Full Careers
Firefighter career.....?
What is the process, and educational backround to become a firefighter, im 16 right now and thats what I plan to do. I want to be a full time worker (not Volunteer). Do I got to collage? for 2 or 4 years? What do I get a degree in? Do I go to the fire acadmy? if so how long? Just looking for a little help. All current firefighters feel free to email me with additional info. All help is appreciated.
Public Comments
- Please check this website out. It has good information to get you started. http://www.fabjob.com/firefighter.html
- i would try calling your local fire department, or the local fire academy and ask them. i have never been paid for firefighting i got all my experience through the local volunteer department, i stayed with them for over 10 years. It is a great thing to get in to.. Good luck...
- well im a firefighter u want to become a full time firefighter right all fire depts want firemen that where vol so they no what there are doing one if u go to ur fire house they will tell u where to go for ur class's there is about 9 class's to go to if u are vol they will pay for the class;s
- It all depends on the state you live in. Here in FL, you must be 18, have a valid DL, no felonies, pass a physical, and attend the academy. You can attend at one of the many community colleges around the state or go to Ocala to the Fire College. After that, you'll need your EMT which is 1 semester. After that you can begin to apply to FDs. As for any other state, check with your local FD for info. The guys there will be more than willing to steer you in the right direction. As for a degree, your best bet is to wait till you get hired on and continue your degree work. The classes will make more sense to you after you've received the basics from the academy and some OJT. Best of luck to you!
- It depends on where you want to work. At my department you must be between 19 and 36, have a clean record (criminal and driving) and have at least 60 college hours in any subject. That qualifies you for the full-length academy, which is approximately 10 months long right now. The best thing would be to decide on a department and find out what they require. Large departments usually have their own training academy and certification program if you meet their cadet requirements. If you're unsure, then you might go ahead and get certified with your state as a Firefighter/EMT and start applying. Most departments are looking for medics, though, so you might want to enroll in a paramedic program at your local college. By the time you get through with all that and are certified then you should meet most departments' age requirements. If you decide to go that route then you're looking at about 2 1/2 years of training. Good luck and be patient. It's a process.
