Is becoming a firefighter right for me?
The first step to choosing a career is to make sure you are actually willing to commit to pursuing the career. You don’t want to waste your time doing something you don’t want to do. If you’re new here, you should read about:
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How to become a Firefighter
Most municipalities require several hundred hours of post-hiring training at a fire academy of their choosing. This training usually takes about three to four months to complete, or sometimes up to six months. This is a competitive field, and it is not uncommon to see applicants with an Associate Degree in Fire Science behind them.
Fire departments typically hire new members every year or two, therefore there may be a delay after completion of training before a job opens up. Individuals could plan in such a way that coordinates their training schedule with hiring schedules, thus minimizing such delays.
Most fire departments require Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification, which entails several hundred hours of training, depending on the state. Many aspiring firefighters pursue their EMT training concurrently with their fire sciences studies.