How to Become a Firefighter in South Carolina

Who can apply

• Before a paid or volunteer firefighter starts, the fire chief must have a law enforcement agency run a criminal records check. The check can cost no more than $8 (S.C. Code 40-80-20).
• For 10 years after a conviction or a guilty or no-contest plea for a felony, arson or a controlled-substance offense, you may not perform firefighting duties. Anyone with an arson conviction or plea can never serve.
• Your fire chief must register you with the Office of the State Fire Marshal within 60 days of your employment date (S.C. Code 40-80-30).
• SCFA Firefighter I certification is open to current members of South Carolina fire departments. Students in academy-recognized high school, career center or technical programs are eligible only through SCFA's in-state delivery system.

Step by step

1. Join or get hired by a South Carolina fire department. Departments run their own hiring process.
2. Your fire chief arranges your criminal records check and registers you with the State Fire Marshal within 60 days.
3. Complete a Firefighter I pathway. Pathway 1: Fundamentals of Firefighting Alpha, Bravo and Charlie, then Firefighter I Delta or NFPA Firefighter I. Pathway 2: NFPA Hybrid Firefighter, the Regional Recruit Program, Regional FF I or the CTC Firefighter I curriculum, plus First Aid and CPR.
4. Complete Hazmat Awareness and Hazmat Operations.
5. Pass the practical skills evaluations and the 100-question written exam (70% or higher).
6. SCFA issues Firefighter I certification, accredited by IFSAC and Pro Board.

Training and exam

Training: Since August 1, 2025, SCFA's Firefighter I and II courses follow the 2024 edition of NFPA 1010 and IFSTA Essentials 8 (Firefighter I and II now use separate textbooks); the older NFPA 1001-based versions are no longer offered. Training is delivered through SCFA courses statewide: Fundamentals of Firefighting Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta (1101 to 1104) or NFPA Firefighter I (1153), or the Hybrid Firefighter (1402), Regional Recruit (1155), Regional FF I (1156) or CTC Firefighter I (1196) programs. Hazmat Awareness and Operations are also required.

Exam: The written exam has 100 multiple-choice and/or matching questions, randomly generated from IFSTA/Fire Protection Publications test banks, and you need 70% to pass. You can ask in advance for an oral exam. If you fail, you get an immediate retest 1 day to 120 days later, then a second retest at least 30 days after that but within 120 days of the original failure. On the skills test, you get a second attempt right away. A third attempt is possible if you completed at least 50% of the steps and did not miss a critical step. If you cannot finish retesting within 120 days, you must repeat the course.

What it costs in South Carolina

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

Your fire chief must register you with the State Fire Marshal within 60 days of your employment date. Written exam retests must be finished within 120 days of the original failure.

Good to know in South Carolina

Firefighter registry: Under the South Carolina Firefighters Employment and Registration Act, every paid or volunteer firefighter must be registered with the Office of the State Fire Marshal and is given a firefighter ID number. If you serve more than one department, each one must register you.

Six-month inactivity rule: If you were registered but have not been active with a fire department for six months, you must apply for registration again and get a new criminal records check (S.C. Code 40-80-40). This does not apply if you are reinstated to your last registered department within three years.

Out-of-state candidates: Requests from people in other IFSAC or Pro Board states are considered only if their own state's entity is not accredited at the level requested. SCFA says reciprocity may be available in some cases.

Appeals: You can appeal in writing to the SCFA Accreditation Coordinator within 30 calendar days for testing-procedure problems, question validity or discrimination.

Study references: Since August 1, 2025, SCFA courses use NFPA 1010 (2024) and IFSTA Essentials of Firefighting, 8th edition. The May 2022 certification guidelines still cite NFPA 1001 (2019) and the 7th edition.

Sources

• SC Fire Academy - Fire Fighter I Certification Implementation Guidelines (May 2022)
• S.C. Code Title 40, Chapter 80 - South Carolina Firefighters Employment and Registration Act
• SC Fire Academy: Firefighter Series Update (2025)