How to Become a Firefighter: Frequently Asked Questions

Start by contacting fire departments where you may be interested in serving or working.

Each fire department has its own application and hiring process. Depending on the department, this may include an application, interview, physical ability testing, background check, medical evaluation, written testing, or other requirements.

If you are interested in becoming a firefighter, we recommend contacting departments in your area and asking:

• Are you currently accepting firefighter applications?
• Are you hiring career firefighters or accepting volunteer firefighters?
• What are your minimum requirements?
• Do I need any certifications before applying?
• If selected, will the department sponsor me through Fire Academy?

Departments can provide the most accurate information about their specific process.

No.

The MAAC Foundation does not accept individual registrations for its Volunteer or Career Fire Academies.

Students attend the academy through a sponsoring fire department. The department determines who is selected and then works with the MAAC Foundation to enroll eligible recruits in the appropriate academy.

If you are not currently affiliated with a fire department, your first step is to contact departments that are accepting applicants.

No. The MAAC Foundation is a first responder training campus, not a fire department.

We provide the facilities, instructors, equipment, and training environment used by fire departments and their recruits. Individual fire departments are responsible for recruiting, hiring, sponsoring, and employing their firefighters.

Both programs prepare firefighters for the skills and certifications required for fire service, but the students typically enter through different types of departments.

Volunteer Fire Academy students are sponsored by volunteer fire department, although career firefighters do sometimes go through with volunteers depending on the circumstances.

Career Fire Academy students have generally been hired by a career fire department before beginning the academy and attend training as part of their employment.

The exact employment structure and requirements depend on the sponsoring department.

In most cases, firefighters attending the MAAC Career Fire Academy have already been hired by their fire department and are paid by their employing department while completing academy training.

The MAAC Foundation does not employ or pay academy recruits.

Pay, benefits, schedules, probationary requirements, and other employment conditions are determined by each individual fire department.

Some departments are entirely volunteer, while others may offer stipends, paid-on-call compensation, hourly pay, or other arrangements. Some departments also use a combination of career, part-time, and volunteer personnel.

Because these arrangements vary widely, prospective firefighters should contact individual departments directly.

There is no single answer that applies to every department.

Requirements may vary based on the department, position, municipality, and type of employment. Departments may have requirements involving:

• Minimum age
• Driver’s license and driving record
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Background checks
• Physical fitness or ability testing
• Medical examinations
• Drug screening
• Residency requirements
• EMT or other medical certifications
• Written examinations
• Interviews
• Other department-specific qualifications

Always check directly with the department you are interested in joining before assuming you do or do not qualify.

It depends on the fire department.

Some departments may require applicants to already hold an EMT certification. Others may hire candidates without it and provide or sponsor the necessary training afterward.

Ask the department about its EMT requirements when you inquire about firefighter opportunities.

The MAAC has contact with fire departments throughout Northwest Indiana and beyond, but hiring needs change frequently.

Because each department manages its own recruitment and hiring process, the best approach is to contact local fire departments directly and monitor their websites and social media pages for hiring announcements.

You may also want to consider both career and volunteer departments when beginning your search.

No. MAAC does not assign, recruit, or place individuals with fire departments.

Possibly. Many departments recruit people who are new to the fire service and provide the training they need after they are selected.

However, every department sets its own qualifications. Do not assume that you need prior firefighting experience before contacting a department.

If you are interested, reach out and ask.

You can keep it simple:

“I’m interested in becoming a firefighter and would like to learn about your application process. Are you currently accepting applicants, and what qualifications would I need to meet?”

If the department is not currently accepting applications, you can also ask when they expect their next hiring or recruitment process to begin.

Start with departments in the community where you live and surrounding communities.

Search for local municipal, township, volunteer, and career fire departments and visit their official websites or social media pages. Contact several departments if necessary, requirements and opportunities can differ significantly from one community to another.

Once you have been selected by a department and approved for academy training, your sponsoring department will coordinate your enrollment in the fire academy.

If your question is about working for, volunteering with, applying to, or being hired by a specific fire department, please contact that department directly.

The simplest way to remember the process:

1. Find a fire department you are interested in joining.
2. Apply through that department.
3. Complete the department’s hiring or selection process.
4. If selected, the department sponsors you for Fire Academy training.
5. Complete your training at MAAC and begin serving your community.

Your journey to becoming a firefighter starts with a fire department. The MAAC helps prepare you for what comes next.