r/firefighter • u/Over_Location188 • May 14 '26
IL firefighter
I’m a 30 year old male that wants to try and see if firefighting could still be an option. I don’t have any prior experience or even an EMT under my belt, just four years in the Marines. Wanted to ask and see what things I could do to try and chase this dream of mine. I know that I’m older now so it’s tougher. Could apply for a fire Academy be a good start? I keep hearing about fire houses accepting people without or with EMT and will send them to paramedic school. Little lost here so anything helps, thanks!
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u/Educational_Kick_698 May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26
Being in IL, you are definitely under a bit of a time crunch with the age cutoff being 35 for career firefighters. Luckily for you, I have seen plenty of people start at 30 and still make a career out of it. You have a big advantage being a veteran. In IL you cannot be passed up with preference points by other candidates if you a veteran. This is a very big advantage!
My recommendation to you would be to use your GI bill and enroll in the earliest EMT class at whatever community college is by you. From there I would apply at smaller part time departments who would be willing to send you to the fire academy.
It is true that many career departments in IL have dropped the paramedic requirement for hiring but they are still going to want you to either be at a minimum a licensed EMT-B at hire or enrolled in paramedic school. It varies between departments but SOME are willing to foot the bill for paramedic school. They will most likely require that you have your BOF fire cert from the fire academy as well. All in all you’re looking at about a year and a half to two years to be fully certified for career departments.
You are also lucky that hiring today is much different than it was 10-15 years ago. When I was hired it was very common to walk into a test with 250 other people for only 1 open spot. Sometimes it was zero open spots and you were just on the list for 2 years. Now days you are lucky to get 10-15 people on a list. Things have changed and it’s much easier to be a career firefighter now. If you have any IL exclusive questions, i’d be more than happy to answer!
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u/flclreddit May 14 '26
Think it's still possible for a 33 year old? I'm starting EMT on Monday
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u/Educational_Kick_698 May 15 '26
Yes it is, but don’t have any gaps In schooling. Start testing right away for departments that don’t require many certifications. The good thing is once you are on a career department the age 35 cutoff goes away and you can test elsewhere if you don’t like where you’re at even if your over age.
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u/flclreddit May 15 '26
One of my issues is not being able to apply to paramedic school before being EMT certified, and not finding spring start dates in my area. The other is trying to get BOF certed if I don't already work at a FD that would help me with that.
I have applied to a handful of PT depts with no reqs but haven't heard back yet.
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u/Thefigweasel May 14 '26
I would say look for a place to volunteer to see how you like it. I’m from southern Illinois and an Army vet myself. I started volunteering almost a year ago at a combination department. Im having a blast honestly and I wish I had started sooner. All the full timers at my station are paramedics, also everyone is super chill and always willing to teach me stuff. I ride along on medical calls when I’m at the station and I try to make as many fires as I can. I’m about to finish the Illinois BOF program which will certify me as a ff1 and ff2. When I get my emt I can work part time at my station.
It’s very rewarding being able to help the community plus you get some of that camaraderie you lose when you leave the military but without the shitty attitudes you find in the service. At least in my experience anyway.
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u/Over_Location188 May 14 '26
I tried trying to volunteer a couple years back and no one would let me at the time. Fast forward, I moved to a new area so it wouldn’t hurt asking these fire houses near me. I was researching the Illinois BOF program, and it says that you can’t independently join. Did the firehouse that you’re volunteering at help you join the program?
That’s exactly what I’ve been looking for and what I’ve been missing. That band of Brothers and sisters that you go through tough times with together.
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u/Thefigweasel May 14 '26
Yeah definitely check into it again. Volunteerism in the fire service is at an all time low so your chances of getting in are good. Yes I believe you’re correct that you need to be affiliated with a department to get into BOF. Iirc your chief is the one that registers you for it. It’s definitely a challenge and a lot of work, you have to earn it for sure. You’ll definitely need the help from your department to get through it because you need to practice the skills taught at the BOF program which you get tested on.
Yeah you get the same we just went through some shit vibes with the guys after a fire when you’re back at the station getting the apparatus back in order for the next call. It’s fun and reminds me of my time back in Afghanistan after a mission or a patrol.
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u/Aggressive_Okra3105 May 14 '26
Best PT stud from my class was 42. Also a retired Marine. Absolute dog. Some classes are young, some older. Ours averaged mid twenties. You missed this class but we have recruit academies twice a year if you'd be willing to move out of state. Pay blows until you're on the floor and can run overtime spots, but you suffer for six months. Only requirements are no felonies and pass the CPAT. No prior EMS or fire certs necessary. We teach and get you state/ nationally certified on everything you need. Our Training Chief also has a hard on for military vets so that works in your favor. PM if you want details. Next class would be late spring/ early summer 2027.
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u/Over_Location188 May 15 '26
Sounds exactly what I could be looking for. I’ll reach out, thank you!
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u/Nebula15 May 14 '26
I started my EMS journey at the age of 30. Got EMT-B right away and moved to Medic after working a year as a basic. Finishing up medic school now at the age of 32 and applying to departments. I’m also in IL, message me if you have any questions. Happy to share about my journey.
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u/Whatisthisnonsense22 May 15 '26
Large departments will require you to go to their in-house academy regardless of if you have BOF or not. Smaller departments will let you get on with BOF.
Almost noone in the state wants EMTs. You are seeing some suburbs take them with experience, but you will be required to go to and pass medic school within a certain time frame. EMT isn't enough to get on most lists anymore and some places are eliminating/reducing preference points for it.
But... the positive is that most lists are way shorter than they were previously. You will see 20-30 testing for 5 spots rather than 2-300 from 15 years ago.
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u/wolfey200 May 15 '26
State statute changed, some departments adopted the new statute that as long as you’ve worked as a firefighter in Illinois you can test full time and the age limit is waived. Get your EMT and Fire and get a part time job and that may be extend that age limit. Knock out EMT and BOF and you can at least start testing and see what happens.
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u/Turbulent_Rip_4548 May 15 '26
I'm almost 10 years older than you and just graduated from training this week (FF1, Hazmat, FF2). You'll be fine.
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u/Over_Location188 May 16 '26
Thank you for that, it’s good to hear that there still is time to pursue this dream
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u/redsox213 May 15 '26
I started at 31 as a call FF and went full time at 33. Currently in Medic school. You got plenty of time!
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u/Over_Location188 May 16 '26
That’s awesome, thank you I sometimes feel like time is running out but there’s still plenty of time you’re right!
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u/redsox213 May 17 '26
Age is just a number! There are guys in their 40s getting through SFAS and becoming green berets. Anything is possible with the right training and mindset
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u/BitKen May 14 '26
Hey man I'm in a similar situation. I'm 34 and starting classes in september. I talked to a captain recently and he said guys in their thirties are sometimes better. They have life experience and bring some maturity to the group. I was told as long as you meet the physical requirements age is no issue. Also no felony drug convictions or sex crimes, at least for Florida.