How to Become a Firefighter in Vermont

Who can apply

• Full-time firefighters (32 or more hours per week) must hold Firefighter I certification under 20 V.S.A. 3153(a)(1)(A) and the Council's rules.
• Volunteer and call firefighters who work under 32 hours per week have no statutory minimum training level; the local fire department sets their requirements.
• Challenge exam candidates (no approved Vermont Fire Academy course) must be at least 18 on the test date.

Step by step

1. Join a Vermont fire department; the department runs its own hiring and sets volunteer standards.
2. Complete an approved Vermont Fire Academy Firefighter I course (or qualify for a challenge exam or reciprocity).
3. Pass the written exam: 100 multiple-choice questions based on NFPA 1001, minimum score 70.
4. Pass the practical skills exam (5 skill stations after an academy course).
5. Full-time firefighters: get Firefighter I within 12 months of becoming full-time (a chief can ask for up to 24 months).
6. Renew every year by June 30 with 24 hours of continued training, including an annual hazmat refresher.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: For full-time firefighters, Firefighter I through an approved Vermont Fire Academy course is the minimum. The law requires the Council to make minimum basic training available on a voluntary basis to other firefighters, reasonable in length, cost and location given Vermont's largely volunteer fire service.

Exam: Firefighter I and II certification exams are given at the end of Vermont Fire Academy programs. The written exam has 100 multiple-choice questions (150 for a combined Firefighter I/II course) and you need 70; you get two attempts, the second 14 to 60 days later at the Vermont Fire Academy in Pittsford. The practical has 5 skill stations (10 for a combined course) with two attempts per station; one retest 14 to 60 days later covers failed stations plus one random station, and failing it means retaking the course. Challenge exams (10 practical stations) can be taken only once every five years per level.

What it costs in Vermont

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

Full-time firefighters have 12 months (extendable to 24) from becoming full-time to get Firefighter I. Written and practical retests happen 14 to 60 days after the first attempt.

Keeping your certification

Renewal: Firefighter certification is valid for 1 year and all certifications expire June 30. Renew by completing 24 hours of continued training; your department's chief verifies it on the recertification form. Firefighter I, II and Fire Officer holders must also complete, every year, a hazardous materials refresher, a CPR/AED refresher to keep a valid card, and SCBA training.

Good to know in Vermont

12-month deadline: Full-time firefighters must get Firefighter I within 12 months of becoming full-time. On a chief's written request, the Chief Fire Service Training Officer may extend this to up to 24 months.

Challenge exam: If you trained somewhere other than an approved Vermont Fire Academy program, you can challenge the Firefighter I exam once every five years if you are 18 or older and show the required CPR/AED, first aid, hazmat operations, traffic incident management and ICS-100 training.

Coming from another state: You may apply for reciprocal recognition of a fire service certification if you are currently affiliated with a Vermont fire department, or are applying for a Vermont Fire Academy course that needs it as a prerequisite. Vermont can issue only the certification levels it is authorized for, and reciprocity does not lead to a Pro Board certificate.

Sources

• Vermont Division of Fire Safety - Firefighter Certification Requirements
• Vermont Fire Academy - Certification and Challenge Exams
• Vermont Fire Academy - Firefighter I and II Challenge Exam Application (REV 05/2026)
• 20 V.S.A. 3153 - Vermont Fire Service Training Council powers and duties
• Vermont Fire Academy: Certification