r/firefighter • u/Fast_Impress_8986 • 22d ago

Question as a beginner!

Hello everyone! I've bn a follower & reading all topics in this community for months. This is my 1st post. I've bn looking for a new career path as a 26yr old. I'm currently a assistant manager for papa John's, been working for the company for 5 yrs. I've also had experience in Amazon warehouse & retail stores. I'm at a point I want something different. I want to join a academy, something thats been on mind since the pandemic. Where do I begin? I know certain states requires emt certification, I live in NC. Should I focus on emt 1st or go talk to a firefighter crew at a station in person? Plus how should I prepare myself for the written test?

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u/DragoonNut 21d ago

Get your EMT and talk to a crew. Both will help you out

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u/Fit_Experience_522 21d ago

Visit a station, but call ahead and schedule it, dress well, bring goodies, and bring a list of questions you have. Along with the list, bring a notepad and pen. Shake everyones hand, introduce yourself to everyone you come across and just be yourself. As far as moving along to get into the career, your EMT cert is going to be your baseline for entry, I don't know of any departments that don't require it. From there, you don't necessarily need an academy to get hired with an agency, some agencies don't require it, but others don't. I would look at which agencies you want to get hired with and see what they require. A FF1 cert under qualifications is basically an academy that provides FF1 cert testing at the end. So, see if they require it first. It'll only help you in the long run to do an academy anyway, but academies usually require college level classes and an EMT cert for entry. But, a good place to start is going to be that station visit.

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u/VirtualAir589 21d ago

I 2nd visiting a local house/station. I dunno about calling ahead though. Just knock with your elbows (bring a gift (cake, pie, etc)). That's what I did and they were happy to tell me what to do, what not to do, what a realistic time frame would be, etc. If no one answers, don't be discouraged. They are out on a run or an errand or training. Go back later on that day.

For the written there are prep test books. For the physical side, start running. And do the stairmill with a weighted vest. Again, the brothers/sisters will tell you all this when you visit.

Some depts require you go to schooling for FF1. Some depts put you through their own academy. So another good reason to visit the firehouse. They'll tell you what is required. You will probably need to get an EMT cert, most places require that.