Firefighters are true heroes capable of doing the impossible to ensure the safety of citizens. This job is not only noble, but it is a highly coveted position, with a median salary in excess of $ 47,000 a year and a 19% job growth rate forecast for the 2008-2018 period. If you want to be a firefighter, you should seriously think about the impact that this profession can have on your physical and emotional state, in addition to considering the suffering that your family will sometimes be subjected to. Do you think you have what it takes to be a firefighter? Read on to find out.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: meet the requirements
Step 1. You must be at least 18 years old
This is the minimum age required to be a firefighter. However, in some states in the United States, you will have to be 21 or older to apply for a place. Find out about the age requirements in your area.
Step 2. Get a high school degree or equivalent
You will need to have a high school degree or equivalent to apply as a firefighter. Remember that the high school diploma is the minimum that is required in training. There is a lot of competition, so you can expand your education to have more possibilities (find out how in the next section).
Step 3. Get your driving license
To be a firefighter, you will need a driver's license and, of course, an impeccable record as a driver. If you don't have a driving license yet, it's time to get it. Any firefighter must be available to drive at any time.
Step 4. Make sure you have an impeccable record
The fire department will thoroughly check the files of all candidates to make sure there are no criminal records, traffic tickets, or a history of frequent drug use. The history report can be as long as 25 pages, so it will cover each and every detail of your existence.
Step 5. Become a TES (Sanitary Emergency Technician)
Although it is not an absolute requirement, most fire departments require the TES certificate for all candidates, and more than 90% of departments require this certificate after passing the selection and hiring process. Being a firefighter doesn't just mean putting out fires; in fact, many fire departments handle more than 70% of medical emergencies, so getting certified by TES is critical to your success. With this training, you will also increase the value of your candidacy, since you will have more experience and more knowledge of what it means to work as a firefighter.
Also, if you have the certificate, you will need less training with the fire department during the preparation process, which will earn you points in the selection
Part 2 of 4: Be a more attractive candidate
Step 1. Get a bachelor's or diploma
Although college degrees are not essential, more than 70% of aspiring firefighters end up changing careers. So, to increase the value of your candidacy, you must have a diploma or a degree in some specialty related to the profession, such as mathematics, chemistry, biology, communication or even computer science. In certain countries, you have the option to even specialize in fire science or fire protection engineering.
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Another option is to enroll in a 2-year diploma in public safety. The curriculum will cover courses in criminal justice, terrorism, public administration, protection management, administrative law, background investigation, surveillance, cybercrime, control of violent situations, etc.
Become a Firefighter Step 6 - You can also attend fire technology classes at your local university, even if you don't have a degree. This will show your interest in the profession and will help you to better understand the field in which you want to specialize.
Step 2. Obtain a license to practice as a paramedic
If you already have a degree such as TES, you can request access to the paramedicine school. We insist that this is not a requirement, but it will help you stand out during the candidate selection process. Many fire departments are specifically looking for licensed paramedicine candidates. Of course, you should not follow this path if you do not have a true vocation for health and for being a paramedic. Do not enter the paramedicine school just to have a better chance of accessing the fire department.
Step 3. Report to the fire stations you want to apply to
Before sending the application, go to the different fire stations that interest you to introduce yourself, get an idea of what the people who work there are like, and how the place works. If you take this step (without being too insistent), you will be considered a more committed and determined applicant when, at the time of the interview, you can say things like: "Something that really impressed me about the fire department was …". This will make your application more convincing.
Step 4. Volunteer in your community
Being a firefighter requires dedication and dedication to your community. Don't do volunteer work just to give yourself a better chance of getting into the fire department. You should also have a sincere interest in taking care of your fellow citizens. You also don't have to do something related to fire fighting; Simply showing that you care about taking care of children, the elderly, or others who may need help will reinforce your dedication.
Step 5. Make your way to get into the fire department in other ways
There are several ways to excel in your community before applying to the fire department. Here are a few suggestions:
- Work as a volunteer firefighter. You will still have to meet the basic requirements to be a firefighter, but your effort will not be financially compensated. If you already work as a volunteer firefighter when you apply for access to the fire department, it will be easier for you to get a contract, but if this is your professional goal, the idea is that you get to be a paid employee.
- Get some municipal job, as a driver for 911 service
- Collaborate temporarily as a forest ranger assistant
Step 6. Research the fire service
Before you set foot in the door, you will need to learn as much as possible about the fire service in general. While it is important to learn the fundamental tasks required to work as a firefighter, you will also need to understand general industry trends and concerns. During the selection process, they are likely to ask you questions such as: "Where do you see the fire service in five years?", Or: "What are the two biggest concerns in this professional field today?" So inform yourself and prepare well to answer these types of questions.
