Stupid Question?

[mteresczuk7]

I am going to school for my EMT basic in August. After that I really would like to know what would be the best path to take for a firefighter. Should I get my fire science degree? Also how and where do you get Firefighter I and II certifications? Thanks and by the way I live In Cleveland, OH.

[Fireman409SFD]

Where I am from(S.C.)E.M.T. certification is only required for Capt. promotion. If the Dept. you are trying to get on is not consolidated fire & E.M.S. then you should get your Firefighter 1&2 first. When I started 11 years ago the only certification I had was basic firefighter(1152). Once hired the Dept. trained me in-house for all other certifications needed, not to mention the nice salary increases for each promotion earned. If I were you I would talk to the local firefighters, If you have not already and ask them the best way to go about getting the required certifications to get hired. Best of luck to you!!!

[CaptBob]

Contact www.fireprep.com in Cleveland.

Firefighter or Fire/medic?

Should you become a paramedic to get a firefighter job?
You understand that there are up to 800 candidates for each firefighter job, that you could be running out of hope and the love of your life is not going to wait any longer unless she has a ring and a date. Been the frequent-flyer mileage king flying all over the country and unsuccessfully taking tests and your biggest income last year came from your credit cards. You have lost friends. Don’t know how you’re going to live without the job of your dreams. Can afford to take the time and loss of income to make it happen. Have a supporting partner. Know you would have to spend about a year getting certified and it will be the toughest thing you have ever done.

Can a relative pay for your education? Do you have GI Bill education money? Can you get a student loan. Know that 80% of the job offerings now are for fire medics and up to 75% of our calls are EMS related anyway. Know that even if you become a medic, you still may never get this job. Have been riding ambulance anyway and this will pave the way into many medic schools. Aren’t going to take the chance of some college medic programs that only take 35 people a year and receive over 200 applications. Will step up and pay the $7,000 plus dollars to be in and out of a program in about a year.

You’re the energizer bunny who will keep going and going and going when others would stop. Know that if you are a medic taking a regular firefighter entrance test you will probably get a better shot. You won’t be happy until you can puff your chest out with a badge and have people wave at you in the jump seats, carrying on a family tradition. Want that shift work with great benefits that go way into retirement. A career position with chances of advancement.
You will have the opportunity to use the education and experience you have acquired. To work for a department that offers you everything a firefighter hopes for. Calls that cover anything from air, land and sea. A place where you can’t wait to get back from your days off. You will be able to go from one call to another to another on a busy rig. Believe me there is nothing like it.

I know you will hear that if you really don’t want to be a medic don’t just do it to get the job. That all you really need is your EMT to get hired. But, if you answered yes to the majority of the above there is no doubt where you will be the happiest. If I were in your position I would beg, borrow, and run with my afterburners on to get to medic school! Because unlike a regular entry level test where there are up to 800 candidates for each job, there are only 20 candidates for every fire medic job. It is by far your fastest way to the badge.

You can find more on testing secrets in the Career Article section from the Jobs drop down menu just above this posting.

"Nothing counts 'til you have the badge . . . Nothing!"

Fire "Captain Bob" Author,
Becoming A Firefighter,
Conquer Fire Department Oral Boards, and
It’s Your Turn in the Hot Seat!

www.eatstress.com

888-238-3959

[mteresczuk7]

Thanks,
I just applied yesterday to Auburn in Concord, OH for the Firefighter I and II certification. It starts in January. Also for the certification, credits can apply to a Fire Science degree. i am Taking the EMT course starting in August. So if all goes well I will continue my education to a Assoc. in Fire Science, Paramedic and Firefighter II certification! NOW I have to work on fixing my credit! I recently was unemployed so my credit kind of went to crap, will this be a big facter in the hiring process?

Thanks for all the help!