How to Become a Firefighter in Pennsylvania

Checked against Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC) and the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy (PSFA) · Verified 2026-10-16

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: See state office
State fee: See state office
Certified by: Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC) and the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy (PSFA)

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Who can apply

Pennsylvania's firefighter certification program is voluntary. Fire departments set their own hiring rules and tests.
Any Pennsylvania resident may apply to be a test candidate.
Since March 1, 2026, every certification candidate must keep an active Acadis portal account and be registered with a test site and rostered for the test.
For Firefighter I, you must already hold Support Firefighter certification.

Step by step

Create an Acadis user portal account on the OSFC website.
Earn Support Firefighter certification. Prerequisites are the EL-26 Entry Level Fireground Support program (or an approved bridge program), Hazardous Materials Awareness and Traffic Incident Management.
Complete the Firefighter I prerequisites: hazmat operations training or certification dated within one year of your application, interior structural fire attack training with live fire (such as the EL-26 Firefighter I course), and approved CPR and medical care training or a current EMS certification.
Fill out the typed Firefighter I application with your FEMA Student ID and signed prerequisite verification form. Submit it to an approved test site or the State Fire Academy at least 3 weeks before the test.
After your application is approved, take the written test, then the skills test.
Once you pass both and the application review is complete, you are certified at Firefighter I with Pro Board and IFSAC accreditation.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Firefighter I (NFPA 1010, 2024) requires proof of interior structural fire attack training, for example EL26 FFI Course Entry Level Training Program (2026), EL22 or EL14 Interior Firefighter with live fire, Bucks Basic Fire Academy plus a PSFA-approved structural burn, or a PSFA-approved EL-22 to EL-26 bridge program. Any other course must be approved by PSFA certification staff first. You also need hazmat operations training or certification to NFPA 470 (2022), dated within one year of your application. You need CPR/AED (adult, child, infant) and medical care training with cognitive and skills assessments, or a current EMS certification.

Exam: The written test has 100 randomly generated questions with a 2-hour limit, and you need 70% to pass. You must pass 100% of the skill stations, and you take the skills test after the written test. If you fail the written test, you get two retests within one year. If you fail three or fewer skill stations, you may retest each once the same day; fail four or more and you must retest on a later date. You get up to eight skill retests, all within one year. Results are reported as pass or fail only.

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What it costs in Pennsylvania

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

Certification test fee (set by each test site)$
Entry-level training courses$

Estimated total in Pennsylvania$0Plus 2 items with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

Testing fees are set by each test site. OSFC tells candidates to contact their chosen test site for fees.
You must bring NFPA-compliant PPE and SCBA for all skill stations, and facial hair that interferes with the SCBA seal bars you from SCBA stations.

Pay in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania adds a local income tax on top of the state rate, so look up the local rate for your area before you budget.

How long it takes

Applications are due to the test site by its deadline, no later than 3 weeks before the test date. Retests must be finished within one year of the original test date.

Good to know in Pennsylvania

Legal basis: Under section 7384 of the Emergency Management Services Code (35 Pa.C.S.), OSFC runs the statewide firefighter training and certification program.

Accreditation: Tests are accredited by the Pro Board and IFSAC. OSFC offers more than 30 professional certifications for volunteer and career firefighters.

Prerequisite dates: Your hazardous materials operations training or certification must be dated within one year of your application date, or it will not be accepted. Send copies of the front and back of CPR and medical cards.

Appeals: You can request a review of your performance records by the State Fire Academy within 30 days of receiving a failure notice. Appeals must be in writing.

Falsified documents: Anyone who forges or falsifies certification documents is indefinitely suspended from all Pennsylvania certification exams and may face charges under 18 Pa.C.S. 4904.

Contact: Pennsylvania State Fire Academy, Certification Program Manager, 1150 Riverside Drive, Lewistown, PA 17044; 717-247-3743.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC) and the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy (PSFA) before you apply.