Michigan Firefighter Training
Very specific guidelines must be met before becoming a firefighter in the state of Michigan, but a college degree is not required by the state. Firefighter training courses are regulated by the Office of Firefighter Training, part of the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth. Many community colleges in Michigan offer firefighter training, some of which combine firefighting and emergency medical technician training. For those not interested in obtaining a degree, hands-on and apprenticeship programs are offered by most fire departments.
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Fire Science/Basic EMT
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Fire Science/Basic EMT programs offer an associate's degree that provides the benefit of basic firefighting skills and emergency medical training in one program. Upon completion, the student will have the skills necessary for a career in a fire department that not only fights fires, but also runs an ambulance service to respond to emergencies and transport patients.
Fire Science Technology
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This type of degree program concludes with an Associate Degree in Applied Sciences, which includes firefighting training, and prepares a student for a career beyond fighting fires. This training program gives the basis for a career not only in firefighting, but also in fire investigation, industrial safety, fire prevention and engineering.
Fire Science Academy
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A Fire Science Academy provides all of the skills and knowledge necessary to become an entry-level firefighter with most fire or public safety departments. However, this type of program does not include emergency medical training.
Hands-on Training
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Many fire departments offer hands-on training through classroom and practical experience. Course work in this type of program includes firefighting technique, local building codes, emergency medical procedures, fire prevention and hazardous materials control. Students also learn the basics of working with axes, fire extinguishers, ladders and rescue equipment. Once the training program is complete, students are required to pass a written and physical exam before being hired as a firefighter.
Apprenticeship Programs
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Some fire departments in Michigan offer apprenticeship programs that may take as long as four years to complete. The program is much like the other training options, but some include programs in fighting forest fires as well. An apprenticeship program also includes a combination of classroom and on-the-job training while being supervised by experienced firefighters.
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