Florida Firefighter Schools

[Firemedic 61]

Whatever, you can say the same thing about BFA and IRCC and even Ocala (although I hear good things about Ocala). The majority of the ones you have tested? What department do you work for? I'm guessing county.

What do you want to say about those schools, that they're good ones? Already knew that. While I don't work for the county, I have tested a lot of applicants and the ones that do poorly 9 times out of 10 come from Springs. I have tested hundreds of applicants over the years so no matter what your article says my opinion is the same based on what I have seen over and over again. You can't form a more accurate opinion any other way. So you got an EMT job at a competitive dept, must be Plantation if your still in the area. If so then good for you, Plantation has a very, very good EMS system.

[gm701]

So you got an EMT job at a competitive dept, must be Plantation if your still in the area. If so then good for you, Plantation has a very, very good EMS system.

Hahaha no it's not Plantation. Isn't that a volunteer department?


As far as the schools:

It is like someone already said on this thread, that “it is what you make of it”. Some take a lot away from the school they go to and apply what they learned throughout their career. Others slip through the cracks and give their organization a bad name on the outside. When I was mentioning IRCC and BFA that was what I was referring to. Good and bad come from all of them. But anyway you seem set in your ways about this and I could really care less about what you think. To those that are trying to decide on a school just pick the one that's most convenient for you (price, location, schedule, etc…) and put forth your best effort and eventually your hard work will pay off.

[CodyK]

Bringing this thread back from the dead. Just wondering if anyone had been through fctc's progeam, it's in St. Augustine, FL. Does it honestly matter what school you attend don't they all have to cover the same material statewide?

[robs411]

I went to Lake Tech I highly recommend that school.

All schools must meet the state requirements as that is who proctors the test(s). I have yet to be asked for my school graduation certificate when I applied to any agencies. I was always asked for my state certification however. It is what you put into it!

Sorry as I do not have any information on FCTC.

-Rob

[CodyK]

I went to Lake Tech I highly recommend that school.

All schools must meet the state requirements as that is who proctors the test(s). I have yet to be asked for my school graduation certificate when I applied to any agencies. I was always asked for my state certification however. It is what you put into it!

Sorry as I do not have any information on FCTC.

-Rob

No biggie. The more I read on here the more nervous I get about getting hired. I get that I won't be able to get on with a big department right away but is it really that hard to get on with a smaller department?

[fosser8]

It is going to be pretty competitive no matter what. The City of Fort Myers just recieved 800 apps for 20 or so positions and I think they have 4 or 5 stations. (Not for sure on that) I work for a seperate dept so this could all be hear say, but I doubt it. Don't let that discourage you, if you put in your time you will get a job. Things are going to start turning around. I just heard the other day that 45% of Sarasota county's FF's will be retiring w/ in 5 years. So as you can see there will be spots just test every where you can and keep an eye on Sarasota county. I dont work for them, but believe them to be the best on the west coast of FL reguarding benifits and pay. Just my 2 cents. Good luck brother.

[beachfire]

No biggie. The more I read on here the more nervous I get about getting hired. I get that I won't be able to get on with a big department right away but is it really that hard to get on with a smaller department?

Bro, if you want to get in the fire service, go to the fire academy that is closest to you. If you are in Broward you go to the one that you can get into first. Once you are in you work your *** off, respect your instructors and fellow students, and show up early. Ditto for EMT and medic school. Along the way you test for any and every department that is hiring and you are eligible to apply for. It isn't easy out there right now but it is NEVER easy getting into this field. You have to just go to school and keep your nose clean. You cannot get discouraged by what people tell you or what you read. Nothing good comes easy and this career isnt good, its GREAT. Don't concern yourself with not being able to get on a larger department or if it is difficult to get on a smaller department. Just take one step at a time and do your best in school. And for Gods sake dont be an idiot and get DUIs or driving citations. Do these things and good things will happen. Best of luck to you.

[CodyK]

Bro, if you want to get in the fire service, go to the fire academy that is closest to you. If you are in Broward you go to the one that you can get into first. Once you are in you work your *** off, respect your instructors and fellow students, and show up early. Ditto for EMT and medic school. Along the way you test for any and every department that is hiring and you are eligible to apply for. It isn't easy out there right now but it is NEVER easy getting into this field. You have to just go to school and keep your nose clean. You cannot get discouraged by what people tell you or what you read. Nothing good comes easy and this career isnt good, its GREAT. Don't concern yourself with not being able to get on a larger department or if it is difficult to get on a smaller department. Just take one step at a time and do your best in school. And for Gods sake dont be an idiot and get DUIs or driving citations. Do these things and good things will happen. Best of luck to you.

