How to become a firefighter
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
- a fire service training course
College
You could take a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Public Services before applying to the fire service, although this is not essential.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
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Apprenticeship
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 could train to be a firefighter in the Royal Air Force (RAF). You can find more information at:
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- GCSEs grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, in English and maths
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Volunteering
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.
Direct Application
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:
- an online test to assess your judgement ability in a realistic work setting
- number and reading tests
If you're successful, you'll:
- do practical selection tests to find out whether you can do the physical tasks needed for the job
- be interviewed
Other Routes
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.
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Career tips
Most fire services take on new recruits once every 12 months, so you'll need to find out when they are recruiting next.
Further information
You can ask your local fire and rescue service for a firefighter careers and recruitment pack.