Getting started?

[BADDLEGG]

Trying to become career FF. Have joined VFD loving it. About to start an EMT B class through VFD so will get that out of the way. When that finishes will go to one week fire school at Texas A&M in early spring. Questions?
1) What is the best way to get started?
A) find civil service exams? If so how?
B) Get certs/academy before applying? Have you seen better success
from having these before applying? I know some bigger cities send you
through their academy no matter what.
C) Both what ever happens first?

[fire49]

what state are you in??


what does your state/ or cities require to get hired??

meet the requirements and start applying

how do you find openings??/ city web sites, state web sites, fire academies


find out the process for your area and ge going

[BADDLEGG]

Live in texas. Process unsure? From what I can tell you find and show up to take civil service exam. Some require basics other require FF cert, emt b or paramedic. I just was wondering what you found most successful? Would it look better/ would you have better chances of getting hired with certs?

[fire49]

In texas most cities want you to be texas firefighter certified , and some want either emt or paramedic.

there are a few cities that will hire you off the street dallas, fort worth, houston, arlington but you are competeing against a lot more people then departments that require the certification

check this web site weekly, and you can see the requriements for different cities:::


http://www.tcfp.state.tx.us/employment.asp

go for certification

there is a online one, but you do a week of practicals at thier facility::

http://www.trainingdivision.com/Courses.asp