Thanks for the support man. Had to go take an entrance exam last night to enroll at fctc scored in the top 99% even though it's just basic high school stuff I was excited. Got to schedule my drug test today and I'm waiting to hear back on a blood test I did saturday to see if I have had the Hep B shots (I had the paper work for the first 2 but couldn't find the third). After that I should be able to submit my application for emt school and start up in January so excited!! Then submit everything for ff 1 which starts in June. I've read alot of people do emt, paramedic, then ff1&2. But I'd like to start trying to get on somewhere and then work on paramedic. I can honestly say after a a year of night school I don't know if I'm going to be ready to dive into another 11 months of school for paramedic. I might wait until I've paid off some of the cost of ff/emt then save up for medic school.

[ctrlaltdelete]

CodyK, Just a thought, I would volunteer at a department close to you, helps for experience and most will give you gear that you can for F I&II, saves you a couple of bucks. Much like beachfire said it's going to be hard to get a job on either a small or large department but if you never give up and continue to send out applications one will bite....

Make sure you get your F I&II Pro Board cert this will allow you to apply to other states that recongize it.

[pradio068]

I was wondering if anyone knew anything about Miami Dade Community College Fire Academy? I heard they just got a new facility.

[dmonteav]

I was wondering if anyone knew anything about Miami Dade Community College Fire Academy? I heard they just got a new facility.

I went to Miami Dade summer of last year. I really enjoyed it, and they have amazing instructors.

[CodyK]

CodyK, Just a thought, I would volunteer at a department close to you, helps for experience and most will give you gear that you can for F I&II, saves you a couple of bucks. Much like beachfire said it's going to be hard to get a job on either a small or large department but if you never give up and continue to send out applications one will bite....

Make sure you get your F I&II Pro Board cert this will allow you to apply to other states that recongize it.

With working from 8-5 and then class from 6-10 three nights a week and all day saturday there really isn't alot of time left to volunteer. After I get out of school while looking for a job that might be something I look into though. I wish I could go to emt and ff1&2 during the day its so much quicker. But with bills to pay night school is the only option. For anyone that's gone through firefighter 1 & 2, do you do "training" nightly/daily like running, pushups, pullups that kind of stuff. Just trying to prepare myself for what's coming. Oh and what's included in the physical test you take to get into the class?

On a side note went and did my **** test this morning and at lunch I'm going to get the tb test and I should have everything I need to send my application in.

[CodyK]

When I did school down there in 2000 I was in the same boat. Worked during the day and had class Tues Wed and Thurs nights, and all day Sat. The only time we PTd was Saturdays, the nights were classrom work only.

Hope that helps

Yup it does. That's not too bad then I was just wondering if we would be running everynight.

Does anyone have any information on the physical test you have to pass in order to get into the class. What all is included?

[Deluge059]

To re-state what was said above, it doesn't matter where you go to fire school. No hiring board cares what name is on your FF Cert, just that you have one.
Some schools do a lot more burns and add in rappeling and other stuff, but in the end its just more time and more money. Plus, when you get on a department, it doesn't matter what school you went to, any good department will put you through their own training and the instructors will tell you that they don't care what school you went to.

As for Miami-Dade Fire Academy, it in my opinion is very very good. It is the cheapest and they provide you with gear. Plus, the instructors are all guys from very busy houses in Miami Dade and Hialeah and have a lot of experience. They offer a full-time and a part time class and they are very dedicated.

The new training center is for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue over at their Doral headquarters. It is only for the guys that are hired by them. The Miami Dade College school is in North Miami and has a great burn building.

[John Hartman]

Just to Add my two cents i recently grad from PBCC, Like someone stated the really don't care where you went and your cert doesn't say i grad from so and so school, what they care about is if you can do the job. And no matter where you go you make it what you want, i feel i gained a lot knowledge from PBCC, I had seasoned inst. who put in the extra effort and time to mold us. And yes the big 3 has changed but it doesn't mean that the school still don't bust you butt. And PT doesn't make a firefighter. the strongest guy in the world isn't worth spit if he has no clue what he is doing. As i saw it i would much rather gain knowledge and be forced to work on my physical fitness myself rather than be in shape and not have the slightest idea the difference between a wye and a siamese. but like someone else stated go to whatever college you can afford and is close to you and make the best of it bury your face in the book and pick your inst. brains. Cause when you get on the job all those "minimum standards" cause thats exactly what they are will change. Your dept will have different SOPS on how to handle a ladder or what size hose your run supply with or what you attack with. Palm Beach county hardly ever pulls 1" 1/2" any more they usually pull a 2" blitz line. remember no matter how much "learning" you get in the academy only time on the job will teach you the real lessons.

