To become a firefighter, you typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, a driver’s license, often an EMT certification, and you must pass a department’s hiring process: a written exam, a physical ability test, interviews, a medical exam and a background investigation. Once hired, recruits complete a fire academy. Requirements differ by department, and hiring is competitive, so most candidates apply to several.
What firefighters do on a typical shift
In many departments, most calls are medical emergencies rather than fires: falls, chest pain, car crashes, overdoses. Firefighters respond to those, plus fires, rescues, hazardous materials incidents and alarms. Between calls, the shift is training, checking equipment and apparatus, physical conditioning, station chores, building inspections and community education.
Many departments schedule long shifts, such as 24 hours on duty followed by time off, which means sleeping, cooking and living at the station with your crew. Schedules vary by department. The work includes heat, heavy gear, interrupted sleep and scenes that stay with you.
Training and credentials
- EMT: an emergency medical technician course, often one semester, followed by a certification exam. Many departments require it before hiring; others train recruits.
- Paramedic: a longer, more advanced program. Paramedic skills can make a candidate much more competitive where departments run ambulance services.
- Fire academy: training in fire behavior, hose and ladder work, search and rescue, hazardous materials and physical fitness. Some departments run their own after hiring; others want candidates to finish a pre-hire academy and hold state firefighter credentials.
- Fire science degree: an associate or bachelor’s degree is not usually required for entry, but it can help with promotion to officer roles later.
The hiring process, step by step
Firefighter credentials are generally handled at the state level, often based on national standards, while each department runs its own hiring. Check your state fire training agency and each department’s posting for exact requirements. A typical sequence:
- Meet the minimums: age (often 18 or 21, depending on the department), diploma, driver’s license and sometimes EMT.
- Pass a written exam covering reading, reasoning and mechanical aptitude.
- Pass a timed physical ability test with tasks like stair climbs, hose drags and equipment carries.
- Complete an oral interview, often in front of a panel.
- Clear a background investigation, a medical exam and, in some departments, a psychological evaluation.
- Get placed on a hiring list, then receive an offer and attend the academy.
The full process can take many months, and a clean driving record and honest application matter.
A path from high school
- Build real fitness: running, strength training and stamina for climbing stairs in heavy gear.
- Look for a department youth explorer or cadet program.
- Take an EMT course as soon as you are eligible; community colleges often offer it.
- Keep your record clean. Driving and conduct history come up in the hiring process.
- Volunteer, or join a paid-on-call department if one exists near you.
Get close to the job before you test
- Ask your local department about a ride-along or station visit.
- Work as an EMT on an ambulance for a year. It shows you the medical side, which is most of the job.
- Join a volunteer fire department, which many rural and suburban areas depend on.
- Try seasonal wildland firefighting crews, which hire young adults for summer work.
- Ask firefighters for an informational interview about shift life and what the academy is like.
What it takes to last in the fire service
Firefighters who do well are team players, comfortable living closely with a crew, physically disciplined, calm in chaos and able to follow orders under pressure. People leave because of injuries, disrupted sleep, strain on family life, or the cumulative weight of traumatic calls. Many departments now offer peer support, and talking with a licensed mental health professional is the right step when the stress builds. In a crisis, call or text 988. For current pay and outlook, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Changing careers into the fire service
Many firefighters join in their mid-twenties or later after other jobs or military service. Life experience, maturity and skills from a trade or healthcare can help in interviews. Check each department’s maximum hiring age, if it has one, and start with EMT training while you still have a paycheck. Our guides on career change and careers for people who like helping offer more ideas.
Where a mentor helps
Firefighter hiring rewards preparation and persistence: fitness training, EMT coursework, tracking department testing dates and practicing for panel interviews, often over more than one hiring cycle. A mentor helps build a weekly plan, keep training consistent and stay motivated when a list does not move. Mentors are not career counselors with credentials or licensing experts; departments and state agencies give official answers. See career and education mentoring and young adult mentoring.
Related
- Careers without a degree
- How to become a nurse
- Job interview prep
- All career path guides
- Paramedic vs Firefighter: How the Jobs and Training Compare
Common questions
Do you need to be an EMT to become a firefighter?
Many departments require EMT certification before hiring, and most expect firefighters to provide emergency medical care. Some departments train recruits as EMTs after hiring.
Do you need a college degree to become a firefighter?
Usually not for entry-level roles. A fire science degree can help with promotion to officer positions later.
What is on the firefighter physical test?
Most are timed tests that simulate the job, such as stair climbs while carrying weight, hose drags, ladder raises and dummy rescues. Departments often let candidates practice beforehand.
Can I become a firefighter if I am not hired the first time?
Yes. Many firefighters were hired after testing with several departments over multiple cycles, improving their fitness, credentials and interviews each time.
Get started
Preparing for the fire service and want help staying on a training plan? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.