How To Become A Firefighter

Fire fighters are highly regarded in our society given that they put themselves in harm's way to protect lives . Given the responsibility, the recruitment for fire fighter takes into account physical fitness as well as psychological toughness.
 

What they do?
The traditional duties of a fire fighter include the following:
a) Extinguishing, controlling fires
b) Prevention of loss of lives and property
c) Fire prevention
 
The additional new roles of firefighters now include:
a) Disaster response and relief
b) Emergencies
c) Environmental issues
 
How they work?
Firefighters usually work in teams led by a senior firefighter called the Chief Fire Officer or Company Officer. Firefighters have to work longer hours than most other professions. A typical work week for a firefighter will consist of forty-five to fifty hours. However a fire fighter may not have the luxury of getting time off during holidays or on weekends.

Education
The level of education required to become a firefighter depends on the state you live in. Different states have different requirements. Some states may require you to have a college degree or a diploma in fire science or a related discipline. Others require only a high school diploma. In order to be eligible for a fire fighter's license, you are required to take a series of different courses. These will include a "First Responders Course". This course is necessary for firefighters and some other professions such as paramedics etc. This course is taught at many vocational institutes and community colleges.

After that you'll need to receive advanced training as an EMT (National Association of EMTs). . This training will give you an edge over your peers in a competitive market because it is an advanced level of training. There are several options for training.  Your may opt for a fire fighter's academy. The training at a fire fighter's academy will be comprehensive and rigorous. You will also receive a lot physical training and learn survival strategies and paramedic training. If you do not get into a fire fighter's academy there are still other ways of becoming a fire fighter. First, you can look for vocational institutes and community colleges which have degrees in fire fighting.  You can also volunteer as a firefighter and get on the job training. This training will be valuable for you but in order to advance your career as a professional firefighter you still need to have the requisite qualifications.

After your Education
Now you will need to be certified. This process begins with different types of testing and will include a series of physical, psychological and medical tests that evaluate your suitability for the job. If you pass these, that you will be eligible to be certified as a firefighter and can start looking for a job as a fire fighter.