How Much Does It Cost To Become A Firefighter?

Firefighting is a dream career for many people, but many are left wondering how much does it cost to become a firefighter?

As soon as many recruits are old enough to join up, they want to be right there on the front line serving their community and helping out where they can. There is often the misconception that it is an easy route from applying to becoming a qualified firefighter.

This doesn’t consider the costs involved (both time and money) in getting those qualifications and doing everything required to become a firefighter.

So, how much does it cost to become a firefighter?

You can expect to spend anywhere from $5,000-$25,000 or more depending on the school and what courses you take.  This will be determined on whether you take a basic 10-week training program for a basic firefighting certification or you attend a university for a bachelor’s degree in fire science and emergency management. 

In this guide, I want to look at the different costs involved in the different routes that you can take to become a firefighter in your local department. If you apply with no previous training or experience, what sort of expenses can you expect as you go through the training process with a fire department?

If you decide to get a college education first, how much will this cost, and it is worthwhile? I will answer these questions with a general idea of fees for courses, training and equipment.

Costs to Become A Firefighter Through A College/University

The academic route has its pros and cons when it comes to the expenses and the benefits gained.

Pros:

• The tuition is high because of the quality of the courses and the additional experiences gained
• The longer courses can prepare students for high-paying careers in the future
• There are much lower rates for in-state students if you want to learn in your home state.
• You may get help with student loans that you can repay once you are earning in the fire service

Cons:

• The costs are significantly higher than those of the fire academies and training schools
• There are additional living costs of studying out of town

The first thing that you have to consider here is the cost of a degree or certificate course in terms of tuition. How much do you have to pay per year for all of your classes and tuition from the teachers involved?

This cost varies between institutions depending on what they can offer in return and their reputation. A state university may be more expensive than a community college.

Also, the longer the course, the higher the fees. Shorter certificates and associate degrees can lessen the costs if you only want the most basic skills for an entry-level position. Many certificate programs last for a year while the associate degrees can take two years to complete.

You can turn this into a bachelor’s in four years. Your college costs overall will also depend on the costs of housing and living in the area if you move to the campus to study. Will you stay in cheaper dorms on campus or somewhere off-campus? How much can you budget for each semester?

An alternative to consider that can lower the costs considerably is an online course. This reduces the costs of tuition because you don’t attend a classroom and work on modules in your own time.

There is also no cost of living, in the traditional sense, because you can study from your own home. The courses might not be as extensive, but they could help with valuable course credits and knowledge towards those first exams.

How much can you expect to pay?

Students that studying in the 2017/18 year paid, on average, $34,740 for private education and $25,620 for public education. It is also worth remembering that out-of-state students tend to pay more, but this might not be a problem if you intend to learn and work in your home state.

Public institutions charged roughly $9,970 for in-state students. Recent stats show that the average out-of-state cost for Fire Science is a little more, with an estimated average four-year degree total cost of $131,976. However, this can vary greatly from state to state.

Therefore, you have a couple of options here. You can stick with a cheaper in-state course at your state university or you can look elsewhere and find a good deal for a better course elsewhere.

So, is the higher cost of these courses worthwhile compared to the costs of fire academy training?

Some would argue that it makes sense to spend a little more here for a full education in management and administration, or a full fire science degree program. That is because of the benefits it can bring for your long-term career path and future salary.

The skills and knowledge gained here apply to roles higher up the ranks in the department than that of a firefighter. Those that wish to apply for promotion when the time comes can use their degree in their application and apply their knowledge to issues within the department.

This rise to Lieutenant, Captain or Chief means a much higher salary which then pays off any student debt and helps firefighters achieve their goals.

Also, you may get more for your money if you opt for a college course in terms of the facilities, modules and overall experience. Fire sciences university courses can cost more if they have state-of-the-art fire labs and any other tech that you will use.

Costs to Become A Firefighter Through A Fire Academy

It is easy to see the financial benefits of a short-course at a fire academy because of the upfront fees and the short time-frame before becoming a firefighter. However, there are additional costs and considerations involved.

Pros:

• The courses are short and get recruits into entry-level employment faster
• The fees to sign up are significantly less than those of colleges
• There is the potential to reclaim some of the costs under certain circumstances

Cons:

• The upfront costs can be a problem for some young recruits
• There are additional costs to consider for food, housing, equipment and gear

There are many fire academies and training departments in each state where you can gain the basic education needed to become a qualified firefighter. The skills gained generally apply to the Firefighter 1 and 2 certifications.

