3 answers
Jared
Student
Yuma, Arizona
1
Question
Asked
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How to become a firefighter ?
I’m a 8th grader I want to know what are the requirements and I am wondering if you need to go to college and get accepted in a class that talks about law enforcement
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3 answers
Phil Drexler
home remodeling
2
Answers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Updated
Phil’s Answer
It is marvelous to have a strong sense of career so early, Jared, and kudos for choosing something that is challenging but very purposeful. One thing to keep in mind is that firefighting jobs are competitive, especially in large cities where pay is good and there are a lot of opportunities for continued training and specialty teams (water rescue, hazardous materials, technical rescue etc). These places are known as "destination departments. So, in a very general sense, it is good to be active, participate in a lot of activities, perform well in studies, and so on. Basically, since the crews are like family and shifts are all day long, they want to hire a good person who fits in well. No one likes a messy complainer who tells stories about how great they are.
You usually do not need college, but it boosts your resume and you learn to study well there. The academy will make you "drink from the hose" in terms of information. Some people attend a training academy at a technical school. Some will volunteer for small rural departments to get experience. The military has firefighting jobs that are great on a resume too. Since most of the work is medical, a lot of people work on ambulances or in hospitals (especially emergency departments) are EMTs. All of these experiences are selective also, so to repeat myself: you have to be a good person.
The job is physical. There is no option to just be smart but unable to drag heavy equipment while in a stressful situation and environment. People call for help with their problems. It is expected not to cause more problems by not being ready or able to do something. Sports are a great way to get in shape and learn how to work on a team. Blue collar jobs such as the construction trades are also looked upon favorably. If you know how something is built, you know how it will crumble or how to make a hole in it. Those jobs tend to be tough too which is a way of showing you are prepared to become a firefighter.
The last thing I want to mention is to never give up. "Keep the faith," is a saying in the service. Sometimes it is a long road or you may have to take the back door, but you can make it with effort, discipline, and determination.
You usually do not need college, but it boosts your resume and you learn to study well there. The academy will make you "drink from the hose" in terms of information. Some people attend a training academy at a technical school. Some will volunteer for small rural departments to get experience. The military has firefighting jobs that are great on a resume too. Since most of the work is medical, a lot of people work on ambulances or in hospitals (especially emergency departments) are EMTs. All of these experiences are selective also, so to repeat myself: you have to be a good person.
The job is physical. There is no option to just be smart but unable to drag heavy equipment while in a stressful situation and environment. People call for help with their problems. It is expected not to cause more problems by not being ready or able to do something. Sports are a great way to get in shape and learn how to work on a team. Blue collar jobs such as the construction trades are also looked upon favorably. If you know how something is built, you know how it will crumble or how to make a hole in it. Those jobs tend to be tough too which is a way of showing you are prepared to become a firefighter.
The last thing I want to mention is to never give up. "Keep the faith," is a saying in the service. Sometimes it is a long road or you may have to take the back door, but you can make it with effort, discipline, and determination.
Joe L.
Program Manager
88
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Joe’s Answer
Preparing for a career in firefighting involves physical, educational, and practical steps. Here’s a comprehensive guide:
1. Education
High School Diploma or GED: This is the minimum requirement. Focus on courses like physical education, chemistry, and emergency medical services (EMS) if available.
Further Education: Although not always required, pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in fire science, emergency management, or a related field can be beneficial. This can provide a deeper understanding of fire behavior, fire prevention, and emergency response strategies.
2. Gain Relevant Experience
Volunteer Firefighting: Join a local volunteer fire department to gain hands-on experience and understand the daily operations of firefighting.
EMS/First Responder Experience: Many firefighters also work as EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians). Getting certified as an EMT can make you a more competitive candidate and provide valuable experience.
3. Physical Fitness
Strength and Endurance Training: Firefighting is physically demanding, requiring strength, endurance, and agility. Regular strength training, cardio exercises, and functional fitness routines are essential.
Specific Exercises: Focus on exercises that mimic firefighting tasks, such as stair climbing with weighted vests, dragging heavy objects, and lifting.
4. Prepare for the Written Exam
Study Guides: Use firefighter exam study guides to prepare for the written portion of the firefighter entrance exam. This test often includes sections on reading comprehension, mechanical reasoning, math, and situational judgment.
Practice Tests: Take practice exams to familiarize yourself with the format and types of questions you’ll encounter.
5. Prepare for the Physical Ability Test (CPAT)
Understand the CPAT: The Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) is a standard test for aspiring firefighters. It involves tasks such as stair climbing, hose dragging, equipment carrying, ladder raising, forcible entry, search, rescue, and ceiling breach.
Training: Practice the specific tasks included in the CPAT to build the necessary strength and endurance.
