Is It Hard to Become a Firefighter?

High-pressure water hoses are difficult to handle.

In 2008, there were 310,400 firefighters in the United States. About 90 percent work for local governments. While it's a growing career field, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, competition is still stiff as many qualified candidates are attracted to this job position.

Function

The trend is that more cities are converting volunteer firefighting positions to paid positions since it's becoming increasingly difficult to recruit and keep trained volunteers on staff. This route to becoming a professional firefighter has become far more limited.

Considerations

Minimum requirements for firefighters typically include a high school diploma, emergency medical technician certification, or EMT, and passing tests of physical stamina, agility, strength and coordination as well as health tests and written exams.

Significance

While the physical tests and exams eliminate a significant number of candidates, in most areas the number of qualified candidates far outnumber the available positions. Those with the highest scores, firefighting education or EMT training have the best odds of landing a job as a firefighter.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Firefighters
• DegreeFinders.com: How to Become a Firefighter