What are the Requirements to Become a Firefighter?
A person who wants to become a firefighter can expect to have a challenging, rewarding job where she can help people on a daily basis. Firefighters must be prepared to carry out a variety of tasks including fighting fires, rescuing people, educating the public about fire prevention, investigating and inspecting, and cleaning and maintaining equipment.
Requirements to become a firefighter vary by state, but the majority of the stipulations are common to all places. To apply, a prospective firefighter must be at least 17 or 18, depending on the fire department. Some fire departments require that applicants are at least 21 and no older than 29. All applicants must have a high school diploma or GED. Some fire departments require applicants to hold an associate's degree or complete a few college credits.
Prospective firefighters must be physically fit and possess excellent vision and hearing. In general, each applicant must submit to a medical examination performed by a doctor who has been approved by the fire department. Applicants need to have a clean driving record with a valid driver's license. They also need to have a clean criminal background check.
If someone desires to become a firefighter, he also needs to be able to handle stress well. Being a firefighter requires you to be someone who responds to emergencies in a calm manner. Those who panic easily or have a fear of heights should not apply to become a firefighter.
In order to become a firefighter, some people choose to attend a college or university that offers degrees in fire science or fire engineering. On the other hand, most states provide firefighter applicants with extensive firefighting training, regardless of previous education. After training, students must pass a written test and a physical stamina exam. If an applicant scores high in each exam, she has a better chance of being selected as a firefighter.
When undergoing field training, firefighter trainees often are required to fight controlled fires in order to learn a variety of ways to put out fires. Some students receive on-the-job training, working with firefighter professionals in the fire station. A combination of classroom training and hands-on experience equips the firefighter trainee to handle a variety of emergencies she may encounter on the job.
When a person decides to become a firefighter, she can expect a career that offers excellent health benefits, a retirement pension after about 20 years of service, and job security. It's rare for a fire department to lay off employees, so firefighters enjoy a high rate of job security. As the firefighter obtains years of experience and further education, she can advance within the organization, ultimately becoming a fire inspector, fire investigator, or fire chief.
To become a firefighter, applicants need to be intelligent, physically fit, and able to withstand an unusual degree of stress. Firefighting allows a person to serve her community, save lives, and educate the public about the importance of fire safety. Not everyone can become a firefighter, but those who are up to the challenge can enjoy a rewarding career that the public traditionally regards with a great deal of respect.
Written by K T Solis
