The post-hiring fire academy training required by most municipalities includes about 600 hours of class-time, give or take. You could take a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Public Services before applying to the fire service, although this is not essential. To ensure this, some departments usually put an upper cap on the age as well which generally varies from 28-30 years of age. If the fire chief or general manager hires you, you will spend the first 12 months on probation. Fire departments often hire new crew members every year or two. How Long Does It Take to Become a Firefighter Education As mentioned earlier, firefighters hold at least a high school diploma or GED, which usually takes 12 years to complete. To become a wildland firefighter, you must be between the 18 and 35 years old and pass a physical fitness test. Must not be claustrophobic 5. Then waiting for responses, attending interviews, performing follow-up, and awaiting the departments’ decision making process are the other parts. This is a quick path you can take to become a firefighter FAST! During this time, you must successfully complete fire department training. To become one, you must complete your duties with utmost diligence under your supervisor for a period of 6 to 12 months. Recruitment training will vary based on the department and municipal regulations, but it should take no more than 6 months. This covers the fundamental basics. However, it is a competitive field, with applicants outnumbering job openings by factors of 10 up to 100, depending on the municipality. This amounts to a total period of 3 to 4 months to become a firefighter. The more work you put into it, the better it will be. Aside from the municipally-designated post-employment academy training, firefighting work has no official minimum required training, though all fire departments do require a high-school diploma or GED. What training did you undergo? It took a total of 2 years after school to get hired st the department at work at now. Some firefighters may be hired sooner, or take longer, than the time it took for this Captain. After your recruit training, you become a firefighter but not a professional one. For example, some colleges may give you a degree in as little as 2 years, whereas others may take as much as 4 years to finish. Summing up, it will take a minimum of 4 years to become a professional firefighter. Some programs may be completed more quickly, depending primarily on the number of previously-earned credits transferred from certificate or associate degree programs. You will also have to undergo probation, under the supervision of the higher-ups. Working as a Firefighter. Your email address will not be published. Note that even volunteering as a fireman may require 110 hours of study in an NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) course, or a course certified by the NFPA. Still, even with all the delays and long programs, it shouldn’t take more than 11 years – and this only happens if you take your sweet time. What fire-fighting position are you seeking? Both online and … It would give an applicant an advantage to complete this training on his own prior to applying, but even better would be to include more advanced fire sciences studies in a 2 or 4 year program. Why did you become a firefighter? Meet the basic requirements, typically having corrected 20/20 eyesight, a high school diploma, own a clean criminal record and be at least 18 years old (21 in some agencies). You will be subject to continuous performance assessments and undergo a formal evaluation after six and 12 months. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 2020 Fire Training Toolbox. This last step might take as little as 6 months and as much as 1 year. Matric 2. Option 1 Certificate. EMT certification will give an advantage to applicants regardless. Every fire department in South Africa has its own requirements but the basic entry level requirements are: 1. After you graduate from high school, you will have to get your degree in the fire sciences. There's competition for every position and no department where getting hired is going to be a snap. If he or she finds your performance satisfactory, then you finally get the chance to be a full-fledged firefighter. This training usually takes about 3-4 months to complete, or sometimes up to 6 months or so. Search for: ARTS & HUMANITIES. This is generally about 3 months of study on a full-time basis. If you are wanting to become a volunteer it can be as simple as going to your neighborhood fire station and signing up for the next training class. How competitive is the fire-fighting job market in your municipality? Pass a physical test 4. What do I need to do to become a firefighter? You may have been hired and trained, but this doesn’t mean that you are a professional firefighter now. Driving licence -Code 10 with PrDP 3. How efficient and hard-working are you when it comes to studies and other qualification preparations? Or indeed up to 7 years if you elect to become a full paramedic and acquire a four-year fire-sciences degree. Once hired, you’ll probably have to attend some more municipally-required training and go through a probation process, adding 6 months or more before you become a fully confirmed firefighter. How long does it take to become a firefighter? Become a volunteer