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I'm so lost
I wanted to know if anyone could help me figure out what i should do. I am a junior in high school and i want to become a paid firefighter because I love the fire service. i am currently a fire explorer and i plan on joining my department as a volunteer firefighter at 18 (department is paid and volunteer) my parents insist that what ever i do i must go to college and i don't know what type of degree to get and wanted to know what degrees do most firefighters have and if you guys have any other suggestions for what i should do to help me along in becoming a firefighter later on in life.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Smoke Eater on
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A fire science degree would be helpful
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Permalink Reply by William McKinnon on
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yeah i thought so but what if they dont have that degree?
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Permalink Reply by Timothy Overly on
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Management, if you want to be an Officer, could be helpful.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Ward on
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William:
Firefighters have a WIDE variety of degrees, from no college to PhDs. Many have fire science degrees (associates or bachelors) because it assists them when preparing for promotional exams. Most fire departments do NOT require a college degree to start a municipal career.
Are you going away to college or attending a local school?
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im wanting to stay in state (GA) for school b/c of money but i am open to out of state
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"Can I Get College Credit for ....?"
text from the following webpage (HERE) that was updated April 2007.
you should also check Firehouse.com website http://forums.firehouse.com/ , search for threads with the phrase "college degree."
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF "FIRE SCIENCE DEGREE" PROGRAMS
Assistant Professor Michael J. Ward
The George Washington University
former Fire Science Program Head, Northern Virginia Community College
There is a huge amount of diversity in "fire science" academic programs. From community college credit for Firefighter I to graduate engineering and hard science PhDs from research universities.
FOUR-YEAR FIRE SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAMS
There are three flavors of a four-year "fire science" bachelor degree.
FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEERING
The most academic challenging is the Fire Protection Engineering degree that is offered at the University of Maryland (College Park) and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, MA). These degrees are similar to civil, mechanical or electrical engineering programs with two years of higher level math, one to two years of hard science and about twenty engineering courses.
Completion of the program qualifies you to start working as a Engineer-In-Training (EIT) and eventually becoming certified as a Professional Engineer. Both universities also offer a graduate FPE degree.
One of the undergraduate degrees offered by the University of New Haven is for Fire Protection Engineering, but it appears NOT accredited by the appropriate engineering council.
About 100 graduates of the Oklahoma State University Fire Technology program progressed into the fire protection engineering professional engineering (PE) accredidation.
FIRE TECHNOLOGY
Many four-year fire science degrees fall into the technology arena - not as academically robust as an engineering degree. You receive a Bachelor of Science degree and you will have taken more math/science/engineering technology classes than the next flavor of degree, but you will not be prepared to sit for the Engineer-In-Training program or become a registered Professional Engineer.:
Oklahoma State University
Eastern Kentucky University
University of New Haven
John Jay College (NYC)
University of Akron (OH)
University of North Carolina Charlotte
Thomas Edison State College (NJ)
NON TECHNOLOGY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
The third flavor is a four-year non-technology emergency service degree that will lead to a Bachelors in management, supervision. leadership, emergency services, etc. Usually requires a year of english, a year of college level math and whatever other general education requirements are needed by that educational institution. Many are offered through distance education and most assume that the student has some emergency service experience.
University of Maryland University College
Maryland is one of seven campuses running the NFA Degree-at-a-Distance program:
University of Richmond (emergency management)
University of Florida
Eastern Oregon University
Arizona State University East
California State University Los Angeles
Holy Family University (Philadelphia)
Lake Superior State University (MI)
New Jersey City University
Arkansas Tech University (FEMA Emergency Management)
Western Carolina University (FEMA Emergency Management online)
Anna Maria College (Paxton, MA)
Charter Oak State College (New Britain, CT)
Utah Valley State College
UVSC has an associate fire science program linked with UT Fire and Rescue Academy
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Permalink Reply by CW on
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Mr William, I have Mine in Criminal Justice, Lagrane College or West Ga (near you) should offer Fire Science. But the best thing to do (around here in Ga) is to work on your Emt-I or Most definaitely ur Paramedic. You will make yourself more marketable, by getting one of the two. You really can't be hired til your 21 yrs old (paid depart) anyways & when U do, most departments require you to pass the EMT course. Here in Columbus, it is EMT-I. So Nursing or Biology would be a good route to go also for you . Another Route also would be the U.S. Air Force or Air Force Reserves, You can get a job as a Firefighter which will give you the training, experience and also will allow you to obtain a fire science degree from the Air War College after you obtain enough training (Dont worry the Air Force Will make sure You get plenty of training!!!) There are at least two air bases within driving distance for you with Fire units. But Whatever route & Field of Study You go into: STAY IN SCHOOL & GET THT DEGREE!!!! and 1 more thing: STAY IN SHAPE!!!! Good Luck!!!!
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ok that sounds good. would it help if i were a certified first responder?( i have a chance to get the cert) before i go and start on the EMT-B and what age can u begin working on the EMT certs? and do u know where i can get more infomation on how to become an air force firefighter?
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Let Google be your friend ... Georgia EMS office will have the age info
http://health.state.ga.us/programs/ems/
Found half-a-dozen links when I entered "air force firefighter" as the search term at http://www.google.com
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Permalink Reply by rfdjumper on
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Go to college, take classes that you like, and that interest you. Your major will come to you. Drink, party, get laid, whatever, just make sure you keep the grades up. Take firefighter test whenever the come up in different cities. Watch, by the time your done college. You'll have a piece of paper that is valuable in the non-firefighting world, and you'll have a chance of being on a list somewhere to be hired.
The Air Force is another route. Your local recruiter is the one to talk to. Just make sure if thats what you want to do don't take no for an answer, and if they give you a line about that career field is full or such, tell them No,Thank You. You need an ASVAB score of like a 39 which slightly smarter than a pet rock..
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Permalink Reply by anne potter on
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Look into what is needed to make that degree.. Take your classes then transfer to a college that does.. It is important to get a college education.. The world is not nice out here anymore for people who do not have a education..... Slow down your young ..Do vol first go to college then go to paid....
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As soon as You are eligible to enrollin a tech school or college tht offers EMT-I or Paramedic class. GA Fire Academy offers 1st Responder, You dont need EMT-B to do EMT-I. My Dept (Columbus Fire & EMS)trains the recruits 4 EMT-I through rookie school (straight off the street). The more knownledge dealing in science, biology, the human body, the better understanding you will have with the EMT-I paramedic or Nursing Classes that you take. Any Air Force Recuiter (Army offers the job also) can help you out, as along as you pass the job skill test for that job on the ASVAB. Though My experience ( I served in both Branches) the AF is the way to go,as far as the better of the two, but it is your decision. Also Im still servin in an Fire Unit in the Reserves, so n e questions that you may have or the recuriter cant answer about the job, jst email & I can get you the answer or lead you in the right direction. Also again as Mr Ward stated, Firefighters Do have a WIDE variety of degrees, from no college to PhDs. Many do have fire science degrees (associates or bachelors) because it assists them when preparing for promotional exams (this is true in Columbus). When I first got hired, almost 9 yrs ago Columbus, would not give U an app. w/o at least a two yr degree, they have relaxed the education now, but you will have to obtain 1 b4 U can put in for promotion or wait 4 at least 7yrs. So again STay n School, get tht degree (any field), keep yourself in GREAT Shape (Heard the CPAT test IS tough)& if U r serious about the Fire Field in the Military, contact Me, when you r ready- Chris
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