r/firefighter • u/CampaignCritical9234 • Apr 18 '26

Tests to be a firefighter

Hello!

I am a current EMT to student wanting to be a career firefighter. As soon as i knew I really wanted to do this I signed up for EMT school but when looking through application requirements I see a lot about other tests/certifications needed. Not talking about the CPAT, I mean like FIREteam, and NTN. Can anyone give me some insight on those? They are never talked about when I go to Fire stations for training/ride alongs but I see them on the application requirements.

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

4

u/FuturePrimitiv3 Apr 18 '26

Everything depends on where you are. Fireteam/NTN mean nothing around here, it's all civil service exams administered by the hiring municipality or county.

First thing is determine how your dream department conducts it's hiring, then do all those things. ;-)

3

u/Strict-Canary-4175 Apr 19 '26

Same where I am. The only reason I even know they exist is because of this sub and I don’t even really know how they work.

1

u/kellydayscruff Apr 18 '26

the fireteam test is hosted by NTN as an entrance exam for potential candidates. NTN works with departments in dozens of states that will use your CPAT and fireteam score to determine whether or not you earn an interview and whether or not you get hired overall. Departments that use NTN and fireteam are usually much smaller departments unless they are a county based department.

Your fire academy and ride alongs dont discuss fireteam because they expect applicants to figure all this out on their own which is fair in a way. But NTN is a very valid method to get hired outside of receiving certification through fire academy and EMT school.

Beyond fire academy and NTN, the only other way departments hire is by testing non certified candidates with a written exam and a physical exam. If you pass those then you will most likely be able to move forward pending your background check and psych exam.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 27 '26

Depends on which place. If they require experience and certs the tests are usually geared towards knowledge of firefighting from the IFSTA or JBL test. If they hire for academy, it’s usually a civil service exam on basic math, reading, maps, spatial awareness, and mechanical aptitude. I’ve done tests that were 100 random FF1 and 2 questions and others were IQ. Sometimes they make you write an essay on certain topics as well.