Part 3 of 4: Embroider the entrance exam
Step 1. Pass your history review test
The background review document can be up to 25 pages long, including detailed information about your education, degrees, and work experience, as well as recommendations and thousands of other topics. It is very likely that they will give you a document with everything you have to include to complete your history and ask you to return it within a week, so before making the request, prepare your academic record, references of previous experience, recommendations and any information that may require you.
Step 2. Pass the psychological evaluation
In the entrance exam, you will be given a psychological test to determine if you are able to maintain control in stressful situations and to withstand the pressure of this profession. You will also need to demonstrate sufficient courage and skill to communicate effectively, as well as good analytical skills in critical situations.
Step 3. Pass the medical exam
To be a firefighter, you will need to have good coordination, agility and strength, as well as being in very good physical shape in general. You must also be in good general health, and you cannot have any physical limitations.
Step 4. Pass the physical ability test
This test is a very rigorous test in which you must demonstrate your speed, your agility, your strength and your endurance. The test usually includes 8 sets of exercises that must be completed in 10 minutes and 20 seconds maximum, and is evaluated only with a pass or a fail. You will also have to complete the test wearing a 50 pound belt, long pants, a helmet, and other heavy items of firefighter equipment. Although you must inform yourself in detail about the requirements of the physical ability test, here are a few tests that you will have to pass:
- Climbing stairs. He climbs 60 rungs in 3 minutes, carrying a weight of 5.7 kg (12.5 pounds) on each shoulder.
- Drag the hose. Put the end of a 200 ft (61 m) hose over your shoulder and drag it around various obstacles until the 50 ft (15.24 m) mark on the hose crosses the finish line.
- Bring the equipment. Take two saws with you along 22.9 m (75 ft) around an obstacle and return them to the starting point.
- Climb the transportable ladder. Climb to the top rung of a 24-foot (7.3-m) portable ladder against a fixed wall.
- The forced entry. Use a 10-pound mallet to hit a measuring device until a bell rings.
- The search. Crawls on hands and knees in a maze tunnel.
- The rescue drag. Drag a heavy doll around an obstacle.
- Throw the roof down. Use a boat hook to remove a swing door and tear down the roof.
Step 5. Pass a written test to demonstrate different skills
These skills cover topics such as communication, memory, and the ability to judge and solve problems. Guides are available to facilitate the study of the content of these exams. Most departments rank the order of hiring based on test scores. It is very important to get the highest possible score.
Part 4 of 4: Be Successful in Your Career
Step 1. Train at the fire academy
In the academy you will learn to distinguish the different types of fires and fires, as well as to extinguish each one of them. You will also learn to use all the elements of the equipment, such as the ax, the saw, the transportable ladder and the hose. Here are some other things you will learn during the rigorous training process:
- Fire extinguishing techniques
- Fire prevention
- Control of hazardous materials
- Procedure in case of medical emergency
- Finding access codes to buildings to conduct fire inspections
- Rescue operations resolution
- Handling of hazardous materials
Step 2. The hands-on experience begins
Once you have passed through the training academy, you will be assigned to a fire department to practice with expert professionals. Sometimes the internships are paid, but sometimes not. You will be considered eligible to obtain the professional firefighter title once you have passed all the exams and completed the practices. However, some fire departments have a waiting list of valid candidates for full-time hiring.
Step 3. Get a full-time contract as a professional firefighter with a fixed salary
Once you've completed your internship and earned your firefighting degree, you'll be ready to begin the grueling and satisfying tasks necessary to be successful in the profession. If you win a contract, you should feel proud, but always keep your feet on the ground to learn new skills, expand knowledge and improve as a professional.
Step 4. Gain experience
Even if you meet many requirements and have shown incredible skills to get hired, this job never stops. There are many skills you can still gain, and a lot of training you can take to become the best firefighter you can be and to be more useful in the fire department. Training can also depend on what is lacking in the fire department where you work. For example, if you are desperate for someone who speaks Spanish, study this language thoroughly. Here are some other tips to gain experience:
- Get trained in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Earn a specialty university degree in public administration
- Get certified as an emergency health technician or paramedic if you don't already have it
- Get certified as a lifeguard
- Get a permit to handle hazardous materials
Step 5. Stay in good physical shape
If you want to be the best firefighter you can be and continue to do your job well, you will need to stay physically fit. Although the work itself will be rigorous and demanding, you can follow an extra workout at the gym, run every week, eat a healthy diet and watch your sleep habit to continue improving. Whatever exercise routine you follow, it should include strength and resistance training (anaerobic and aerobic work).
Advice
- Consider volunteering with a fire department before deciding to pursue a career in this field.
- Talk to your family before seriously considering becoming a firefighter. Firefighters risk their lives every day. Stress can be difficult for some family members to cope with. Also, firefighters work very hard and for long hours every day.