Some may also provide training in the way of EMT training from the outset. This gives recruits just enough to pass their exams and move on into a higher rank as a firefighter. The courses here can last for various lengths of time. Some are intense and over in a matter of weeks while others take months.

In many academies and training divisions, qualified firefighters can return later in their careers to take specialist courses and examinations in other disciplines. This is essential for those that need to know more about wildland fire training, rope access, water rescue or a host of other skills. These courses will require additional fees.

Additional Costs To Becoming a Firefighter

The fees for signing up to these shorter academy courses is a lot less. However, there are a lot of other costs to factor in that some new recruits might not think about.

There are the costs of the books, equipment and the fire gear used during the course. You have to purchase your own protective gear (although you may be able to rent some from the academy).

Then there are the costs of staying on-site during the course and the cost of living. Some facilities, such as the National Fire Academy, have a very basic approach with meal tickets and simple boarding for your duration there. This is the cheapest option but not always the most appealing.

Those that don’t want to eat this way must stay off-campus, which increases the costs further. There is also the fact that these academies are often a long way from home, which requires transportation costs. You may need to fly in.

Reimbursements are available for some students. This is a lot of money to pay upfront when trying to get your career off the ground.

The good news for some recruits is that there are stipend reimbursements of some costs for transportation and housing, which can lighten the financial burden significantly.

This applies to all those that are currently part of a fire or emergency management organization – even in a volunteer department. It also applies to those that are members of state or local government or a tribal nation.

Costs of Firefighter Exams/Certifications

Whichever route you take, you will need to take the same nationally-accredited exams to become certified for firefighting. There is a standard flat rate that all firefighters must pay to take an exam.

Firefighter 1 and 2 courses are typically $50 each. The same price applies to the EMT skills test that is expected by many departments. Then there is the CPAT test during the hiring process that is between $140-150.

Costs will vary depending on location and facility.

The best advice that I can give to anyone looking to join the fire service is to research all potential costs and save where possible. Those that want to join the fire service straight out of high school through a local training program need to be aware of local costs and expectations.

Can you pay for this upfront? Don’t forget about the costs of equipment and gear when training.

If you want to get a college degree first, consider the upsides of studying locally and the pros and cons of a full bachelor’s degree. Compare costs because there can be a big difference between colleges.

As long as you do your research and budget carefully, you can cover all the costs of becoming a firefighter in a way that suits you. There is no fixed cost until you get to your final exams. Until then, you do have more freedom over your choices than you may think.

The post How Much Does It Cost To Become A Firefighter? appeared first on FirefighterNOW.

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From https://catherinelee4.blogspot.com/2019/11/how-much-does-it-cost-to-become.html

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How To Become A Firefighter In Kentucky

For those aspiring firefighters living in the Bluegrass State, how to become a firefighter in Kentucky is a question commonly asked. 

The commonwealth of Kentucky, as it is often known, is a state famous for its culture and landscape. Some of the best of America’s folk music, racehorses and alcoholic beverages come from the rural communities of Kentucky.

There is a lot of history and heritage to protect from fire, flood and other disasters, so naturally Kentucky needs the very best firefighters training in its academies and colleges running its fire stations.

How To Become A Firefighter In Kentucky

• 18 years or older
• High school diploma or GED
• A valid state driver’s license
• Pass a background check
• Pass a physical agility test
• A US citizen with residency in Kentucky

As you can see the bare minimum requirements here are quite straightforward in terms of age, certification and physical fitness.

However, the process can become more complicated as it progresses. Further screening processes, drug tests and firefighter interviews weed out the best candidates from the rest.

Some departments also have specifics within their policies that may exclude certain applicants.

In this guide, I want to highlight some of the issues with these policies, the challenges facing those that are eligible and the training opportunities available. I will also talk about a few of the major fire departments in the state.

Firefighting in Kentucky

Kentucky fire departments stretch right across the state dealing with emergencies on different scales.

There are intense industrial blazes and major incidents in cities as well as all of the floods, wildfires and disaster relief out in the countryside.

All Kentucky fire recruits must have skills across many disciplines to handle anything that they encounter. This means wildland training, emergency drills and experience with different hazardous materials.

One aspect of firefighting in Kentucky that sets it apart from the other states in the country is the number of bourbon distilleries.

Naturally, if one were to develop a fault or a blaze then it becomes a major risk to life in the area because of the high alcohol content.

95% of American Bourbon comes from Kentucky with 73 licensed distilleries offering different brands and supplying to countless retailers across the world. Eight of those are in the Bardstown area alone.

