How do I become a firefighter?

Question

I just graduated from high school and really want to become a firefighter, what are the odds of me becoming one? What do I need to do?

Answer 1

The answers above are mostly wrong. All depts are different, one choice is you can take a civil service exam and when you pass you are put on a list. The list goes by war vets get first choice along with fallen fathers(parents who died on duty). Minorities (blacks, Hispanics, Women, etc) are next. Then Paramedics and EMTs are next. Then of course majority. Then you get your non civil service depts that you just go there and "apply". The chances of that is slim to none. Most of these types of places need you to be EMT-P certified which can take 2 years. Education can help. But like someone said up there that you get your fire science degree and you get on is not the case. I took a 4 year fire science course and arson (bachelors degree) before i got on. And that was with vet status and paramedic status. Of course knowing someone can't hurt.



So your close to bullet proof way of getting on( way i did)- Join the active duty(only active duty will get you civil service status). Go get your fire science degree while you get your EMT and paramedic license and then take the civil service exam.

Answer 2

There are a couple different ways you can go. AnthonyD’s is correct with his information. I would also look at the city you live in. Find out of the department is a full-time (also known as career), a paid-on-call/volunteer, or combination (which is made up of career and paid-on-call). Most paid-on-call/volunteer departments hire every year and require little to no training. Most of these departments pay for training to earn your Fire I&II certificate and usually a MFR or EMT-B medical license. A paid-on-call/volunteer department is going to be easier to get on than a full-time department.



Good luck! I would be a full-time firefighter if I would have started in the fire service at your age, so take advantage of any opportunity! Just remember, the hiring process for a firefighter is very difficult and requires several types of tests. A Psychological Exam is a different test, but check out my sources below for some helpful tips on passing it and the National Registry for EMT.

Answer 3

There are two ways



1) pass the firefighting exam the state gives every year (you only have one shot a year)

2) go to your local community college and get a fire science degree once you graduate you become a firefighter

Answer 4

Depends on your specific city, their municipal website should tell you. Smaller towns sometimes want you to already have done the classes etc. which are usually offered only in bigger towns. The bigger towns have a test every so often. Here in Chicago I took a written test last summer with over 15,000 other people, passed and was assigned a random number, haven't heard a thing yet and probably never will. But that's all I can do.

Answer 5

Head out to your local fire station and ask them for an application. Once you're in the department let them know you want to take a firefighting class and they will hook you up with one.

Answer 6

Well, there are special training courses in some areas for high school and college students, so that would help as far as resume and scholarships go. Other than that, enroll in the academy.

Answer 7

get big boots & a pole to slide down



water helps too