Firefighter in : Augustus founds the Vigiles

How long does it take to become a firefighter? From first application to riding a truck, usually one to two years in career systems. The hiring pipeline — written exam, physical test, interviews, background and medical checks — often takes longer than the training itself. Fire academies run roughly three to eight months in the US and Japan, while Germany's Brandmeister training lasts about eighteen months; nearly everywhere a probationary year follows.

Do you need a university degree to become a firefighter? It depends heavily on country and overtime. The US median was about $57,000 in 2023, with big-city firefighters often earning far more through overtime; a UK competent firefighter earns roughly £37,000; Australian professionals typically A$90,000–110,000 with allowances; Swiss professionals around CHF 95,000. In much of the world the majority of firefighters are volunteers and are paid little or nothing.

How competitive is it to get hired as a career firefighter? Very. Career openings in large city departments routinely attract dozens or even hundreds of applicants per position, and some big-city entrance exams draw tens of thousands of candidates for academy classes filled over several years. The written exam usually only ranks candidates; the physical test, interviews, background checks and medical standards then cut the list far further. Many successful candidates apply several times.