IAFF Fire and EMS Apprenticeship Program

An apprenticeship program combines paid, on-the-job training with related classroom instruction to prepare workers for highly skilled careers in the fire service.

Apprentices earn a living wage and receive benefits while gaining the skills and experience needed for success in the field.

Employers benefit from a more highly trained, dedicated workforce and can fill vacancies with apprentices who gain real-world experience as they learn.

Apprenticeship programs also allow employers to recruit directly from their communities.

The IAFF, in partnership with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), created the first federally registered apprenticeship program for the fire service. This joint labor-management initiative helps:

· Provide access to federal funding for new and existing local, county, regional, and state apprenticeship programs.

· Offer a nationally recognized framework that local affiliates can use or adapt when starting their own programs.

· Address growing recruitment and retention challenges, including burnout and fatigue, that are contributing to staffing shortages across the fire service.

To get started, IAFF Locals and their fire department administration must establish a joint labor-management agreement that follows U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) standards. Key steps include:

1. Forming a Joint Apprenticeship Committee, which may include:

o Community colleges

o Other fire departments

o Single-role EMS agencies

o Pre-apprenticeship program partners

2. Contacting your State Apprenticeship Office to begin the registration process.

o Every state is different. Be sure to attach the IAFF’s Federally Registered Apprenticeship Program when submitting.

3. Using the IAFF’s RAP as an outline and modifying it as needed to meet local and state requirements.

o Jurisdictions can customize job titles and other elements to suit their needs.

No. Apprenticeship programs can be launched by large departments, smaller departments working together, or in partnership with community colleges. These programs can operate at the local, county, regional, or state level.

Yes. Apprentices must be paid on a progressively increasing wage scale based on a percentage or flat rate of a fully paid firefighter/EMT, or paramedic.

Yes. Apprentices may receive credit if they provide transcripts, records, or affidavits verifying their experience.

Once an apprenticeship program is established, IAFF Locals can work with their school districts to develop a pre-apprenticeship. Pre-apprenticeship programs help students gain early exposure and training – often while still in high school – allowing them to enter the workforce more quickly after graduation.