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Becoming a Firefighter: The Two-Year Plan
Featured Author:
Battalion Chief Paul Lepore
Paul Lepore is a Battalion Chief with the City of Long Beach, California, Fire Department. He entered the fire service as a civilian Paramedic for the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985. After completing his education at the Los Angeles County Paramedic Training Institute, Lepore worked in the high impact area of South Central, Los Angeles.
Lepore was hired by the Long Beach Fire Department in 1986 and completed their 12-week academy. He spent the next two years working as a firefighter until he was promoted to firefighter/ paramedic. Lepore was promoted to Fire Captain in 1998 and is currently a Battalion Chief.
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Battalion Chief Paul Lepore
If still in high school look into a Regional Occupational Program (ROP).
Many local fire departments have community outreach recruitment programs.
Graduate from high school or obtain your GED.
A diploma is much preferred.
Talk with a counselor at a community college that offers fire science courses.
Set up a course curriculum that allows you to obtain a two-year degree in fire science. If the local college does not offer a fire science program, find one that does.
This curriculum should also allow you to complete the prerequisite courses for a fire academy.
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Take an Emergency Medical Technician Course (EMT).
This will accomplish a few things. First of all, it is a course required by most departments. It will also let you know if this profession is for you. If you find you can’t handle the sight of blood or helping people during crises, the fire service may not be for you.