A recent fire at one of the Jim Beam warehouses showed just how intense and rapid these fires can be. The blaze was extreme and difficult for crews to control.

One thing that I want to talk about here is the slightly old-fashioned policies and viewpoints held by fire departments in Kentucky.

All new recruits must realize that while the fire service is an equal opportunities employer, there are fewer female firefighters than usual.

Kentucky does allow for women recruits as much as men. However, women can’t feel as though they are at a disadvantage.

The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights challenged the manual of the Louisville department over statements about female recruits that “overtly discourage women”.

Female applicants can read the arguably patronizing wording of the chief here and make up their own minds. It may actually encourage many to prove him wrong.

Then there is a requirement in the rules of the Bardstown district that I need to highlight.

Elsewhere on this site, you will find guides that I have written about the image of the firefighter and the acceptance of beards in fire departments.

Many stations are happy to be lenient on tattoos and a small amount of facial hair because of cultural and religious rights.

However, Bardstown Fire Department is one that insists that their employees follow their grooming policy. This means being clean-shaven and “maintaining a positive public image”.

It seems as though they are of the impression that a respectable, approachable public servant still looks a certain way.

Fire Academies In Kentucky

Whatever your race, religion or gender – or your personal appearance – all firefighter applicants in Kentucky need to have the right level of training to proceed in their career.

The good news for aspiring firefighters looking to begin their career is that the state has fire courses and fire academies in many major towns and cities. They include:

Louisville: Jefferson Community and Technical College

Somerset: Somerset Community College

Bowling Green: South Central Kentucky Community and Technical College and Bowling Green Technical College

Richmond: Eastern Kentucky University

Highland Heights: Northern Kentucky University

Lexington: Bluegrass Community and Technical College

Florence: Gateway Community and Technical College

Ashland: Ashland Community & Technical College

Hazard: Hazard Community and Technical College

Versailles: Kentucky Community & Technical College System

Jefferson Community and Technical College in Louisville is a good starting point for all those that don’t have prior firefighting experience.

You can enroll in this Fire Science program as a complete novice and pick up key skills and knowledge.

Those in volunteer roles can use this associate degree to help them progress into a paid career role. Those in entry-level paid positions can use this as part of their training credits and advance within their department.

The course requires 18 credit hours of coursework and 46 credit hours of specialist fire/rescue/EMS classes. You can learn more about this degree here.

Another form of firefighter training to consider if you’re wondering how to become a firefighter in Kentucky is the state fire rescue program.

Here trainees can learn more about what it takes to coordinate an emergency response to a major incident in the state. This includes a chance to look at the roles of fire departments but also those of the police, medical responses, government agencies and other specialist rescue teams.

These training sessions could prove useful for those in a managerial role or those looking to increase their skills.

The initiative runs through 14 different offices in Kentucky so there should be an opportunity near you. You can find out more about this higher education option here.

Major Fire Departments in Kentucky

There are many departments scattered throughout Kentucky. Some will experience more urban incidents, such as commercial fires, while others are more rural nearer to the mountains.

How to Become a Louisville, KY Firefighter

• 18 years or older
• High school diploma or GED
• A valid state driver’s license
• Pass a background check
• Pass a physical agility test
• A US citizen with residency in Kentucky
• No felony convictions or multiple misdemeanors

I have to start with Louisville because it is the largest department in one of Kentucky’s most populated cities.

A job here will bring new recruits plenty of experience with all kinds of emergencies and accidents. In fact, the department claims that its more than 500 members can handle as many as 50,000 incidents in a year.

Upon passing the minimum requirements outlined above, you need to undertake a written exam, a physical agility test, background check and pass a polygraph.

All successful candidates then enter the department’s 27-week training program at the Louisville Fire Training Academy.

How to Become A Bardstown, KY Firefighter

• Good physical condition
• New recruits must complete 24 hours of standby at the station every month
• Must meet 18 hours of training per quarter
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Pass a background check and medical exam
• Adhere to department grooming policy which includes being clean shaven and maintaining a positive public image

I want to mention Bardstown in this guide because of the incident at the Jim Beam warehouse and all those distilleries at risk. Recruits here need to be skilled and ready to handle anything.

Training is essential and new recruits should engage in additional training courses and advanced skills as they progress through their career. In fact, department officers state that new recruits must engage in 24 hours of standby per month and 18 hours of training per quarter.

Aside from the issue mentioned before about “positive public image”, the rules for joining the Bardstown service are pretty much the same as most departments.

Job Prospects for Firefighters In Kentucky

As of 2018, the Bureau for Labor Statistic states that there were 4240 firefighters in Kentucky, which means a ratio of 2.24 per 100 jobs.

