How to Become a Firefighter in North Carolina

Who can apply

• You must be at least 18 years old to receive Firefighter certification. You can do the coursework earlier, but the certificate is not issued until your 18th birthday.
• You need a high school diploma or equivalent (such as a GED).
• Co-requisites: Traffic Incident Management (FIP 7000), Emergency Medical Care (FIP 7001), Mayday/Safety and Survival (FIP 6413) and Hazardous Materials Operations/Level 1 Responder.
• Fire departments set their own hiring rules and tests.

Step by step

1. Join or get hired by a North Carolina fire department. Departments run their own hiring process.
2. Create an OSFM24 profile and enter your FEMA Student ID (SID). Since October 1, 2026, a FEMA SID is required for OSFM registrations.
3. Complete the Firefighter courses built on NFPA 1001 (2019). You can take them as individual courses, in three blocks, or as the full Fire Fighter Series (FIP 3030), plus the co-requisite courses.
4. Pass each unit's written test with 70% or higher, and pass every skill in the skill book.
5. Submit the OSFM certification application with a copy of your high school diploma or equivalent.
6. OSFM issues the Firefighter Fire and Rescue Commission IFSAC certification.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Firefighter certification follows NFPA 1001 (2019). Courses include General and Communications (FIP 3040), Fireground Ops 1 to 9 (FIP 3041 to 3049), Rescue Ops 1 (FIP 3050), Fire and Life Safety Initiatives (FIP 3051), Hazardous Materials Operations (FRC 1601), Safety and Survival (FIP 6413), Traffic Incident Management (FIP 7000) and Emergency Medical Care (FIP 7001). The full Fire Fighter Series (FIP 3030) is listed at 428 to 514 hours. Departments can instead deliver the 580G Training Certificate program, which is at least 247 hours: 207 hours at the department's discretion plus 40 hours of Fireground Ops 9.

Exam: Each unit has a written exam with a passing grade of 70% or higher. If you fail a written test you may retest once, within 30 days of being notified, before you must retake the whole class. Skills are tested 100% from a skill book on a pass/fail basis. For the Fire Fighter Series, you get one retest; if you fail the second attempt, you get no credit for any part of the series. Holders of the 580G certificate can take a regional 'C-School' session with a 100-question written exam and a practical skills test drawn from the 31 skills in the 580G Task Book.

What it costs in North Carolina

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

Good to know in North Carolina

580G Training Certificate: The 580G program lets departments train firefighters to an NFPA 1001-based standard while earning ISO credit. It replaced the Volunteer Firefighter Basic Skills Training Program. After training, you register in OSFM24 for '580G Firefighter Certificate Verification', and OSFM confirms completion with your fire chief.

From 580G to IFSAC certification: You have two years from the date your 580G certificate is issued to finish the optional path to IFSAC Firefighter I/II certification. Passing C-School gives you credit for FIP 3040 to 3045, 3047 and 3048. You must then complete the remaining Firefighter certification requirements.

Out-of-state certifications (equivalent credit): The Fire and Rescue Commission accepts IFSAC- or Pro Board-accredited certifications as equivalent to comparable North Carolina levels, without retesting the lower levels. You must be an active member of a North Carolina fire department or a North Carolina resident. Submit an Equivalent Credit Packet with copies of your original certificates showing the accrediting body, seal, number, level and date.

Equivalent credit limit: Members of North Carolina departments will not get equivalent credit for certifications taken through an out-of-state delivery agency if the same certification program is offered in North Carolina.

Pension fund training rule: Under N.C. General Statute 58-86-25, eligible firefighters in the Firefighters' and Rescue Squad Workers' Pension Fund must attend 36 hours of training sessions each calendar year.

FEMA SID now required: Since October 1, 2026, OSFM requires a FEMA Student Identification (SID) number for registrations. Enter it in your OSFM24 profile.

New Firefighter program in July 2027: The current Firefighter 2019 edition program sunsets June 30, 2027, and the new Firefighter 2024 edition begins July 1, 2027, returning to individual subject classes. OSFM says a crossover sheet will show what credit carries over from the current edition.

Sources

• NC OSFM - Fire Fighter Certification
• NC OSFM - Certifications (equivalent credit and testing procedures)
• NC OSFM - North Carolina Firefighter Training Certificate (580G) Program
• N.C. Gen. Stat. 58-86-25
• NC OSFM Certification and Training Bulletin 2026-01