Steps on How to Become a Firefighter

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Anyone who wants to work for the fire service must successfully complete a certain amount of training.

The length and content of the training usually varies from one fire department to another, but the steps are all basically the same.

Generally speaking, the road to being a fire fighter requires the candidate to successfully complete the application process before they are eligible to proceed to the next phase.

The application process can include:

a background check,

job history,

criminal record,

polygraph,

psychological evaluation,

medical exam,

During the fire academy, a new recruit learns (hopefully) everything from knots and ropes to CPR and fire behavior.

Once the rookie is out of the fire academy he/she is assigned to a station. Now the "on the job" training begins.

According to the traditional approach, once the candidate has successfully completed all the above requirements, they are considered to be a fire fighter.

After all, they have met all the criteria not only to get hired but to successfully complete the fire academy as well.

So is this person really a firefighter?

Well, yes. In a sense.

They definitely have the necessary certification and the sharp-looking uniform that goes with it.

However, accomplishing all of the above does not necessarily make a person a firefighter.

Not on the inside at least.

In fact, all of the above are essential in answering the question of how to become a firefighter.

However, what I think is most important, is the one thing that must be done first.

That is, make sure you are right on the inside. Develop your character first and the rest will fall into place.

Take a look at why this must be done first in the steps to become a firefighter.