firefighter. In short, to become an active-duty firefighter, you need about 600 hours in training, which usually takes about 12 to 14 weeks at approximately 40 to 48 hours per week. Total time – 3 months to 7 years. Required fields are marked *. Must not be afraid of heights When you are call for an interview, enquire as to what is required of you e.g., what are the physical test all about? They perform inspections to minimize fire dangers, provide first aid … duties of a Firefighter requirements to become a Firefighter states Steps to become a Firefighter How long does it take to become a Firefighter How much does a Firefighter usually earn duties of a Firefighter Firefighters are the first responders to any accident related to fires which may threaten the lives of the people as. Students can choose from two separate tracks: an associate degree program, which includes general education courses and can serve as a stepping stone to a bachelor’s degree, or an applied associate program, which focuses on the major and gets students into the workforce upon graduation. An associate degree typically takes two years to complete. Entry requirements. You can take up additional training if you want to stay updated with the latest technologies. I always enjoyed helping others and wanted to become involved in the rescue scene. Volunteering is also essential, as no one will hire you without some sort of experience. The application and hiring stage might take as little as a few days – and as much as a few weeks. Foremost amont them are these: Your email address will not be published. There are also departments that hire every year (or in some cases, every other year). You can get into this job through: a college course; an apprenticeship; applying directly; a fire service training course; College. The duration is likely to vary from place to place. Becoming a paid firefighter can be quite a bit more lengthy, sometimes taking several years. This last step might take as little as 6 months and as much as 1 year. You will still have to meet the basic requirements of being a firefighter, but won't be compensated for your efforts. Minimum two years experience as a full-time firefighter in a municipal fire department, OR Minimum five years experience as a part-time firefighter in a municipal fire department. Is education needed to become a firefighter? All volunteer firefighters are supposed to complete a minimum of 110 hours of training from a program accredited by the National Fire Protection Association. It can take around 1-2 years to become a firefighter after completing your high school education. Some paramedic training programs take about 2 years to complete. The application process itself will take a few months to complete, which includes the time from the beginning of the application process to your call for attending a fire academy. If your state requires certification, it can take additional time to meet these requirements. A wholetime firefighter is someone who does the job full-time whereas a retained firefighter is on call and only attends the fire station when there’s an emergency. The duration of a firefighting training program and EMT certification will vary. Thus, it is important to go to college a bit to prepare for a career after that age if you are planning to continue in some other field. Find out how the Fire Service scores and assesses candidates – TOP SECRET! Municipal fire departments generally have an initial probationary period for new hires. How Long is Volunteer Firefighter Training? Once you have fulfilled minimum requirements, you should apply. However, if your college program does not provide this kind of training, a separate course can take as much as 3 years – depending on the program that you are going for. This is considering that you continue your EMT training along with your associate’s degree, don’t volunteer, and get hired im… How much post-secondary training do you plan to pursue to make your candidacy stand out above minimum requirements? In this case, you will not have to spend any more time on this. How to become a firefighter. Retained firefighters have other jobs but must be prepared to drop everything and report for duty within minutes when needed. As far as education goes, the most important thing that departments look for, secondary to military preference, is a candidate that has completed their paramedic. The bachelor’s degree in fire science typically requires four years of full-time study, although part-time programs with longer completion times that are designed for working professionals are available. 2 years of fire sciences studies is now not uncommon among applicants for fire-fighting positions. You may also wish to become a volunteer fireman as part of your preparation for professional paid employment as a fire-fighting professional. CPR certification at the least is common to virtually all fire-fighting personnel, but most fire departments require emergency medical technician (EMT) certification. Here is what you may expect as a timeline. It is just a matter of timing. Often, Firefighters attend Fire Academy, which can take several weeks to a few months to complete. Firefighters have much opportunity to … Many aspiring firefighters pursue their EMT training concurrently with their fire sciences studies. 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