Firefighters respond to emergency call outs, search and rescue incidents and road traffic accidents. They also give advice on fire safety.
Average salary (a year)
£28000.0 to £42000.0 (starter to experienced)
Typical hours (a week)
42.0 to 48.0 a week
You could work
evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts
You can get into this job through:
You could take a college course before applying to join the fire service as a trainee, though this is not essential.
Courses include:
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
You could apply for an Operational Firefighter Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship with a fire and rescue service.
The apprenticeship takes about 2 years and combines on-the-job training with off-site study.
You'll usually need:
GCSEs grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, in English and maths
Volunteering or working in a support role, for example emergency call handling or fire safety home visits, will give you an idea of what the job is like, as well as access to internal vacancies. You'll usually need to be 18 or over.
Most fire and rescue services also run a Fire Cadets scheme. They're typically aimed at young people aged between 13 and 17 and offer a few hours' training each week in:
Contact your local fire service to find out more about volunteering opportunities and fire cadets.
You can apply directly to join the fire service. Each service sets its own entry requirements.
Many ask for GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths, or equivalent qualifications.
The selection process can take some time and involves:
Fire services hold regular outreach events where you can speak to firefighters about the job and register your interest for upcoming vacancies.
You may be able to join the fire service as an on-call firefighter .
You'll be trained to deal with a broad range of incidents in return for a commitment to provide shift cover during days, nights and weekends. This is a paid position and could lead to a full-time role when opportunities arise.
You can also train to be a firefighter in the Royal Air Force (RAF) .
Fire services take on new recruits at different times of the year, so check with your local fire service to find out when they are recruiting next.
You can contact your local fire and rescue service for a firefighter careers information and recruitment pack.
You'll need:
You'll need to:
Some fire services may only accept applications from people living in the local and surrounding areas.
Generally, there is no upper age limit to join.
As a firefighter, you could:
You could work at a fire station, at a client's home or at a client's business.
Your working environment may be at height, cramped and physically and emotionally demanding.
You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment and a uniform.
All fire services have a programme that lets you plan and track your career development.
You could work your way up to crew manager, watch manager or station manager.
If you're prepared to move between services, you could become:
If you're involved in fire safety and prevention work, you can take professional qualifications leading to membership of The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) .
You could also get a Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) licence for driving fire engines.