6. Apply to Fire Departments
Research Departments: Look for job openings at local, state, or federal fire departments. Each department may have different requirements, so research them thoroughly.
Application Process: Submit your application along with a resume that highlights your education, certifications, volunteer experience, and physical fitness achievements.
7. Complete Fire Academy Training
Fire Academy: Once hired, you’ll attend a fire academy where you’ll receive formal training in firefighting techniques, fire prevention, hazardous materials handling, and emergency medical care.
Certification: At the academy, you’ll earn certifications such as Firefighter I and II, which are often required by fire departments.
8. Obtain Additional Certifications
EMT or Paramedic Certification: Many departments require firefighters to be certified EMTs or paramedics.
Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Certification: Training in handling hazardous materials can be advantageous.
Wildland Firefighting: In some regions, wildland firefighting certification is necessary.
9. Ongoing Training and Education
Continuing Education: Firefighters must continuously update their skills through ongoing training, attending workshops, and taking advanced courses in areas like fire investigation, leadership, or technical rescue.
Firefighter Safety and Health: Prioritize mental and physical well-being. Firefighters are exposed to high levels of stress and dangerous conditions, so maintaining mental health and safety practices is crucial.
10. Career Advancement
Promotion Opportunities: With experience, firefighters can advance to roles such as lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, or even fire chief. This often requires additional training and leadership experience.
Specialized Roles: Consider specializing in areas like fire investigation, arson detection, urban search and rescue, or hazardous materials response.
Additional Tips:
Networking: Build relationships with current firefighters and department personnel. This can provide mentorship opportunities and insider knowledge about the application process.
Community Involvement: Engage in community service and public education about fire safety. This not only builds your resume but also demonstrates your commitment to the community.
Firefighting is a challenging but highly rewarding career that requires dedication, physical fitness, and a strong desire to serve and protect your community.
1. Education
High School Diploma or GED: This is the minimum requirement. Focus on courses like physical education, chemistry, and emergency medical services (EMS) if available.
Further Education: Although not always required, pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in fire science, emergency management, or a related field can be beneficial. This can provide a deeper understanding of fire behavior, fire prevention, and emergency response strategies.
2. Gain Relevant Experience
Volunteer Firefighting: Join a local volunteer fire department to gain hands-on experience and understand the daily operations of firefighting.
EMS/First Responder Experience: Many firefighters also work as EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians). Getting certified as an EMT can make you a more competitive candidate and provide valuable experience.
3. Physical Fitness
Strength and Endurance Training: Firefighting is physically demanding, requiring strength, endurance, and agility. Regular strength training, cardio exercises, and functional fitness routines are essential.
Specific Exercises: Focus on exercises that mimic firefighting tasks, such as stair climbing with weighted vests, dragging heavy objects, and lifting.
4. Prepare for the Written Exam
Study Guides: Use firefighter exam study guides to prepare for the written portion of the firefighter entrance exam. This test often includes sections on reading comprehension, mechanical reasoning, math, and situational judgment.
Practice Tests: Take practice exams to familiarize yourself with the format and types of questions you’ll encounter.
5. Prepare for the Physical Ability Test (CPAT)
Understand the CPAT: The Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) is a standard test for aspiring firefighters. It involves tasks such as stair climbing, hose dragging, equipment carrying, ladder raising, forcible entry, search, rescue, and ceiling breach.
Training: Practice the specific tasks included in the CPAT to build the necessary strength and endurance.
6. Apply to Fire Departments
Research Departments: Look for job openings at local, state, or federal fire departments. Each department may have different requirements, so research them thoroughly.
Application Process: Submit your application along with a resume that highlights your education, certifications, volunteer experience, and physical fitness achievements.
7. Complete Fire Academy Training
Fire Academy: Once hired, you’ll attend a fire academy where you’ll receive formal training in firefighting techniques, fire prevention, hazardous materials handling, and emergency medical care.
Certification: At the academy, you’ll earn certifications such as Firefighter I and II, which are often required by fire departments.
8. Obtain Additional Certifications
EMT or Paramedic Certification: Many departments require firefighters to be certified EMTs or paramedics.
Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Certification: Training in handling hazardous materials can be advantageous.
Wildland Firefighting: In some regions, wildland firefighting certification is necessary.
9. Ongoing Training and Education
Continuing Education: Firefighters must continuously update their skills through ongoing training, attending workshops, and taking advanced courses in areas like fire investigation, leadership, or technical rescue.
Firefighter Safety and Health: Prioritize mental and physical well-being. Firefighters are exposed to high levels of stress and dangerous conditions, so maintaining mental health and safety practices is crucial.
10. Career Advancement
Promotion Opportunities: With experience, firefighters can advance to roles such as lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, or even fire chief. This often requires additional training and leadership experience.
Specialized Roles: Consider specializing in areas like fire investigation, arson detection, urban search and rescue, or hazardous materials response.
