What steps should i take to become a firefighter

They may be one or two weeknights and all weekend. Some may even give you college credit towards your fire science degree for completing the academy. The difficulty of these academies can vary widely.

They will all teach to the standard firefighter 1 curriculum, but some are more strict and military-style than others. Here is a fire academy in my area that has a good reputation.

There site talks about the pre-requisites, hours, cost, and the certifications you will receive. South Bay Fire Academy. These can all vary, so make sure to look into academies in your area for the details. Here is another great academy, that I personally attended. It is a very military-style and physically strenuous program, but it really prepared me and made the department academy once I got hired much easier.

Monterey Penninsula College Fire Academy. We discussed some of the educational steps you can take to prepare yourself for a firefighter job. Now we will talk about some other steps you can take to gain valuable experience that can set you apart from other candidates and help you get the job you want.

The majority of calls in your career as a firefighter will most likely be medical-related calls. When you apply for a firefighter job and you can show that you have real-world experience on emergency calls, that can be a great selling point. Not only can you tell them about the EMT skills you learned in school, but you will have stories that prove you have actually done the EMS part of the job.

This experience can show your potential employer that you understand what it is like to be on the scene of an emergency call and that you will be likely to learn and excel at that part of your job as a firefighter.

There is no set amount of experience they require, but the more the better. Many people work on an ambulance. Even running calls on a BLS inter-facility transport ambulance can be a good experience, so take any EMT position you can get. Obviously, if you are able, working on a ambulance, responding to emergency calls is a more applicable experience, but you may need to work up to that.

You can also find EMT positions working in stadiums for concerts and sporting events or as an ER technician in the emergency department at a local hospital.

So, you should look into all your opportunities to get some time working as an EMT. Remember that the majority of firefighters in the United States are volunteers. Some people just do it to give make to their community, others use it to learn and gain experience while working towards their goal of becoming a career firefighter. However, there are still many requirements you must meet before being considered for a volunteer position.

While the requirements vary from state to state, you typically have to be 18 years or older to obtain a position as a volunteer firefighter in the United States. However, your role in the department will be extremely limited until you are trained properly and prepared for any situation you may walk into.

If you are less than 18 but would still like to be a firefighter, look into becoming a junior firefighter, fire cadet, or fire explorer. Most states offer a junior firefighter program to expose youths to the industry and encourage them to pursue a career as a firefighter in the future. Read this article for more info: What is a Junior Firefighter? To be a volunteer firefighter you will usually be required to:. Many towns and cities also require volunteer firefighters to pass a background check and a medical evaluation by a doctor.

This requirement is to prove that you are a good candidate for the position and will be able to handle the duties that come with being a firefighter. These are the basic requirements to become a volunteer firefighter, but individual stations may have a more comprehensive process. Some departments will have interviews to select their new volunteers.

Contact your local fire department for volunteer opportunities and requirements. The U. Fire Administration offers a great tool that you can use to locate your local departments and find out what type of department volunteer, career or combination each is. This is a way for you to narrow down which stations accept volunteers and are within your local area. Note: You might be required to live within a certain distance from your station.

The application process could also include a background check and drug testing to determine your eligibility as a volunteer firefighter in their department. As a volunteer firefighter, you will be held to high standards when it comes to character, cognitive abilities, and physical abilities. Once you officially join the volunteer department, you will be trained at your station by other firefighters to prepare you for the scenarios you may encounter on a call. If your station values education in fire science and protection, you may be required to pass an official training course or obtain a certification from a highly-regarded organization.

These training courses provided more in-depth information that your local station cannot possibly cover with each volunteer. The total training for volunteer firefighters can vary. Volunteer firefighting does not always provide a consistent schedule, and the normal schedule you currently have will definitely be disrupted once you find a department. Depending on your station, scheduling may vary, but you should expect a notable time commitment.

Becoming a volunteer firefighter is not at all convenient. When preparing to become a firefighter, many people assume that only emergency service-related jobs will count as experience. This is usually not the case. Any work experience can showcase the qualities that will make you a great firefighter. People who served in the military, worked in the trades construction, electrician, plumbers, etc. Remember there is more to being a firefighter than just putting out fires. The fire service of today is looking for good people with good values to train to become good firefighters.

Volunteer work can also help you prepare to become a firefighter. Firefighters are public servants and even though many are paid for their work, they are generally the type of people who seeks to help their communities whenever possible. If you can show that you truly enjoy helping people and will do it for free, you are showing your future employer that you are the type of person that will fire into the fire service community.

Any opportunities to give back and help others will show that you have what it takes to be a firefighter. Ok, you have done all you can to prepare yourself to be the ideal firefighter candidate. Unfortunately, that is only half the battle.

To become a firefighter, you also have to make it through the potentially lengthy and involved hiring process. Below we will go into detail about all the steps, so you are ready when your dream department is hiring! The fastest way to get hired, once you have the basics covered, is to master the testing process. This really is a shortcut to your dream job. Here are some more resources to learn about the path to becoming a firefighter: Articles on Fire Department Hiring. The first step is finding fire departments that are hiring.

