Firefighting and College

[JZlomie]

Which degree would be more beneficial to be hired as a full time department:

Fire Service Management

or

Fire and Emergency Services

Both would earn a bachelors degree

[DennisTheMenace]

Which degree would be more beneficial to be hired as a full time department:

Fire Service Management

or

Fire and Emergency Services

Both would earn a bachelors degree

A Paramedic cert will trump both in getting hired. Those degrees however will both help for promotion, but neither more than the other. The knowledge gained by either will help you understand the job, as long as it does not make you a rookie firefighter who thinks they know more than their officer and other senior firefighters.

If you want to be a firefighter, the first step is to apply for the job.

[Firemedic 61]

A Paramedic cert will trump both in getting hired.

100% without a doubt.

[Chappy6T]

Most departments that require a certain amount of college don't give a crap what the degree is in. My department requires 60 credits and they can be in gym class if you wanted. The way I have always looked at a degree is as a back up plan in case, god forbid, something happens and Im no longer able to be a firefighter. I say get a degree in what your interested so that if you have to you can fall back on that. Departments are going to teach you their way of doing things anyways so basically what you learn in college isnt going to mean a thing during your academy and your probie time. And absolutely the paramedic cert will get you a job quicker than a degree will.

[DennisTheMenace]

It must be sad working where yous guys are. First responder all the way

And in most(but not all) of those places where it is First Responder all the way, no amount of college is going to help you in the intial hireing process.

[DennisTheMenace]

^^^^^ whats that supposed to mean?

How many places have college credit requirements, or even provide points for credits, where they have only First Responders and not EMTs and Medics?

Your point is moot as neither college or a Medic Cert will likely help a kid get on the job in those places.

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

I think one of the great disservices that colleges offering Fire Science degrees do is not provide a clear picture of the potential career paths a FF candidate may take. In almost all hiring opportunities in NJ, the fire science degree, EMT-P, EMT-D or any other piece of paper has zero value in the hiring process. Kisd need to know that.

The Fire Science degree is extremely valuable in many other career endeavors. It is also used by career guys looking to study and bulk up their resume pre-promotion. It is also valuable in the post-retirement years.

A person should not go to college for a fire science degree solely to ge ton a FD. They should get the degree as insurance in case their career plans fail or to make them a more well-rounded person.

[Geinandputitout]

I think one of the great disservices that colleges offering Fire Science degrees do is not provide a clear picture of the potential career paths a FF candidate may take. In almost all hiring opportunities in NJ, the fire science degree, EMT-P, EMT-D or any other piece of paper has zero value in the hiring process. Kisd need to know that.

The Fire Science degree is extremely valuable in many other career endeavors. It is also used by career guys looking to study and bulk up their resume pre-promotion. It is also valuable in the post-retirement years.

A person should not go to college for a fire science degree solely to ge ton a FD. They should get the degree as insurance in case their career plans fail or to make them a more well-rounded person.

Well put................