Become a Firefighter

Anyone guy who’s seen Rescue Me has had to have dreamed, at least for a minute, about becoming a firefighter.  The show makes the job and the lifestyle look so enviable.  If you’ve thought about persuing a real-life a career in the field, read on. Firefighting is a very in-demand job, and you’re likely to always have a job, even in a rough economy like today’s.  It takes a great deal of training and dedication to be a firefighter, as well as mental and physical strength, but  if you have what it takes, consider enrollment in a fire training program.

After you have decided you want to become a firefighter, you will need to research what is required in your state for you to become a firefighter.

You must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or a general education diploma. You will need to complete and pass a written test, composed of anywhere from 150 to 200 questions. It takes quite a bit of studying and preparation to be ready for this exam. There are several websites on the internet that have sample tests that you can take for practice. After passing the exam, you are placed on an eligibility list. You will be ranked with others by your exam scores, and you will want to be at the top to land a job as a firefighter.

Next, you will be required to complete and pass a physical test. The physical part of a firefighter’s exam will test your physical strength, agility and stamina. Passing this test ensures that you are able to perform all required physical tests that are required of a firefighter. To prepare for the physical part of the firefighter exams, you will want to focus your training on leg strength and wind endurance, as these are the most utilized physical features of a firefighter.

After the physical part of the test has been completed, you will need to have a medical exam. During your medical exam, your heart rate, blood pressure, height and weight will all be checked. You will have a blood screening and a urine test. The urine test will check for illegal drugs, as many states require a pre-employment drug test. Because of these tests, you will not have your results right away. You should get something in writing notifying you of your medical screening tests. You may also have to undergo a psychological test, to determine key personality traits that most fire crews are looking for in a person. 95% of fire departments employ psychological testing in their interviewing.

After all of the testing has been completed satisfactorily, you will then go in for an oral interview. The oral interview is made up of many different questions so that the interviewer can get an idea of what kind of person you are. Some of the questions are direct; others are questions with deep answers. It is best to try to prepare for the oral interview with a friend before having the actual interview.

If you pass all of the requirements, you can become a firefighter.