A
nine-month
academic, practical, and physical training program at the Philadelphia Fire Academy. At the Academy, cadets learn basic firefighting and emergency medical services.
Is the fire academy hard?
Is the Fire Academy Difficult? The fire academy is a part of every firefighter’s journey, and
it can be very difficult
. This basic level of training is what is necessary to ensure you are safe and capable to handle the situations you will encounter in the fire service.
How long does firefighter academy last?
The average fire academy program takes
about 12 to 14 weeks
to complete a total of 600 hours of training. While most programs want all students to enter at the same time, some have staggered entrance options. Generally, you’ll need to commit anywhere from 40 to 48 hours weekly to undergo the program.
How long does it take to become a firefighter in Pennsylvania?
The bare minimum expectation is typically the basic Firefighter 1
training with 70 hours as a first responder
. Those that want to stand out will take advantage of all the certificates and opportunities in front of them.
How long does it take to become a fire officer?
All new firefighters are required to undergo extensive training that normally lasts
between 12 and 16 weeks
. Even firefighters who have been doing the job for a number of years are required to do ongoing training to ensure they’re at the top of their game.
Do you get paid in the fire academy?
During these academies,
you will be paid
, as you are an employee of the department at that point. Sometimes they will start you at a lower “fire recruit” pay step that makes a little less, but many will pay you the regular starting salary of a firefighter with that department.
Do you sleep at the fire academy?
A Typical Day in Academy
Now that you know more about the overall process of firefighting training, what it aims to teach, and what students learn during training, you can better understand a typical day in firefighting training. … Their classes meet Monday through Thursday, so
Friday students can sleep in.
What disqualifies you from becoming a firefighter?
Firefighters must also demonstrate responsibility and reliability. Therefore, firefighters can be
disqualified for conditions that impair their physical performance as
well as for physically or morally harmful behavior. This behavior includes drug abuse, criminal activity and even repeated traffic violations.
How much do firefighters make an hour?
| Annual Salary Hourly Wage | Top Earners $63,500 $31 | 75th Percentile $54,500 $26 | Average $44,421 $21 | 25th Percentile $34,500 $17 |
|---|
Is it harder to become a firefighter or police officer?
The police academy is overall, more academically difficult
. There is more to learn regarding law, reports and investigations. There seems to be more focus on this portion of the academy for police, though the testing for both requires high scores. Both academies can be hard with manipulative skills.
How many hours do firefighters work?
As we have seen, most firefighters work
24-hour shifts
, though some work 48’s or 12’s. Firefighters, on average, work about 56 hours per week. This is an average, because depending which schedule they work, some weeks could be 96 hours on shift and others could be 24 hours on shift.
Why do firefighters not get paid?
In general, a good rule of thumb is “
no, volunteer firefighters don’t get paid
”. This not necessarily because the departments don’t want to pay their volunteers, but because it’s a bit of a legal minefield thanks to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
How much do firemen make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average firefighter makes
about $50,850 annually
or $24.45 per hour.
What do firefighters do all day?
When not fighting fires, firefighters spend all day responding to
medical emergencies
and other types of calls, checking equipment, vehicle maintenance, housework/cleaning, writing reports, training and education, physical fitness, public safety demos, and station tours.
Do firefighters get paid weekly or monthly?
Firefighters work on a 21-day, 168-hour pay schedule. They receive two different types of paychecks. One type of paycheck is received
bi-weekly
and is intended to cover 106 hours. The second type of paycheck is paid every three weeks, at the end of the firefighter’s 168-hour pay period.
Is firefighter a good career?
Firefighting is a rewarding career that offers a
very high level of job satisfaction
. Being a firefighter is a great job if you enjoy helping people and serving your community, but be aware that it can be demanding, stressful, and even dangerous at times.