The best resource I have found is Governmentjobs. Another resource is fctconline. This company puts on written tests and those who pass are put on a list. Fire departments from all over the country can use candidates off this list for hiring, without requiring an additional written test.

You can take this test and use it to go through the hiring processes of departments from all over. This can save you time and may be necessary depending on how the department that you want to work for does their testing. Once you find a job you want to apply for, you must submit an application within the job opening time window. While this step is fairly straightforward, you still need to make sure you do it right. This was more an issue when most departments were using paper applications, rather than online forms, but it can still happen.

Make sure you take the time to fill out all the required information accurately. Check your spelling, it needs to be professional. If you want this job, you need to show that it is important to you during every step. They will ask about school history, work experience, volunteer experience, and ask you to provide some contacts of people who know you as your references. They will ask you to provide copies of your diploma and certifications.

They may ask for proof of passing the CPAT we will discuss this below under physical agility. They also ask you some written answer questions about your experience and desire for the job. Put the time in and double-check all your info before you send it in. The written exam usually has about multiple-choice questions. It usually has a time limit of 2 to 3 hours to complete. The difficulty can vary. The questions included on the test evaluate your problem-solving skills, reading comprehension, and even mathematical abilities.

To prepare for this portion of the test, I recommend getting a study guide-type book or online resource. The best I have found is the Job Test Prep website that allows you to get study questions tailored to each specific type of firefighter test by state. Here is the State-specific study guide and here is one for California firefighter tests. I used this book when I was testing and I found it to be the most helpful.

Once you pass this test, fire departments from all over can hire you and not need to give you another written test. This is a good resource and you should look to see if any of the departments that you want to work for are using it. For more information about fitness requirements for firefighters, read: The Fitness Requirements for a Firefighter — Explained.

In total, the test lasts approximately 10 minutes and 20 seconds, and you are required to wear a pound weighted vest throughout the entire test. This is not the type of test the average person can walk into without prior training and expect to pass with flying colors. It is suggested that you train physically for months before the test to guarantee you can pass. If you complete the entire CPAT within the time limit of 10 minutes and 20 seconds, you officially pass the physical ability test of the firefighter examination.

You will get a card showing that you passed and you can submit that with your future firefighter application. The card is valid for 6 months to 2 years, depending on the department. How will you stand out and where do you start?

Download our how to become a firefighter infographic. Here's a quick breakdown of what you should and should not do as you prepare to join the fire service. In order to become a firefighter, you will need a valid driver's license and meet the age requirement of 18 years old. For those younger than 18, you can look into limited involvement as a junior firefighter.

At the very minimum, you'll need to obtain a high school diploma or GED. Many firefighters earn a degree in fire science to advance their career. It's also wise to become an EMT. Having both a fire and EMS background will improve your odds of being hired.

Becoming a firefighter requires passing a physical ability test. The CPAT events are stair climb, hose drag, equipment carry, ladder raise and extension, forcible entry, search, rescue, ceiling breach and pull.

Prepare yourself for the physical nature of the job as well as the demands of the test. At one point in your life, you've probably done something you're not proud of. How you've acted to rectify your mistakes will be important when applying to become a firefighter. FireRescue1 columnist Mike Pertz, who founded a website aimed at helping others become firefighters, recently wrote an article on this very subject.

If you are asked about your past record during an interview, do not lie. Instead, take ownership for your mistakes. Explain to the hiring panel how you've changed and what you've done to change. Also, be up front about your driving record — include dates, locations and outcomes of tickets and accidents.

If you use Facebook or other social media platforms, be mindful of what you post , repost, comment on and like. Expect all potential employers to scan your social media presence. Ask your friends to remove any such posts involving you from their pages. In some cases, it makes sense to close out your accounts. This is often overlooked, but the required background check covers credit score. Bad credit will hurt you. Be disciplined about improving your score if need be.

Working in public safety is all about community service. Firefighters work long hours under stressful conditions. They are typically more physically fit than people in professions other than law enforcement or athletics. Get in shape. Holding a Red Cross card can boost your chances of going on ride-along exercises with the firefighting team or handling physical duties around the station.

Go to school in fire science. Again, each hiring organization may have its specific training requirements. Typically, newly recruited firefighters combine volunteer or practical firefighting experience with post-secondary fire training at a college or academy.

According to the U. The written exam covers math, human relations, problem solving, written and oral communications, judgment, memory and reasoning. A physical exam will cover your hearing, eyesight, blood pressure, blood and urine. A psychological exam will cover personality traits specific to performance as a firefighter. Remember, firefighters not only work for local departments, they take jobs with wilderness firefighting agencies, state fire organizations, with the construction trades, fire-equipment manufacturers and suppliers.

Some agencies require candidates to volunteer or enroll in accredited apprenticeship programs that combine work with firefighter training.

You may be sent to a federal, state or local firefighting academy that follows U.