Because of the competitive nature of firefighting, the more education you have, the better. While a high school diploma is generally the highest amount of education required to be a firefighter, your chances of getting a job increase if you’ve completed some college-level fire science courses or if you have earned an associate's degree in fire science or fire engineering.

As a new firefighter, chances are you’ll be trained through your department’s recruiting academy. Between classroom instruction and hands-on training, your instruction can last up to several weeks. During that time, you’ll learn various firefighting and fire-prevention techniques, how to handle hazardous materials, the principles of fire science, emergency medical procedures including first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and how to use a variety of firefighting tools and equipment. Once you complete the course, you’ll be assigned to a fire company within the fire department and enter a probationary period that can last anywhere from one to three years.

Once out of your probationary period, after you’ve gained a certain amount of field experience, you will be given the opportunity to gain more leadership responsibilities by advancing your rank within the department. After a series of mental and physical evaluations along with written and practical examinations, most firefighters are first promoted to engineers, and then up through the ranks to lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, assistant chief, deputy chief and chief.

In addition to knowledge of fire science and prevention, nearly all departments require some emergency medical certification from new recruits. Because personal injury so often accompanies fire-related emergencies, firefighters need to know how to respond accordingly. For this reason, most new recruits are trained as emergency medical technicians (EMTs), either through the academy or supplemental courses. Many departments require only the lowest level of certification, EMT-basic, but larger ones may require paramedic certification.

To help candidates secure firefighting jobs, a number of colleges and universities have begun offering degrees in fire science and fire engineering. During their course of study, students learn the history, laws, physics, chemistry and methods for fire prevention and gain plenty of practical experience. In addition to associate's degrees, many schools offer bachelor’s programs for firefighters who wish to one day rise to the rank of battalion chief, assistant chief, deputy chief or chief within their department. Some firefighters choose to take a further educational step by earning a master’s or doctorate in public administration, organizational management or criminal justice.

Another way to gain practical firefighting experience is to donate your time and services to a volunteer fire department. The valuable knowledge you can gain from working alongside seasoned firefighters can help set you apart from your competition. As a volunteer, you can work on a part-time or on-call basis, and you will receive the same amount of training as your full-time counterparts.

Why not get ahead of the fire science curve?  Contact your local fire department to learn what they require of their applicants. If you find that most recruits have some post-secondary instruction, start looking for online or on-campus courses in fire science and fire engineering.  Any education you receive will not be wasted and will significantly increase your chances of getting a job.