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Become a Washington Fire Fighter

Qualifications

There is no single path to become a fire fighter in Washington State, but there are some basic qualifications: you should be over 18 years of age, have earned a high school diploma or GED, and possess a valid driver’s license.

Fire fighting is a physically demanding job. A first step might be to complete the Candidate Physical Abilities Test (CPAT). This test is designed to provide fire departments with pools of candidates who are physically able to perform essential tasks at fire scenes.

Every fire department uses a different process for recruiting, training, and hiring. To learn what these requirements are, contact your City, Fire District, or Regional Fire Authority.

Washington State Fire Fighters Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee 

The WSFF JATC offers career fire fighters a disciplined career training and development program that integrates:

  • On-the-Job Training (OJT)
  • Professional Certifications: IFSAC, ProBoard
  • College-level Academic Studies

Fire Science degrees are offered at several educational institutions around the state, including:

Approved Washington Paramedic Education Programs:

Bachelor of Applied Science in Fire Services Leadership and Management (BAS-FSLM) at Pierce College

  • This leadership and management degree program is part of a guided career pathway designed to prepare students to become 21st century leaders in the fire service.
  • The FSLM program is primarily taught online in order to provide fire service professionals the skills and knowledge they need to advance into leadership positions.
  • Application for Fire Service Leadership Management, Bachelor of Applied Science Degree

Volunteering, particularly in rural communities, can be a great way to learn more about the fire service.

Many departments rely on centralized private training organizations to test candidates for jobs. The National Testing Network and Public Safety Testing provide testing and forward test scores and information to departments with open positions.