What Firefighter Training Courses should I take?
It's no secret that becoming a firefighter requires many different firefighter courses, classes and training. While there is no "one size fits all" when it comes to what firefighter courses you should take, in this article, I will break them down into simple to understand categories.
Please note - in this article, we will be concentrating on what firefighter training courses you can take. If you'd like to see a full list of requirements, please take a look at our "How to become a firefighter" article, found here.
Another important thing to mention when acquiring firefighter certifications and training is to pace yourself. It's more beneficial to stretch your training over time than to take everything at once and then stop taking courses.
This is a long and descriptive article, for your convenience - feel free to use the quick navigation to get to the section that matters to you.
Schooling for Firefighters - Minimum Requirements
Before we can get to selecting firefighter programs that will make us stand out, we must first meet the minimum requirements. We have found these requirements to be the most common courses and training required from municipal fire departments. Let's break them down one by one:
Schooling for Firefighters - Preferred Requirements
Here are some firefighter courses and training you can take to meet some of the preferred requirements. Again, these desired qualifications vary from one department to the other, so be sure to find out what the department is looking for. You can probably find historical requirements on your desired department here.
Schooling for Firefighters - Miscellaneous
Below you will find training courses that might also be helpful on your journey to becoming a firefighter. They are not your typical "firefighter courses" but are becoming increasingly more important to today's firefighter.
Other Important Things to Consider
Acquiring new firefighter certifications, courses and training are no doubt critical to your success in finding employment as a firefighter, but it's also important to consider the following to help through the recruitment process.
If you're applying for a Fire Department in Ontario, there is a good chance they will require either the Ontario Fire Administration Inc. (OFAI) or Fire Ontario certification.
Listed below are providers that can help you with the hands-on skills, the medical and the fitness portion of these tests.
Providers
Access Rescue - OFAI Skills Portion
Pulse Point Canada - OFAI Medical Portion
FitbyFire - OFAI Overall Fitness
The firefighter resume is arguably one of the most important steps in becoming a firefighter. It highlights and describes a career worth of work, volunteer experience, education, and certifications.
You need to ensure that all that money you spent on your journey to becoming a firefighter is properly represented in your documents.
Another wrench in this situation is that many of today's fire departments have specialized software for screening candidates.
The scary part is that even if you have the certification or qualification they are looking for, you might not get picked up if you don't have the keyword(s) they input in their search criteria.
For this reason, I highly recommend that before you send in your first application, you have a professional look over and fix your documents.
They will ensure you have the right keywords and, therefore, not waste the money you spend applying to your chosen department.
FireRecruitment.ca does provide this service, and it can be found here: Firefighter Resume and Cover Letter Service
Alright! The firefighter aptitude test. You sent in your resume and got invited to take part in their testing process, OR in Ontario, you want to pre-qualify with a service such as OFAI or FireOntario what do I need to know?
Well, here's a breakdown of the categories you might find during the recruitment process:
- Reading Ability
- Mathematical Reasoning
- Map Reading
- Writing Ability
- Human Relations (interpersonal skills, teamwork, commitment, honesty, integrity, emotional stability)
- Reasoning Skills (reasoning, vocabulary, mechanical aptitude, and spatial rotation)
To prepare for a test of this nature, I'd recommend an online practice test that you can practice at your own pace. If you're looking for something of this nature, I usually recommend this service: Practice Firefighter Aptitude Test
Make sure you're constantly scoring over 80% before challenging the firefighter aptitude test.
The Firefighter Mock Interview often gets overlooked when trying to become a firefighter. If you don't speak well or are uncomfortable speaking, you need to spend more time preparing.
There are many "techniques" that help you answer a question completely (see the S-T-A-R technique) , but if you're already unsure of what to say, these techniques will do you no good.
I recommend you make the investment in yourself and hire a tutor. They will help you prepare for situations that usually catch you off guard.
They might also catch some nervous ticks you're not aware of and walk you through the process - from the first handshake to the last handshake.
You can find more information on mock interviews and FireRecruitment's Mock Interview Service here.
**BONUS** - 20 Sample Firefighter Interview Questions
Why is a fitness program important for firefighters?
Firefighting is physically demanding work. A fitness program for firefighters helps them maintain their physical fitness and mental health. Firefighters need to be fit to perform their duties safely and effectively. Fit firefighters respond to emergencies with confidence and proficiency. A fitness program aids firefighters in avoiding injuries and fatigue during emergency situations.
Providers