| If you are serious about becoming a firefighter, it's | | | | - Pass a polygraph and psychological test |
| important you understand the requirements for this job. | | | | - Be interviewed by a board of Fire Officers |
| Naturally, firefighter requirements vary from jurisdiction | | | | - Be interviewed by the City Manager, the Human |
| to jurisdiction but, as you will see, there are some | | | | Resource Director, and the Fire Chief |
| commonalities. | | | | What do these requirements have in common? |
| First, here are the requirements to become a firefighter | | | | - You must take and pass a physical exam |
| in the New York City Fire Department (NYFD). | | | | - You must take some form of written examination |
| To apply to take the next New York City Firefighter | | | | - You must pass a physical agility test |
| Exam, you must be between the ages of 17 and a | | | | - You must have at least a high school diploma |
| half and 29. | | | | - You will most certainly have to undergo an oral |
| To be hired as a New York City Firefighter | | | | interview |
| You must: | | | | Which is most important? |
| - Pass both the written and physical exams | | | | Of these requirements, the most important is the |
| - Pass a medical exam and background investigation | | | | written exam because if you do not score highly on it, |
| - Be at least 21 years of age | | | | you will be eliminated as a candidate for a firefighter |
| - Be a U.S. citizen | | | | position. |
| - Have at least 15 college semester credits earned as | | | | The written exam |
| a result of satisfactory completion of course work at | | | | Piqua, OH seems to have the easier exam as it |
| a college or university accredited by an accrediting | | | | requires only that the applicant pass a civil service. |
| body recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education | | | | New York City's requires the candidate to pass a |
| and the Council for Higher Education or full time military | | | | written exam. In this case, the exam is designed |
| service with an honorable discharge; or 6 months of | | | | specifically to test firefighter applicants. The biggest |
| full time, satisfactory paid work experience | | | | majority of municipalities also use a similar test |
| - Hold a motor vehicle driver's license valid in New | | | | designed specifically for firefighter candidates. These |
| York State | | | | firefighter exams are tough. They typically take three |
| - Be a resident of one of the five boroughs of New | | | | hours or more to complete and consist of 100 of more |
| York City, or live in Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, | | | | questions. If you would like to see a sample of this test, |
| Suffolk or Westchester County | | | | I recommend the book Barron's Firefighter Exams by |
| - Be a Certified First Responder with Defibrillation | | | | James J. Murtagh, which includes samples of the NYC |
| (CFR-D) | | | | Fire Department Exam. |
| The city of Piqua, Ohio firefighter requirements | | | | In summary |
| In comparison, here are the firefighter requirements for | | | | The short answer to the question of what is required |
| a small city | | | | of a firefighter applicant is that you must be in good |
| - Take out an application | | | | health, you must pass a tough written exam, you need |
| - Return application along with a copy of your birth | | | | to have a clean driver's license, you need to be able to |
| certificate, copy of your diploma or equivalent, and a | | | | pass an agility test or a test that simulates the skills |
| copy of your high school records | | | | required to be a firefighter and you will need to do well |
| - Take a civil service test. (This test will cover general | | | | in an oral interview. |
| knowledge of all types of subjects and current | | | | Standing out from the crowd |
| events.) | | | | Getting a job as a firefighter is very, very competitive |
| - If you place in the top of the group according to how | | | | these days. If you want to stand out as a candidate - |
| many openings there are, then you move on to the | | | | and win that coveted badge - you should have some |
| next steps | | | | college, especially courses related to firefighting. And it |
| - Pass a physical fitness - agility test | | | | will most likely help if you have EMT or paramedic |
| - Pass a physical exam | | | | experience. |