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"So you want to be a Fire Fighter"

The fire service is an honorable and respectable profession, which continues to become more sophisticated and diverse. Firefighters typically work a 24-hour shift and respond to many different types of emergency situations and render aid to those in need. They are special people who choose to give of themselves for the safety of the community they serve. Their work is exciting, challenging and rewarding.

The qualifications for becoming a firefighter in the state of Florida are covered in Florida Statute 633.34, Firefighters: qualifications for employment, which are:

• High school graduate or equivalent and equivalent and at least 18 years of age.
• Has not been convicted of a felony or of a misdemeanor directly related to the position of employment sought, or have pled "no contest" to any charge of a felony.
• Submit a fingerprint card to the division with a current processing fee.
• Have a good moral character as determined by investigation under procedure established by the division.
• Good physical condition as determined by a physician licensed by the State and in accordance with National Fire Protection Association Standard 1582.
• Nonuser of tobacco or tobacco products for at least 1 year immediately preceding application, as evidenced by a sworn affidavit of the application.

Once an applicant has met these qualifications they are eligible to apply for admission to an approved training center to obtain their Certificate of Compliance. The "certified" training course is 480 hours and is offered on a full-time or part-time basis. For more information on class dates and times, contact one of the local Central Florida area training centers listed below:

Today, most of the calls Fire Departments respond to are Emergency Medical Service Calls. For example, 79% of the calls Titusville Fire and Emergency Services run are medical or rescue calls. Most fire departments throughout the State of Florida, including Titusville, now require applicants to also have their Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification to be eligible for employment. This certification is usually offered by the local community colleges and is a one- semester course. Many fire departments, including Titusville are now requiring applicants to have their paramedic certification or obtain it after being hired to maintain employment. This certification can be obtained through a local community college and is currently a 10-month program, but may soon become a 2-year degree program. For more information on these programs, contact one of the local community colleges listed below:

Other minimum requirements may include State of Florida Class D Non-commercial Drivers License, Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) certificate, and a Health Care Provider CPR card.

Thank you for your interest in our profession. If you have any questions or would like any additional information regarding career opportunities within the Fire Service or Titusville Fire and Emergency Services, please call the Training Office at (321) 383-5708.