One of the societies most noble professions out there is the firefighter’s job, which is to save people and their property against fire. To become a firefighter, you have to attend a firefighter school. There are a number of requirements you need to have to gain admission in to these institutions, but there are also questions you should answer before deciding whether this is the school for you.
When choosing a program or school to attend, you should ask yourself whether it is recognized by the province in which you wish to serve or get hired in. Also find out if it has IFSAC or Pro-Board Accreditation. Get to know what qualification you will attain after going through the training program. Some other considerations you may need to make is the number of students per class, whether the training is practical or just theory, the availability of facilities and equipment which are in good condition for training purposes and are relevant to today’s fast changing world.
The cost of training should be affordable and not so exaggerated. It should also be payable in easy installments. Some costs involved in the training involve tuition, books and supplies, meals, boarding fees, transportation, admission fees, and parking fees. Proper planning for these costs will ensure a smooth sail through the firefighting training program.
So, what are some of the requirements to join these firefighting programs and schools? The most basic one is physical fitness. You must be healthy enough to be allowed in to this program. Since you will be bestowed with responsibility to protect others and their properties, you need to be strong, mentally alert and of overall good health standings. Some major health requirements include perfect eye vision and physical fitness.
Age is also a factor, where by you must be 18 years and over to get admission. For the different courses available in relation to fire fighting training, and the level of training you wish to attain, you will also need certain education backgrounds. There are options for training on site, like in a school facility, or training off site like online training and distant learning. This gives the firefighting training a lot of flexibility.
What do you become after studying in a firefighting school? Some popular career options for firefighting certificate courses include forest fire fighters, fire prevention educators, smoke jumpers, municipal fire fighters, and fire fighter paramedics. With an advancement in studies, to either attain a diploma, apprenticeship training, an associate degree or a Bachelor’s degree in fire fighting, you may also become a fire prevention engineer, a fire inspector, fire investigator, fire fighters manager or a fire fighters supervisor.
One of the most interesting facts about a fire fighting career is its job security. This profession boasts a 99.7% retention rate. In other words, almost anyone who secures a job as a firefighter retains it without ever being laid off. You enjoy medical benefits, financial security and an early retirement plan.
A fireman’s work schedule is also very attractive, where you work 24 hours for 2 days per week making an average of 8 days a month. This means that you get an average 5 days off per week, which you can use for a supplementary job or an income generating activity. So, get out there and search for an ideal firefighter school and attend with confidence.
