How to Become a Firefighter in Michigan

Who can apply

• You must be 18 or older on the date of the final written and practical certification exams. Cadets and explorers in a council-registered program are the exception.
• To take council-approved Firefighter I/II courses you must be a member of an organized Michigan fire department, or a pre-service student at a recognized Michigan regional training center.
• Full-time and part-time firefighters must pass the Firefighter I and Firefighter II certification exam within 12 months of being hired or appointed to keep the job (MCL 29.369(3)).
• Volunteer and paid on-call firefighters must pass the Firefighter I exam within 24 months of being hired or appointed (MCL 29.369(4)).
• Firefighters employed on or before October 1, 1988 are exempt from the exam unless they move from volunteer or paid on-call to part-time or full-time status.

Step by step

1. Join or get hired by a Michigan fire department (departments run their own hiring), or enroll as a pre-service student at a recognized regional training center.
2. Get entered into SMOKE, the Bureau of Fire Services training information network.
3. Complete a council-approved Firefighter I/HazMat Operations course and Firefighter II course, or the combined Firefighter I & II/HazMat Operations course.
4. Apply for certification on the bureau's Training Certification Application (BFS-205) before the state exam.
5. Pass the state written and practical certification exams (70% passing score on the written exam).
6. The State Fire Marshal issues your certificate within 30 days after you become certified.
7. Keep certified by logging at least 36 hours of firefighter continuing education every three-year cycle and attesting in SMOKE.

Training and exam

Training: Council-approved courses are based on NFPA 1001, as now found in NFPA 1010 (2024 edition). The current BFS course catalog lists Firefighter I/HazMat Operations at 240 hours, Firefighter II at 55 hours, or the combined Firefighter I & II/HazMat Operations course at 295 hours. You may not miss more than 10% of a course's total hours, must make up missed lectures before the course ends, and must complete 100% of the practical skills hours. Under state law, your employer must also give you initial training for the duties you will do before you are allowed on emergency operations.

Exam: The State Fire Marshal develops and gives the certification exams, with a practical demonstration and a written or oral test. Per the BFS course catalog: Firefighter I/HazMat Ops is a 150-question written exam and 10 practical stations; Firefighter II is 50 questions and 2 stations; the combined FF I & II is 200 questions and 12 stations. The written passing score is 70%. You may retake a firefighter certification exam multiple times as long as it is not on the same calendar day; retest exams are offered for the written, practical or both parts.

What it costs in Michigan

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

Full-time and part-time firefighters have 12 months from hire to pass Firefighter I and II; volunteer and paid on-call firefighters have 24 months to pass Firefighter I.

Keeping your certification

Renewal: Certification stays valid unless the council revokes it. Every certified firefighter, of any rank, needs at least 36 hours of continuing education in NFPA 1001 firefighting knowledge and skills per three-year cycle, with at least 6 hours each year. The current cycle runs October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2028. At the end of the cycle you check the attestation box in SMOKE, and you can be audited. There is a 90-day grace period to finish missed hours. False attestation can lead to discipline.

Good to know in Michigan

Coming from another state: The State Fire Marshal waives the exam and grants reciprocity if you were certified in another state through a program meeting NFPA standards, or hold a Pro Board or IFSAC certificate. You must be a member or employee of a Michigan fire department, be entered in SMOKE and file a Request for Reciprocity (BFS-258). Reciprocity is denied if your out-of-state certification was revoked or you have a felony conviction.

Veterans: The exam can be waived for a veteran separated under honorable conditions (DD-214 or DD-215) who completed firefighter training meeting NFPA 1001 Firefighter I and II standards in the Armed Forces.

Facial hair: During council-approved firefighter courses that require respiratory protection, you must have no facial hair between the mask seal and your face (MIOSHA Part 451).

Certificate: The certificate remains the property of the State Fire Marshal.

Sources

• MCL 29.369 - Firefighters Training Council Act, minimum standards and certification exams
• Michigan Admin. Code R 29.401-29.418 - Fire Fighters Training Council General Rules
• BFS Fire Fighter Training Division Course Catalog (12/29/2025)
• BFS Continuing Education Guidance (September 12, 2025)
• BFS Memo - Reciprocity Application Requirements (June 15, 2021)
• LARA - Fire Fighter Training Division