Additional Tips:
Networking: Build relationships with current firefighters and department personnel. This can provide mentorship opportunities and insider knowledge about the application process.
Community Involvement: Engage in community service and public education about fire safety. This not only builds your resume but also demonstrates your commitment to the community.
Firefighting is a challenging but highly rewarding career that requires dedication, physical fitness, and a strong desire to serve and protect your community.
Ryan Pfeiffer, MA
Firefighter Lieutenant / EMT
104
Answers
Fort Collins, Colorado
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
Hello Jared, thanks for your interest in the fire service.
The requirements vary quite a bit based on where you live or where you want to work. Each individual fire department gets to set their own standards, so even within a relatively small geographic area there can be vastly different requirements.
For example, where I work in Colorado, there are agencies adjacent to mine that do not require a prior experience whatsoever. They expect you to be 18-years old, with a clean criminal/driving record, and a GED. That's it. They will hire you and put you through all the additional training you'll need to do the job - a firefighter academy, EMT school, etc. In contrast, my fire department does not have the time or resources to hire unqualified candidates and put them through all the training. So, we only hire people that have already completed a fire academy and EMT class.
Even among fire departments that don't require you to have Fire I / EMT, some departments prefer that your have firefighter and/or EMT experience because they know that you know what you're getting into, and that they won't spend 9 months and $100,000+ training you just for you to quit the first time you see a fatal car accident. On the other hand, there are a few departments that do not want you to have prior experience because they don't want you to have any bad habits - they want to train you their way from day one. There aren't a lot of departments like that, and in my opinion they tend to have superiority complexes that would make me not want to work for them anyway.
Regardless of what the departments require, no matter what you will need to be physically fit. A very common fitness test around the country is something called the CPAT. Look it up, and start training for it - it's strenuous! You will need to have a clean criminal / driving background because people are trusting you with their lives, their belongings, access tot heir homes/businesses, etc. Not to mention you may find yourself driving a $1.5M fire truck...if you can't drive your own car safely, we can't trust you to drive ours. Other than that, you will need basic reading, writing, and math skills, so don't blow off school.
Those are what I would say are the bare minimum to get in, but the fire service is not a bare minimum kind of job. You should wake up every day wanting to be the best firefighter you can be. Get experience as an EMT, lifeguard, camp counselor, etc. Learn a trade like construction, plumbing, electrician, etc. Be a high performance athlete, especially involved in career sports. Consider military service, potentially even serving as a military firefighter. Take lots of classes in biology, chemistry, etc. Learn another language. Etc. Etc. These are all non-mandatory things that will only make you a better firefighter.
Good luck. Let me know if I can answer anymore questions.
The requirements vary quite a bit based on where you live or where you want to work. Each individual fire department gets to set their own standards, so even within a relatively small geographic area there can be vastly different requirements.
For example, where I work in Colorado, there are agencies adjacent to mine that do not require a prior experience whatsoever. They expect you to be 18-years old, with a clean criminal/driving record, and a GED. That's it. They will hire you and put you through all the additional training you'll need to do the job - a firefighter academy, EMT school, etc. In contrast, my fire department does not have the time or resources to hire unqualified candidates and put them through all the training. So, we only hire people that have already completed a fire academy and EMT class.
Even among fire departments that don't require you to have Fire I / EMT, some departments prefer that your have firefighter and/or EMT experience because they know that you know what you're getting into, and that they won't spend 9 months and $100,000+ training you just for you to quit the first time you see a fatal car accident. On the other hand, there are a few departments that do not want you to have prior experience because they don't want you to have any bad habits - they want to train you their way from day one. There aren't a lot of departments like that, and in my opinion they tend to have superiority complexes that would make me not want to work for them anyway.
Regardless of what the departments require, no matter what you will need to be physically fit. A very common fitness test around the country is something called the CPAT. Look it up, and start training for it - it's strenuous! You will need to have a clean criminal / driving background because people are trusting you with their lives, their belongings, access tot heir homes/businesses, etc. Not to mention you may find yourself driving a $1.5M fire truck...if you can't drive your own car safely, we can't trust you to drive ours. Other than that, you will need basic reading, writing, and math skills, so don't blow off school.
Those are what I would say are the bare minimum to get in, but the fire service is not a bare minimum kind of job. You should wake up every day wanting to be the best firefighter you can be. Get experience as an EMT, lifeguard, camp counselor, etc. Learn a trade like construction, plumbing, electrician, etc. Be a high performance athlete, especially involved in career sports. Consider military service, potentially even serving as a military firefighter. Take lots of classes in biology, chemistry, etc. Learn another language. Etc. Etc. These are all non-mandatory things that will only make you a better firefighter.
Good luck. Let me know if I can answer anymore questions.