How to Become a Firefighter in Louisiana

Checked against Office of State Fire Marshal - Louisiana Fire & Emergency Training Academy (FETA) · Verified 2026-10-16

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: See state office
State fee: See state office
Certified by: Office of State Fire Marshal - Louisiana Fire & Emergency Training Academy (FETA)

Take the free firefighter practice test →

Who can apply

You must be at least 18 years old for Firefighter I certification.
You need Hazardous Materials Operations and a Basic First Aid/CPR class before Firefighter I.
Your fire chief, training officer or approved designee must recommend you for the exam.
FETA will not examine individuals or out-of-state personnel unless they are taking a class at the OSFM Fire and Emergency Training Academy. If you are not with a Louisiana fire agency or industrial client, use FETA's Unaffiliated Training Request.

Step by step

Join a Louisiana fire department, or submit an Unaffiliated Training Request to FETA.
Set up an Acadis portal account and make sure your prerequisites (Hazmat Operations, First Aid/CPR) are in your profile.
Complete Firefighter I training from a FETA-approved Louisiana fire service instructor, taught to current NFPA standards.
Your agency's Training Coordinator requests your exam through Acadis.
Pass the practical skills exam and the 100-question written exam (70% or higher), bringing photo ID.
Print your certificate from your Acadis account, about 14 days after the exam.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Firefighter I (NFPA 1001, 2019, Chapter 4) training must be taught by a Louisiana fire service instructor certified and approved by FETA, follow current NFPA standards, and be registered in Acadis 30 days before the class starts. FETA's pages do not set a minimum number of academy hours.

Exam: FETA gives a practical skills exam (pass/fail) and a 100-question written exam requiring 70% or higher, with a 2-hour maximum. You must take the first written exam within 1 year of finishing the course. You get 3 written attempts (the third at your department's discretion); after that you must retake the course. Passed skills stay valid for one year or three written attempts. Results take up to 7 to 10 business days.

Practice for the firefighter written exam free — reading, math, mechanical reasoning and spatial orientation →

What it costs in Louisiana

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

Firefighter I exam charges (invoiced to your department; amount not published)$

Estimated total in Louisiana$0Plus 1 item with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

FETA invoices exam charges to your department unless other payment arrangements are made; FETA's pages do not list the amount.

How long it takes

FETA says test results take about 7 to 10 days to validate, and certificates are viewable in Acadis about 14 days after the exam.

Good to know in Louisiana

Voluntary, but tied to state pay: FETA says its certification program is voluntary. But to get state supplemental pay, a fireman must complete a training program certified by a Pro Board or IFSAC accredited entity equal to NFPA 1010 or 1001 Firefighter I, validated by FETA (R.S. 40:1666.1, as amended by Act 166 of 2025, effective June 8, 2025).

Accreditation: FETA's Firefighter I certification is accredited by both IFSAC and Pro Board.

Coming from another state: FETA gives credit for IFSAC or Pro Board certifications from other states if FETA held that accreditation when it was issued, and the certification is within the last two standard updates or you have no break in service. FETA does not issue a reciprocity certificate with an IFSAC seal. Request it through the webform in your Acadis portal; FETA says it is processing reciprocity first for certifications required for state pay, such as Firefighter 1.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with Office of State Fire Marshal - Louisiana Fire & Emergency Training Academy (FETA) before you apply.