How to Become a Firefighter in Delaware

Who can apply

• To test for Firefighter I & II certification at DSFS you must be at least 16 years old.
• Prerequisites: the DSFS core classes (Basic Firefighting Skills, Structural Firefighting Skills, Vehicle Rescue and HazMat Response Skills) or Firefighter I-II; NFPA Hazardous Materials Awareness & Operations; current AHA First Aid (or equivalent) and current CPR; and ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800.
• You must submit documents proving your prerequisites with the DSFS registration form. Out-of-state equivalent training must be approved by the DSFS Director before you are scheduled.

Step by step

1. Join a Delaware fire company. Fire companies run their own membership and hiring process and must track each member's training.
2. Complete the DSFS core classes: Basic Firefighting Skills, Structural Firefighting Skills, Vehicle Rescue and HazMat Response Skills (or an approved equivalent).
3. Complete Hazmat Awareness & Operations, First Aid, CPR and ICS 100/200/700/800.
4. Submit a DSFS registration form for the Firefighter I & II challenge with your prerequisite documents and fee.
5. Pass the written exam at the DSFS Kent Division testing center.
6. Pass the skills evaluation on a scheduled skills testing date. DSFS then issues Pro Board/IFSAC-accredited Firefighter I and II certification.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Under State Fire Prevention Commission Regulation 709, Chapter 7, a fire company member may perform independently or as part of a team only after completing the DSFS curriculum, or an approved equivalent, in basic fire skills, structural skills, hazmat response skills and vehicle rescue. Members without structural fire training may not be assigned interior duties at structure fires and may only serve as support personnel. Untrained members must be closely supervised at scenes. Fire Officer 1 training is required for crew-level command and Fire Officer 2 for scene-level command.

Exam: DSFS certification testing is a written test of 25 to 100 questions plus skills evaluations. Firefighter I must be challenged together with Firefighter II, and you must pass the written test before scheduling skills. You must also pass both Hazmat Awareness and Operations. If you fail, you can retest 14 days after the test date and no later than 2 years after; the first retest is free. Skills must be completed within 2 years of passing the written test or you must restart.

What it costs in Delaware

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

How long it takes

Skills must be finished within 2 years after passing the written test.

Good to know in Delaware

Statewide minimum training rule: Regulation 709, Chapter 7 (effective June 11, 2024) sets minimum training for all Delaware firefighters. Fire companies must keep training records for every member and assign only duties that match each member's training. The Fire Officer 1 and 2 requirements were delayed to January 1, 2026.

Training from another state: The Commission decides whether outside training is equivalent, through the DSFS Director. Send your full training records or transcripts to DSFS for review before applying to test.

Standard change: The DSFS Firefighter I & II challenge (packet dated 02/12/26) now tests to NFPA 1010 (2024 edition), which replaces NFPA 1001, using IFSTA Essentials of Fire Fighting, 8th edition.

Sources

• Delaware State Fire School - Certification Testing
• 1 Del. Admin. Code 709-7-1.0 - Minimum Training Requirements (Cornell LII)
• 27 DE Reg. 963 (June 1, 2024) - Final order, Regulation 709
• DSFS - Firefighter 1 & 2 Certification Challenge Packet (02/12/26)