The annual mean wage was calculated as $33,520.

This is interesting when we consider the current rates in Louisville. Here, recruits can expect to get the following: $18,357 as an entry-level basic firefighter, $58,529 as an expert level basic firefighter and then $83,435 for an expert fire officer.

This shows the opportunities for progression in one department alone. The lower mean figure probably accounts for all the lower-paid salaries in smaller cities and towns.

Louisville is the capital after all. It is interesting to compare these figures to Tennessee to the south.

This neighbor state has a similar rate of employment – fair but not the best – but offered a higher mean in this period of $40,280.

If you’re wondering how to become a firefighter in Kentucky, just know it isn’t easy. The state rules and minimum department expectations mean that there are plenty of criteria to meet and processes to work through.

Some hopeful volunteers may find it more difficult than others. The rules on beards and language addressing women aren’t ideal for modern departments. Yet, there are plenty of opportunities for men and women of all backgrounds to train, build knowledge and progress in their career.

As long as you continue to work on your skills while maintaining that professional image, you should do pretty well in Kentucky.

The post How To Become A Firefighter In Kentucky appeared first on FirefighterNOW.

from FirefighterNOW https://firefighternow.com/how-to-become-a-firefighter-in-kentucky/

From https://catherinelee4.blogspot.com/2019/10/how-to-become-firefighter-in-kentucky.html

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How To Become A Firefighter In Louisiana

The state of Louisiana poses several natural threats to its citizens. How to become a firefighter in Louisiana is a question posed by many aspiring firefighters in the state.

Flood warnings and major storms are a common problem, especially for those living near the delta and major flood plains.

The fire departments in Louisiana have their work cut out to handle major incidents including these floods, fires and other accidents across the state. It takes a good character and a lot of skill to become a qualified firefighter here.

How To Become A Firefighter In Louisiana

• High school diploma or GED
• Pass civil service exam and TABE examination
• Valid driver license
• Pass a background check

The requirements above are all pretty basic and apply to the majority of applicants looking to start as a firefighter in volunteer and career departments.

But, career departments, especially in major cities, can have far more expectations.

Below I will talk about some of the screening and testing that you might be subjected to in some departments. I will also talk about the training opportunities and some of the bigger city departments in the state.

Screening and testing processes in Louisiana

Screening processes in this state can be a grueling process that requires a lot of patience and a strong character.

Officials in many major fire departments will carry out a range of academic, physical and character tests to see how well candidates perform under pressure.

Following the standard civil service exam, recruits must handle the TABE test.

In a way, this overrides a small portion of the high school diploma requirement because they need to see your current levels of aptitude. You must prove you have 12th grade English and 10th grade math skills.

Then there is an 11 event physical ability test (CPAT) and a long firefighter interview process. During this time there is also drug screening, psychological screening and a background check for any criminal activity.

Some departments are tougher than others with their application process.

A good example of this is Baton Rogue, which likes to employ people with a lot of experience and education qualifications whenever possible.

They need the best and brightest from the start to avoid the need for too much on-the-job training. In this case, the department prefers to see people with a college education.

Therefore, those that have the desire to progress with a career position in this city – or any other major department – may be better off enrolling in a college course.

Also, Monroe requires a score of 75 on the Civil Service Entrance Exam. The standard passing score is 70 so they have much higher expectations for their new recruits.

Another point to raise here is how tough some departments are on physical ability and age.

For example, the Monroe Fire Department says that you have to be above 18 but no older than 37 when submitting your application. They don’t say why 37 is the cut-off age. There does have to be an upper limit on some physically demanding roles.

However, there are plenty of fit, intelligent 37-year-olds in Louisiana that are prepared to put in the training and college education for a change in career.

Firefighting in Louisiana

Firefighters here will have to handle many of the standard emergencies that all new recruits train for. All towns and cities will deal with major emergencies in the form of large fires, vehicle accidents and other life-threatening situations.

In Louisiana, this also means flooding. Flood defense and fire services in Louisiana are a crucial part of the fire service here.

Floods are a common problem in Louisiana and crews must remain on stand-by during times of bad weather. A bad flood can lead to the displacement of communities and evacuation procedures, as well as the need to pump the water out of streets and properties.

Any department in a flood plain must employ staff with the skills to handle this type of situation.  

Fire Academies in Louisiana

Many new recruits will go straight into their firefighter 1 and other essential training programs after passing their recruitment tests.

Others will need to have some basic skills and EMT certification first.

