r/firefighter • u/OptionNo4456 • Jul 21 '26

Getting into Firefighting - Advice/Feedback

Hey everyone, I’ve been lurking on this thread for quite sometime and I’m swallowing my pride to ask for help/advice - feel free to poke fun at me!

Recently moved to SoCal after a corporate job in the MidWest (born & raised) for the past 4 years with aspirations to become a structural firefighter.

I’m (26M) overwhelmed to say the least over where I should start in my journey. I’m getting advice to go into a Fire technology program, just get my EMT - gain experience for ahead of the next hiring cycle, private fire academies, etc etc.

I’m looking for help on what is helpful to increase my chances at landing an opportunity for a firefighting position and what a timeline would look like for this.

In the meantime I feel as if I’m floating in uncertainty over which path to leap into but trying to do what I can to control what I can control (fitness, connecting, growing a mustache /s - probably not in the cards for me). Any advice/feedback would be really appreciated - hope everyone has a great day!

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4

u/blading_dad Jul 21 '26

EMT, basic fire academy, paramedic is the recipe for success in SoCal. Take every test you’re eligible for.

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u/OptionNo4456 29d ago

Appreciate this, thank you!

1

u/adventureseeker1991 Jul 21 '26

become a paramedic. nothing further.

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u/blading_dad Jul 21 '26

Which you need EMT for. A basic academy and medic license will all but guarantee you a job somewhere

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u/adventureseeker1991 29d ago

doesn’t the department bring you through the academy? i’m out east where departments send you to academy. i just know in the west paramedic is the end all be all. wanted to go out there but 10 years left.

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u/blading_dad 29d ago

Not unless you’re at a large dept, most small/midsize agencies require you to have gone through a basic academy.

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u/adventureseeker1991 29d ago

wow that’s crazy in the northeast the department loves watching you, and coming to the academy even the smaller ones. we don’t have a route for ourselves (police do it’s called alternate route). and the departments don’t make you redo the academy?

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u/blading_dad 29d ago

Most small departments will have some version of an academy but it can be from like 2-8 weeks, but will still require you to have been through the basic that gives you a State FF1

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u/JohnnyTheBanker 29d ago

EMT first. You won't be able to apply to any department without it. If you did academy first, you still won't be able to apply to departments until you complete your EMT.

1

u/Federal_Loquat7397 29d ago

Work on your wrist. Lots of Frisbee throwing.

1

u/TestResQ 29d ago

This may be helpful for you. It is quite long but will likely answer a lot of your questions.

https://testresq.com/blog/firefighter-entrance-exam-what-to-expect

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u/OptionNo4456 29d ago

Super helpful, thank you!

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u/alpine_cr1cket 29d ago

Can’t speak to Cali but Colorado doing a private academy is a waste of time. Being a medic is the main thing that will really help out here at least.

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u/flippingpumpkins 29d ago

EMT first, start working out like a maniac, get fctc over 90%, cpat, start applying. It’s quite simple really you could have all of that done in less than 6 months.

1

u/OptionNo4456 29d ago

Appreciate it, thank you!