Thinking about a career in the fire service? Whether you’re finishing high school, changing careers, or carrying on a family tradition, becoming a career fire fighter takes skill, dedication, and a commitment to serve.
The IAFF represents more than 360,000 professional fire fighters and emergency medical workers across North America. Our members are on the front lines of public safety – and many are also helping mentor the next generation.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to starting your journey, with advice from career fire fighters who’ve been there.
Step 1: Meet the basic qualifications
Across North America, most fire departments require the following minimum qualifications:
Common requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid driver’s license
- Legal eligibility to work
- Many fire departments also require Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification, though local requirements can vary.
If you are considering becoming a career fire fighter, there’s no single path to get there.
St. Paul, MN Local 21 Fire Fighter/Paramedic Megan Roesler-Turner decided to join after witnessing fire fighters rescue a man at the coffeeshop where she worked.
“While I was in paramedic school, fire fighters from a station near the school would come in all the time and they told me if you’re in school to be a paramedic, you should be a fire fighter with us because it’s way more fun,” she said.
Local 21 Fire Fighter/Paramedic Christyn Lewis credits his background as a University of Minnesota football player for providing a solid foundation.
“I found that the endurance and teamwork from football translated really well to the fire service,” he said.
Step 2: Hiring process
Becoming a career fire fighter involves testing, training, and interviews. Most departments include:
- Submitting a application during open recruitment
- Written exam. Tests like the National Testing Network’s FireTEAM test include 100 questions on mechanical reasoning, math problem-solving, and reading comprehension, and take about two hours to complete.
- Complete Physical Ability Testing (CPAT) or department-specific test
- Interviews and psychological evaluation
- Background check and medical clearance
Surrey, BC Local 1271 Fire Fighter/Union Representative (Registrar) Jon Watkins said the key is mental toughness.
“The day of testing is intense: physical tasks followed by a mini‑interview. It’s to see how candidates think under pressure. The biggest surprise for me was how much mental toughness matters. It’s not just about lifting or running; it’s about keeping your head clear when things get hard,” he said.
Step 3: Physical test
Every department requires a physical ability test, which may include:
- Stair climb
- Hose drag
- Equipment carry
- Forcible entry
- Search and rescue
Here are a few examples:
St. Paul, MN: Firefighter Physical Performance Test
Surrey, BC: Physical Abilities Test
Alex Suazo, Fire Fighter/EMT, Española, NM Local 4339 prepared for the physical test by running stairs in his neighborhood.
“I’d go for 10 minutes at a time. My legs would be exhausted, but I kept pushing myself. You’ve got to push yourself to the breaking point, and that’s where you build mental strength,” he said.
Roesler-Turner added that everyday tools can prepare you for some of the test’s toughest parts.
“I had a sandbag in a backpack and another sandbag for my shoulder, and I ran stairs, and hills outside. I had a sledgehammer, and I got a big chunk of tree trunk, and I was driving with the sledgehammer as if it were the Keiser through the sand. I also had a huge tree trunk that I would drag backward through the sand to simulate the victim rescue, which is one of the toughest components of our test,” she said.
Step 4: Complete a fire academy
Once hired, recruits attend a fire academy, which covers:
- Fire suppression
- Hazmat awareness
- Search and rescue
- Team coordination
- Emergency medical response
Learn more
Being a fire fighter is about more than running into burning buildings. It’s about teamwork, staying calm under pressure, and serving your community every day.
“It’s not about glory or being a hero. It’s about knowing your community depends on you, and you can’t let them down,” said Suazo.
For current career opportunities and to learn more about current opportunities in the fire service, visit the IAFF website.