Monroe recruits get to enjoy what the department calls a “vigorous” military style training program for 18 weeks. Training options will depend on your current role and location.

You could train with your department or at a fire academy. There are also colleges across Louisiana that offer higher education in fire science. Associate degrees and other college credits are great in competitive districts where departments favor those with more knowledge.  

The following is a list of fire academies and colleges that offer firefighter training and certifications.

New Orleans: Delgado Community College

Shreveport: Southern University at Shreveport

Bridge City: Jefferson Parish Fire Training Center

Baton Rouge: LSU Fire and Emergency Training Institute

Eunice: Louisiana State University Eunice

New Orleans students can take part in a Fire Science Technology program at Delgado Community College.

Over at the Fire and Emergency Training Institute in Baton Rouge, there is a more intensive process. The Carrol L. Herring Fire & Emergency Training Institute covers 80 acres of land as part of the LSU campus.

It carries plenty of specialist training equipment to help new students learn about basic fire fighting skills.

There is also advanced technical training for hazardous materials, management skills and more. Options vary from the three-hour classes to the fourteen-week course. You can find out more about this opportunity by checking out this link.

Major Fire Departments in Louisiana

The following is a list of major fire departments in Louisiana and the requirements to apply and join each fire department.

How to Become A New Orleans Firefighter

• High school diploma or GED
• Pass civil service exam and TABE examination
• Valid driver license
• Pass a background check

I can’t start this section without discussing the most robust city of them all. New Orleans has one of the biggest fire departments in the state of Louisiana because of its population, density and location.

This vibrant city is packed full of residents and tourists and fire crews must be on call at all times to attend emergencies.

This is a city that loves a good carnival and late-night party and these residents and tourists all need round-the-clock protection.

How to Become A Baton Rouge Firefighter

• High school diploma or GED
• Pass civil service exam and TABE examination
• Valid driver license
• Pass a background check

The Baton Rouge fire department has a great claim to fame in that it was the first-ever to achieve the Class 1 rating.

Since then it has worked hard to maintain these standards and create a skilled, professional department. This isn’t surprising as it is the state capital.

The size of the city means that fire crews here need to look after around 225,370 people in a space of 85.93 square miles.

That is a densely packed area that is at risk of fire and flood. This is a department that will keep new candidates on their toes and set them up for a long career.

Learn more about their operations by following this link.

How to Become A Monroe, LA Firefighter

• High school diploma or GED
• Pass civil service exam and TABE examination
• Valid driver license
• Pass a background check

Baton Rouge isn’t the only highly-rated department in the state.

Louisiana also boasts enough Class 1 department in Monroe – giving it two of only 46 such departments in the country.

There are numerous divisions here including investigative, operations, prevention and training divisions.

The city may be smaller with around 48,000 people in an area of 32.55 square miles. But, it is home to a great training academy that could be a good place for new applicants to start out.

Learn more about the Monroe Fire Department here.

Job prospects for firefighters in Louisiana

There are pros and cons when looking at the job prospects for firefighters in Louisiana.

On the plus side, there are lots of positions in the state when looking at the number of available jobs. There were 3.25 firefighter jobs per 1000 people in 2018, which meant 6220 employed crew members.

This means large, well-staffed departments across the state that will always be on the lookout for fresh faces.

The downside here is that the average salary doesn’t reflect the amount of work that these firefighters have to deal with.

The mean annual wage here was just $30,600 for 2018.

To put that in a little more context, neighboring firefighters in Texas got an average of $52,520.

Then there is the city of Baton Rogue. This is slightly higher in Baton Rouge where the starting salary is currently set at $31,626 annually.

All new recruits should be aware that there is the potential for an additional $6,000 each year from the State of Louisiana.

This is a significant bonus for firefighters here and it shows how valued they are.

However, this is only available when recruits finish all of their training and probationary periods.

https://www.brla.gov/913/BRFD-Employment

In short, if you’re wondering how to become a firefighter in Louisiana, the hard work and strong expectations never diminish when you start your career here.

The initial application process is long as departments do their best to pick the best candidates and weed out those with unfavorable characteristics.

Once you make the cut, there is a lot of training ahead of you. It is important to learn as many skills as possible to progress with your career here and succeed in the department.

This means advanced knowledge of fire rescue and prevention but also work with flood emergencies.

Thankfully, there are lots of accredited colleges and fire academies to help you on this journey. Life as a Louisiana firefighter isn’t easy, but it is sure to be rewarding.

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From https://catherinelee4.blogspot.com/2019/10/how-to-become-firefighter-in-louisiana.html

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