Firefighters help to protect people from fire and other dangers, and give advice on fire prevention.
£22,000 Starter
to£42,000 Experienced
41 to 43 a week
evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts
You can get into this job through:
You could take a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Public Services before applying to the fire service, although this is not essential.
You'll usually need:
You may be able to start training on an operational firefighter advanced apprenticeship.
You'll need to be employed by a fire service to do this.
You'll usually need:
Volunteering or working in a support role, for example emergency call handling or fire safety, will give you an idea of what the job is like, as well as access to internal vacancies.
You can apply directly to join the fire service. Each one sets its own entry requirements.
Many ask for GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths, or equivalent qualifications.
You'll need to pass:
If you’re successful, you'll:
You could prepare to apply for a job by doing a Level 2 Certificate in Fire and Rescue Services in the Community. This course is usually run by local fire services and is aimed at people who have some responsibility for fire safety, like housing wardens and fire prevention officers.
Most fire services take on new recruits once every 12 months, so you’ll need to find out when they are recruiting next.
You can ask your local fire and rescue service for a firefighter careers and recruitment pack.
You'll need:
You'll need to:
Every day will be different, but you could be:
You could work at a fire station, at a client's home or at a client's business.
Your working environment may be at height, physically and emotionally demanding and cramped.
You may need to wear safety clothing and a uniform.
All fire services have a programme that lets you plan and track your career development.
You could work your way up to crew manager, watch manager or station manager. If you're prepared to move between services, you could also become an area manager, a brigade manager or a chief fire officer.
If you're involved in fire safety and prevention work, you can take professional qualifications leading to membership of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE).
You could also get a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) licence for driving fire engines.
The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.
Received your exam results? Speak to a careers adviser for advice on the options available to you.
Call 0800 100 900 from 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week.
Calls are free from landlines and most mobile numbers.
Follow us on Twitter for more support.
Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.
Call 0800 100 900 or use webchat
8am to 10pm, 7 days a week
More ways to contact us