Student changing to Fire academy

[Rlsmith77]

Hi guys and thanks in advance for any information you pass my way. Firstly about my past. I am 29 years old and a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan and went back to school about two years ago for game design at Richland college in Dallas. Here recently I decided to start the fire academy in McKinney in the fall. I really do not have many people to ask questions about it, or to point me in the right direction. Since i have the GI Bill from my service in the military am i going about it right wanting to do the academy first or should i be trying to get on at a station first. Also along with my FF school I know I will need to do EMT as well. Is this including in the academy or separate? And should i be doing this first? What it all boils down to is basically this; in which order should I do things to be most successful and to expedite the process? Thanks a ton in advance.

Richard Smith

[bw3]

I would start with the emt course. If you get hired most depts will send you to their fire academy. Start applying now to take civil service tests ect. Depending on who you apply and test for, military points are a plus.

[OHFirestopper]

Only bigger city departments will put you through their academy. Most departments make you have all the training required to even take their test. Some let you take their test with no training however you can't be hired until you have all the training required. Everywhere is different. FF and EMT are seperate courses, depending on where you are you also may have to be a paramedic. Your vetarans points will definitely help you a lot as long as you have a dd214. What is going to hurt you is your age. A lot of places have age cutoffs. Like I said earlier everywhere is different, however 32 years old seems to be a common cutoff.

[FireFarrier]

I graduate from Collin College Fire Academy on Tuesday and it's a great academy. I am then moving on to EMT and taking a break before medic school because the wife and I have a baby coming in July. To me order is personal preferance in this area. You are right about most smaller depts in this area wanting you to have certs before they hire you. If you have any questions about the Fire Academy, PM me and I will give you my number.

[fire49]

If you plan on working in Texas
Once you get your ff get your paramedic

Most depts in dfw area want paramedic

You can check this site weekly and you will see what the minimum requirements are;;;;

http://www.tcfp.state.tx.us/employment.asp

[Rlsmith77]

Thanks for the help guys i appreciate it. So I am taking the summer off school and working then moving on to this. I am excited, and thanks again for the replies.

[sflaff]

too old to work?

Only bigger city departments will put you through their academy. Most departments make you have all the training required to even take their test. Some let you take their test with no training however you can't be hired until you have all the training required. Everywhere is different. FF and EMT are seperate courses, depending on where you are you also may have to be a paramedic. Your vetarans points will definitely help you a lot as long as you have a dd214. What is going to hurt you is your age. A lot of places have age cutoffs. Like I said earlier everywhere is different, however 32 years old seems to be a common cutoff.

Any hope for someone a decade older- open to overseas, etc.
Been with a department since I was 36 took year+ to get certs. but I see this

Per GS081 series, maximum age for entry into the Fire Protection Specialist field is 37 years.

Really appreciate any input, direction to where to find the answer. thanks