How to Become a Firefighter in Montana

Who can apply

• Under MCA 7-33-4107, a firefighter applicant must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and at least 18 years old.
• You must be a high school graduate or have a high school equivalency diploma.
• You must have, or be eligible for, a valid Montana driver's license.
• You must pass a physical exam by a physician, physician assistant or APRN appointed by the employer (not your own provider). The written result is filed with the city or town clerk.
• You must be fingerprinted for a local, state and national criminal record check.
• A conviction for a crime punishable by state or federal prison disqualifies you, but the fire chief may allow an applicant with a misdemeanor or felony to qualify. A chief may not allow anyone required to register as a sexual or violent offender.
• These statutory qualifications are in the municipal fire department law; MCA 7-33-4110 says they do not affect volunteer fire companies.

Step by step

1. Get hired by a fire department or join a state-recognized fire department or firefighting organization. Departments run their own hiring.
2. Meet the MCA 7-33-4107 qualifications, including the physical exam and fingerprint background check.
3. If you want state certification, apply to an FSTS Firefighter I Certification Academy with the $200 non-refundable application fee. Host agency members get first priority, then the region, then the rest of the state.
4. After acceptance, meet the course prerequisites in your welcome letter and send the FSTS medical release form within 60 days of the start date.
5. Complete the 10-day academy and test the NFPA 1001 and NFPA 470 skills with no instructor assists.
6. Finish and submit the Test Documentation Booklet within 18 months after skills training. FSTS then issues IFSAC and Pro Board accredited Firefighter I certification.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: State law sets entry qualifications but no state-mandated academy hours were found. FSTS's Firefighter I Certification Academy is a 10-day in-person course covering NFPA 1001 and NFPA 470 hazardous materials awareness and operations skills, such as fire attack, ventilation, water supply, ropes and knots, and vehicle fires. Candidates must meet the MCA 7-33-4107 qualifications, the NFPA 1582 medical requirements (chapters 5, 7 and 9), and stay affiliated with a state-recognized fire department or firefighting organization.

Exam: Not required by state law for hiring. For FSTS certification you must show proficiency in the NFPA 1001 and NFPA 470 skills with no instructor assists during the academy, then complete the hand-written Test Documentation Booklet within 18 months.

What it costs in Montana

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

Keeping your certification

Renewal: FSTS accredited certifications do not expire. For moving up within the FSTS system, a certification is recognized for at least five years from issuance; after it lapses for that purpose you are treated as new and must re-test to the current standard.

Good to know in Montana

Mostly volunteers: FSTS says it serves an estimated 11,000 members in 467 fire companies, 96% of which are volunteers.

Disenrollment: If you do not meet payment, training, equipment or medical prerequisites before the academy starts, FSTS will disenroll you.

Wait list: If an academy is full you can apply for the stand-by list. Openings go in order of application.

Accreditation: FSTS Firefighter I certification is accredited by IFSAC and the Pro Board, which helps if you later move to another state.

Sources

• MCA 7-33-4107 - Qualifications of firefighters
• MCA 7-33-4108 - Physical examination
• MCA 7-33-4110 - Volunteer companies not affected
• MSU FSTS - Firefighter I Certification Academy
• MSU FSTS - About Us
• MSU FSTS - Firefighter I Test Documentation Booklet (Jan 2024)