Requirements to Be a Firefighter in Michigan

Firefighters must have good upper body strength to handle heavy equipment.

Firefighters in the state of Michigan undergo extensive training in order to successfully combat building fires and safely rescue fellow citizens. To become a firefighter you must be able to make decisions quickly, work well under pressure, and display an unfailing ability to follow orders and think of the team before yourself. Without these qualities a firefighter is a danger to his fellow teammates and the people he is trying to protect.

Physical Requirements

Firefighter candidates must be at least 18 years old in Michigan. You must be able to pass all the physical firefighter tests, which includesconducting forcible entry while wearing a fire suit, simulated search and rescue missions, ladder ascension, and use of all applicable equipment such as water hoses and afireman's axe. Failure to perform any of these physical challenges more than once will wash a candidate out from class.

Written Exams

In Michigan candidates must pass the Firefighter I and II exams. They are administered after a 7- to 11-week course during which candidates are taught the varieties of fires that may be encountered in the field, extraction strategies for trapped victims, laws regarding firefighting, and other necessary knowledge. The test totals 200 questions with a successful passing grade of 70% or higher. Michigan.gov recommends that candidatesprepare for the exam by contacting the exam proctor to become familiar with the conditions the test will be administered under.

Required Hours of Volunteers and Paid Positions

According to Michigan.gov, volunteer firefighters candidates must have at least 66 hours of classroom learning in addition to any on-the-job training to qualify for the position. Candidates for full-time firefighter positions must log at least 240 hours in the classroom actively learning fire science in order to be considered. This classroom time may be part of the state administered curriculum of Firefighter I and II or may be through another accredited university in the state of Michigan. It is important to note that regardless of which curriculum is chosen, the state still administers the firefighter exams.

References

• State of Michigan: Firefighter Requirements
• State of Michigan: Office of Firefighter Training