire Officer Training Academy.”
Again, I thank you for all your help and I am excited for what the future holds.
Kevin Krolick , Entry Level FF
“I would definitely recommend Chief Paul Drennan’s entry level class. His class gave me the tools I needed to prepare for the fire exam with confidence and ease. His staff was also very helpful!”
Dillon Geoghegan, Entry Level FF
I just wanted to reach out and thank you for the motivation and information you and your team provided during both the test and physical prep courses I attended. Yesterday I checked the list and I scored 89510 and I am currently ranked 34th in Bayonne as a non-veteran.
I took your words about commitment and dedication to heart during the August prep class and studied for at least an hour and a half every day until I took the test.
Peter J., Entry Level FF