How to Become a Firefighter in Indiana

Who can apply

• You must be at least 18 years old to be certified to provide firefighting services (655 IAC 2-2-1(c)). Since July 1, 2024, 16-year-olds may start fire service training; high school students under 18 at completion need a variance from the Academy.
• Firefighter I requires Hazardous Materials-Operations certification; Firefighter II requires Firefighter I.
• You need an Indiana Public Safety Identification (PSID) number to apply for certification.

Step by step

1. Get a Public Safety Identification (PSID) number from IDHS and set up an Acadis account.
2. Register for courses through Acadis, the IDHS training system.
3. Earn Hazardous Materials-Operations certification.
4. Complete Firefighter I training and testing to Chapter 4 of NFPA 1001 (2019 edition).
5. Apply for certification on the form IDHS prescribes; IDHS verifies your prerequisites before issuing it.
6. Go on to Firefighter II (Chapter 5 of NFPA 1001), which is also still required certification.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Firefighter I and Firefighter II follow Chapters 4 and 5 of NFPA 1001 (2019 edition). Under a June 9, 2025 IDHS blanket variance, most 655 IAC certifications became voluntary, but Firefighter I, Firefighter II and Emergency Response Support are still required to perform those services. Emergency Response Support is at least 30 training hours and certifies a person to perform volunteer firefighter emergency duties excluding interior firefighting.

Exam: Courses and testing are handled through Acadis, which has an automated testing login. IDHS also links an IFSAC Certification Application. Under 655 IAC 5-4-5, you need at least 70% on the written exam, with up to 3 hours per exam. If you fail, you may try up to two more times. You must pass the written exam within 180 days after completing the certification course and practical skills exam; otherwise you must retake the course and the skills exam before trying again.

What it costs in Indiana

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

You must pass the written exam within 180 days after finishing the course and practical skills exam, and the practical must be passed no more than 180 days before the certification is issued.

Good to know in Indiana

Which certifications are still required: The June 9, 2025 variance to 655 IAC 2-2-1(b) keeps certification mandatory for Emergency Response Support, Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Fire Inspector I and II, Fire Investigator, Instructor I-III, Fire Chief Executive Leadership and Live Fire Instructor. All other certifications are voluntary. The variance ends when the Education Board adopts a new rule, 180 days after it is rescinded at a Board meeting, or if it is overturned.

Mental health training: Fire departments must certify each year that their full-time firefighters completed mental health training. Volunteers are excluded.

Criminal convictions: IDHS has a form for reporting criminal convictions to the Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education.

Emergency Response Support is required for everyone: Under 655 IAC 2-2-1(a), no one may perform firefighting or related emergency services in Indiana unless certified under 655 IAC 3-1 (Emergency Response Support). The 2025 variance does not change this.

Sources

• IDHS - Fire Training
• IDHS - Notice of Blanket Variance to 655 IAC 2-2-1(b) (June 9, 2025)
• 655 IAC 2-2-1 - Certification required for service (Cornell LII)
• 655 IAC 4-3-1 - Firefighter I (Cornell LII)
• 655 IAC 4-3-2 - Firefighter II (Cornell LII)
• 655 IAC 3-1-2 - Emergency response support training (Cornell LII)
• 655 IAC 3-1-3 - Emergency response support certification (Cornell LII)
• IDHS IFSAC Certification Application (2026)
• 655 IAC 5-4-5 Written examinations (Cornell LII)