How to Become a Firefighter in Missouri

Who can apply

• State firefighter certification is voluntary in Missouri. Fire departments set their own hiring requirements.
• To test for state Firefighter I or II certification you must first finish an approved Firefighter course at that level.
• Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations certification is a prerequisite for Firefighter I certification.
• Firefighter I also requires ICS 100, 200 and 700 and at least Basic First Aid with CPR and AED.

Step by step

1. Join or get hired by a fire department. Departments run their own written and physical hiring tests.
2. Complete an approved Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations course and pass its state certification tests.
3. Complete ICS 100, 200 and 700 and Basic First Aid with CPR and AED.
4. Complete an approved Firefighter I course (and Firefighter II if you want that level). Courses are delivered at the local level.
5. After your course completion email, sign up in your MODFS Acadis portal for a state written exam at a regional testing site, or a closed test arranged for your class.
6. Pass the written exam (70%) and all practical skills exams. Results post in your Acadis portal within 30 days.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: No state-mandated academy. To be eligible for state certification you must complete an approved Firefighter I and/or II course based on NFPA 1010; departments can request local delivery of these courses from MODFS. MODFS also runs Fire Safety Funded Training under RSMo 320.094, which pays for cost-free training classes for Missouri firefighters and first responders.

Exam: Not required by the state for employment, but needed for state certification. Firefighter I: 100 multiple-choice questions in two hours. Firefighter II: 50 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes. Both need a 70% score plus passing all practical skills exams. Written exams must be proctored by MODFS staff or an approved state proctor, not your course instructor. You may retest after you are notified of a failure. You must finish certification within the NFPA standard edition your course was taught under, which gives you at least one and up to six years.

What it costs in Missouri

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

Written exam results are posted in your MODFS Acadis portal within 30 days.

Keeping your certification

Renewal: MODFS's renewal page lists the levels that expire (such as Fire Instructor, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, Hazardous Materials Technician and Emergency Medical Responder); Firefighter I and II are not on that list. Renewals for expiring levels are done only through the MODFS Acadis portal.

Good to know in Missouri

Certification is voluntary: MODFS says certification is voluntary in Missouri, but it has issued more than 130,000 certifications to more than 44,000 people. Firefighter I and II certifications are accredited by IFSAC and Pro Board.

Coming from another state: If you hold an IFSAC or Pro Board accredited certification, you can apply for reciprocity through your Acadis portal (or by email). You must be a member of a fire department or law enforcement agency, or do business, in Missouri, and send certificates, proof of prerequisite training, ID and your medical training. Reciprocity is issued under the same accrediting body as your original certificate.

Non-accredited training: If your training is not IFSAC or Pro Board accredited, you can apply for equivalency if you live in Missouri or work for a Missouri department. Your training must be dated within the last five years and you must pass the state written exam (70%) and practical skills exam.

Sources

• MODFS - Fire Fighter I/II
• MODFS - Firefighter Training and Certification
• MODFS - Frequently Asked Questions (Training and Certification)
• MODFS - Certification Renewal Requirements
• MODFS - Certification by Reciprocity or Equivalency