Firefighter Requirements

Firefight er requirements, like fire fighter testing, varies considerably from city to city.  Following are two examples of firefighter requirements, one from Portland, Oregon, and one from New York City.  While these requirements do not apply to all cities and counties, they will release the view that idea of what most fire departments do require from their applicants.

Portland , TX Fire Department Application Requirements for Fire Fighter

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must meet the job description requirements for a Portland Fire Department Fire Fighter.
• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must be certified as a basic structural fire fighter by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.
• Must be certified as an Emergency Medical Technician by the Texas Department of Health.
• Must possess a high school diploma or G.E. D.
• Must possess a valid Texas driver?s license and pass the Class B fire fighter’s exemption within the first 12 months of hire.
• Must be in good physical condition, weight in proportion to height.
• Must score a minimum of 70% on the written examination.
• Must pass the Physical Agility Examination.
• Must successfully pass an investigation of personal history and background to determine suitability for the position of fire fighter with the Portland Fire Department.
• Must pass a drug screening examination.

Fire Department of New York

To apply to take the next New York City Firefighter Exam, you must:

Be between the ages of 17 and a half and 29

To be hired as a New York City Firefighter, you must:

• Pass both the written and physical exams;
• Pass a medical exam and background investigation;
• Be at least 21 years of age;
• Be a U.S. citizen;
• Have at least 15 college semester credits earned as a result of satisfactory completion of course work at a college or university accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education or full time military service with an honorable discharge; or 6 months of full time, satisfactory paid work experience;
• Hold a motor vehicle driver's license valid in New York State;
• Be a resident of one of the five boroughs of New York City, or live in Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk or Westchester County;
• Be a Certified First Responder with Defibrillation (CFR-D)*.

Again, every fire department has different firefighter requirements and it is important you understand what they are before applying for the job. 

Piqua, Ohio requirements

• Take out an application
• Return application along with a copy of your birth certificate, copy of your diploma or equivalent, and a copy of your high school records.
• Take a civil service test. (This test will cover general knowledge of all types of subjects and current events.)
• If you place in the top of the group according to how many openings there are, then you move on to the next steps.
• Pass a physical fitness – agility test
• Pass a physical exam
• Pass a polygraph and psychological test
• Be interviewed by a board of Fire Officers
• Be interviewed by the City Manager, the Human Resource Director, and the Fire Chief

As you can see, these requirements very greatly from those of Portland or New York City.  So, again, the important thing is to understand the firefighter requirements of the specific city and county where you are applying.