How to Become a Firefighter in Georgia

Who can apply

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must be a U.S. citizen or have valid, current documentation to work legally in Georgia.
• You must have a high school diploma from an accredited high school, a state-issued GED, or a Council-approved home school affidavit.
• You must not have been convicted of a felony in any jurisdiction within 10 years before appointment, except as allowed by O.C.G.A. 25-4-8.
• You must be fingerprinted for a local, state and national criminal history search, and have good moral character (affidavit signed by the fire chief).
• You must meet the Council's minimum physical agility requirements and have a signed medical affidavit of good physical condition from a licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner.

Step by step

1. Get the medical release affidavit, CPR certification and FEMA NIMS 100 and 700 training if you plan to take the GPSTC Basic Firefighter Training Course. You can enroll before being hired; if you already work for a department, its training officer registers you.
2. Complete the Council-approved minimum firefighter training course, such as the GPSTC Basic Firefighter Training Course or an approved equivalent.
3. Be hired or appointed by a Georgia fire department, which registers you on its roster in the GFSTC database.
4. Pass the GFSTC certification exam: written and skills tests for Firefighter I and Hazardous Materials Awareness.
5. Your fire department completes your Certification Package and submits the certification application to GFSTC.
6. Career firefighters must finish within 12 months of hire.

Training and exam

Training: State certification requires the Council-approved minimum training course curriculum or an equivalent. GPSTC's Basic Firefighter Training Course runs eight weeks at the main GPSTC campus in Forsyth. To enroll, GPSTC requires you to be at least 18, with a medical release affidavit, CPR certification and FEMA NIMS 100 and 700. Training from another state or federal training that GFSTC finds equivalent can be accepted if you pass the required tests.

Exam: The GFSTC certification exam includes written and skills tests for Firefighter I and Hazardous Materials Awareness. GPSTC says students take the GFSTC written NPQ Firefighter I test after the basic course, and may take an optional skills test for national Firefighter I certification. Once your first test score is in the GFSTC system, testing must be completed within 90 days (30 days for Georgia Fire Academy courses).

What it costs in Georgia

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

Career firefighters: 12 months from hire to complete training and testing. Volunteer suppression and support firefighters: 18 months from appointment. The GPSTC basic course takes eight weeks.

Keeping your certification

Renewal: Certified firefighters must complete 24 hours of professional development training each year, approved by the fire chief and verified by GFSTC. Documentation can include certificates, transcripts or sign-in sheets.

Good to know in Georgia

Who must be certified: Anyone hired full-time in a fire department position that requires state certification must get and keep at least one GFSTC certification. For other positions, certification is optional unless the department requires it. Career firefighters have 12 months from hire to complete training and pass the state test. Volunteer suppression and support firefighters must instead qualify (complete training and pass qualification tests) within 18 months of appointment. The GFSTC Executive Director may grant a reasonable extension. If the deadline is missed, the recruit is removed from the department roster for at least one year.

Firefighter categories: GFSTC registers career (at least 40 hours a week), part-time, volunteer suppression, volunteer support and inmate firefighters, plus recruits. Volunteer support firefighters are not trained or qualified for duties in the hot zone.

Coming from another state: GFSTC can certify you based on training completed in another state, or federal firefighter training, if it finds the training equivalent to Georgia's basic program. Out-of-state certifications do not exempt you from testing: you must still pass Georgia's required tests.

Who must hold state certification: Full-time employees hired into a fire department position that requires state certification must get and keep at least one GFSTC certification. For all other fire department positions, state certification is optional unless the local department requires it. Every department member (except civilians) must be registered with GFSTC before taking part in any department activity.

Report arrests within 15 days: Fire service members must notify GFSTC in writing of any arrest or conviction (including DUI and reckless driving, but not minor traffic tickets) within 15 calendar days of becoming aware of it.

Returning to the fire service: A state-certified firefighter who leaves in good standing can return within five years without retesting (a task book is required if continuous training lapsed). After more than five but less than ten years you must complete a task book and pass the written and skills tests again; after more than ten years you must take a new training course and pass the tests.

Sources

• Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 205-1-3 - Minimum Requirements for Firefighters Operating in the State of Georgia
• Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 205-1-3-.04 - Classifications of Fire Service Personnel
• Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 205-1-3-.02 - Registration
• Georgia Public Safety Training Center - How do I become a firefighter?
• Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 205-1-3-.02 (Cornell LII)
• Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 205-1-3-.04 (Cornell LII)
• GPSTC - Become a Firefighter: Step-by-Step Guide