[CodyK]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I've always lifted weights but I'm trying to do alot more pullups,pushups and alot more running. Because I figure that's what the PT time would consist of. Just to get myself in shape I'm trying to work my way up to around 5 miles at a 10/min mile pace by June. What is your typical pt time like in school. How far do you run? Is it timed? Is it flat surface or stairs? Just trying to get myself prepared the best I can because I love to finish first

[beachfire]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I've always lifted weights but I'm trying to do alot more pullups,pushups and alot more running. Because I figure that's what the PT time would consist of. Just to get myself in shape I'm trying to work my way up to around 5 miles at a 10/min mile pace by June. What is your typical pt time like in school. How far do you run? Is it timed? Is it flat surface or stairs? Just trying to get myself prepared the best I can because I love to finish first

you will run on flat surfaces, you will run stairs, you will run stairs with a high rise pack, you will hit a kaiser sled, plus pullups, situps, burpees, pushups, pushups, pushups, more stairs. you get the idea. if u want to keep up your weight training that is fine, but i would DEFINITELY RUN and do STAIRS. mix it up like a circuit, do 10 flights of stairs, then 25 pushups (or however many feel good for you), do 10 more flights, then some burpees, Tabata intervals, 20 seconds of sprints, 10 seconds of jogging. do that for 8 reps and then do some box jumps. this is the kind of stuff that will get you in firefighting shape. during Miami Beaches probationary period you have to climb Portofino Tower, up/down, which is 44 flights in full bunker gear on air using a 45 bottle. no time limit but if you run out of air you fail. it is no joke and believe me it messes with your head, lol. anyway, best of luck to you.

[beachfire]

To re-state what was said above, it doesn't matter where you go to fire school. No hiring board cares what name is on your FF Cert, just that you have one.
Some schools do a lot more burns and add in rappeling and other stuff, but in the end its just more time and more money. Plus, when you get on a department, it doesn't matter what school you went to, any good department will put you through their own training and the instructors will tell you that they don't care what school you went to.

As for Miami-Dade Fire Academy, it in my opinion is very very good. It is the cheapest and they provide you with gear. Plus, the instructors are all guys from very busy houses in Miami Dade and Hialeah and have a lot of experience. They offer a full-time and a part time class and they are very dedicated.

The new training center is for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue over at their Doral headquarters. It is only for the guys that are hired by them. The Miami Dade College school is in North Miami and has a great burn building.

dead on Deluge.

[R1andy998]

I went to FCTC this year for EMT and Fire 1 and 2. Emt school is relaxed. Fire school not so much. Fire school in summer anywhere in Florida is going to suck. The school is pretty physical. PT is mostly made up of dragging hose and stairs. Theres pushups and pullups in there as well. Not much running. The day class is tough, not much time for the rest of your life after you add in all the studying. Most instructors are great. Some could use a little sharpenning of their skills. Fire 1 is mostly book work and slow. Fire 2 is mostly outside.
It's a good school. I can't compare it to any other school because this one is all I know.

[CodyK]

you will run on flat surfaces, you will run stairs, you will run stairs with a high rise pack, you will hit a kaiser sled, plus pullups, situps, burpees, pushups, pushups, pushups, more stairs. you get the idea. if u want to keep up your weight training that is fine, but i would DEFINITELY RUN and do STAIRS. mix it up like a circuit, do 10 flights of stairs, then 25 pushups (or however many feel good for you), do 10 more flights, then some burpees, Tabata intervals, 20 seconds of sprints, 10 seconds of jogging. do that for 8 reps and then do some box jumps. this is the kind of stuff that will get you in firefighting shape. during Miami Beaches probationary period you have to climb Portofino Tower, up/down, which is 44 flights in full bunker gear on air using a 45 bottle. no time limit but if you run out of air you fail. it is no joke and believe me it messes with your head, lol. anyway, best of luck to you.

Good to know so I really don't need to concentrate on jogging? There isn't any distance running? I think I'll be fine doing the other stuff. I've got to find somewhere to run some stairs. Thanks for the help man. I just didn't want to train to be able to run 5 miles if you never do anything more than sprints or running up and down stairs.

I went to FCTC this year for EMT and Fire 1 and 2. Emt school is relaxed. Fire school not so much. Fire school in summer anywhere in Florida is going to suck. The school is pretty physical. PT is mostly made up of dragging hose and stairs. Theres pushups and pullups in there as well. Not much running. The day class is tough, not much time for the rest of your life after you add in all the studying. Most instructors are great. Some could use a little sharpenning of their skills. Fire 1 is mostly book work and slow. Fire 2 is mostly outside.
It's a good school. I can't compare it to any other school because this one is all I know.

Was the physical stuff similar to what was described above on pt days? I'm sure the next year of my life is going to be just sleeping, working, & class.

I'm basically done with weights for the time being everything I do is going to be pushups, pullups, crunches, stairs, and sprinting. I've already lost a few pounds nothing crazy. I was 6 foot 194 I wouldn't be suprised if I'm down to 190ish now.