How Long Is Schooling To Become A Firefighter?

February 13, 2015 HCI News

To be hired as a Firefighter, a high school education is acceptable, however it is not uncommon for firefighters to seek out higher education by take courses in fire science. Competition in this field is strong and challenging, and it’s important to be prepared for the journey that lies ahead.

In terms of firefighting education, the more education you have, the better the chances for other opportunities down the line. Each organization will have different hiring requirements, but first many will require that prospective students are CPR certified, which can take as little as 3 hours to complete the CPR AED course. In addition, a prospective firefighter would be a great addition if they had full EMT training. Having this training prior to obtaining a fire science degree will definitely make it easier when it comes to applying for your career after schooling is completed.

Many fire academies head programs for certificates, associate’s degrees and bachelor’s degrees in fire science or fire technology that are associated with a college or university and the fire department. Like any degree, you could get your associate’s degree which will take about 2 years, or a bachelor’s degree which takes about 4 years.

Some courses you may take in a Fire Science or Fire Technology degree program are:

Physical Education
Fire Safety and Public Education
Fire Behavior and Combustion
Fire Prevention
Wildland Firefighting
Fire Protection Equipment
Principles of Emergency Services

Some programs may give you the option of going through a fire academy as well. This will help prepare you and give you the training you need to be ready for the academy you’ll have to go through when hired as a firefighter. Passing a college firefighter academy will show the department you are applying for that you are prepared and already have the basic training that one needs to be successful in this career.

Depending on your experience already, the time it takes to become a firefighter can vary. If you are very dedicated, and you decide to take your fire training and your EMT certification at the same time, and then are hired by a department right away it could take anywhere from 2 1/2 to 3 years to become a firefighter.

Make sure you keep focus, work hard, and don’t give up! Good luck!