| Every year, fires are responsible for the loss of | | | | improve your job prospects. An increasing number of |
| thousands upon thousands of lives and destroy homes | | | | colleges and universities now also offer courses |
| and properties worth billions of dollars. By becoming a | | | | leading to 2 or 4 year degrees in fire engineering. |
| firefighter, you have the chance to protect the general | | | | Both a written exam and a physical test must be |
| public against such harm by responding to fires and | | | | passed before you are accepted on to a training |
| other emergencies. | | | | program. The written exam typically consists of |
| Many people want to become a firefighter as it is | | | | around 100 multiple choice questions and covers |
| challenging and provides the opportunity to perform an | | | | memory, observation, logic, reasoning and spatial |
| essential public service. It is therefore not surprising that | | | | awareness. As for the physical test, it evaluates your |
| prospective firefighters face intense competition for | | | | upper body strength, endurance and agility. |
| available job openings. | | | | If accepted on to a training program, you will spend |
| The requirements to become a firefighter vary | | | | about 600 hours in training, over the course of 12 to 14 |
| somewhat depending on where a firefighting | | | | weeks, learning how to become a firefighter. A |
| department is located, but, in general, you will need to: | | | | combination of practical training and classroom |
| be at least 18 years old (sometimes 21); be physically | | | | instruction will see you study fire prevention, firefighting |
| fit; have a clean criminal record. Personal qualities that | | | | techniques and emergency medical procedures. |
| are sought are strength, endurance, self-discipline, | | | | Average salaries are around $30,000, but experience |
| courage and mental alertness. | | | | and working overtime will see you earning considerably |
| Most firefighters have a high school diploma, and | | | | more. You will also receive certain benefits, such as |
| completing a community college course, or even an | | | | medical and liability insurance, vacation and sick leave, |
| associate degree, in fire science will significantly | | | | and some paid holidays. |