How To Become A Firefighter In Tennessee

The state of Tennessee is one that has attracted people for a long time, including those interested in how to become a firefighter in Tennessee.

Residents come here to raise families, start businesses and
get away from the more hectic lifestyle of bigger cities. Tourists come here
for the music and an authentic taste of America.

This means a vast population in a state with dense cities, beautiful landscape and lots of strong communities. Each district needs a firefighting team that can handle the job. So, how do you become a firefighter in Tennessee?

How to Become a
Firefighter in Tennessee

• 21 years
  of age
• Valid
  driver’s license
• A record
  free from habitual use of drugs or intoxicants, felony convictions, and
  misdemeanors involving dishonesty or false statements.
• Qualified
  firefighter candidates will be invited to take a written test and a pass/fail
  Physical Ability Test.
• Firefighter
  candidates must pass a physical examination, as well as a background check,
  which will include a polygraph examination.

The first thing to mention here is the lower age limit. Many departments here won’t accept applications from anyone under the age of 21. Those that are of age can expect the usual process of background checks, firefighter interviews and physical tests.

In this guide, I want to talk more about the growing demand
in Tennessee, the training facilities on offer in the state and some of the
major departments.

Firefighting in
Tennessee

Tennessee is a state on the rise in terms of both its
industry and its population. New residents are drawn here because of the
economic prospects, the way of life and the development of the major cities in
recent years.

This doesn’t just mean immigration from outside of the US.
There are lots of people from New England, California and Florida that have
relocated here for a new life.

In fact, there has been a 6.68% increase here since the 2010 census. Records for July 2018 showed a state population of 6,770,010.

An increase in industry and people means an increased demand
for any emergency services that work in the area. Law enforcement, fire
protection and medical services all need to increase their coverage to due to
an increase in call volume.

For firefighters, there are a few issues to contend with. An
increase in the population and the density of the cities means a greater number
of medical calls and accidents.

Therefore, crews need to have up-to-date EMT and paramedic training to meet this demand. Then there are the increased risks of fire with more businesses and homes to look after. Tennessee needs larger departments in both its volunteer and career departments to man all the necessary apparatus in the specialist divisions.

It isn’t just an increase in the state population that fire
departments need to deal with here. There are also natural risk factors in the
landscape and the weather.

Tennessee is in one of those locations where it can get a
bit of everything rather than occasional severe incidents. It won’t get the
major storms seen on the coast or the biggest tornadoes of Tornado Alley. But,
it can get its fair share of events that can damage areas and threaten lives.

There are around 15 tornadoes a year, 50 thunderstorms,
occasional ice storms and blizzards and a lot of fog in certain regions.

What this all means that that fire departments need to be
ready in case of any of these incidents. They also can’t assume that the next
storm or tornado will be mild in case it becomes life-threatening.

There are different ways to deal with these risks and
protect citizens. The first is to engage in community outreach and prevention
methods to advise residents on tornadoes, storms, ice and fog risks.

Then there is the response to the calls in the aftermath.
This means handling the flood, structural damage, vehicular accidents and any
contamination risks. There is also the need for fast, effective medical care in
areas cut off by the weather.

This diverse range of roles and responsibilities shows why it is so important that Tennessee fire recruits get the best possible training. Firefighter 1 and 2 certifications is just the start. EMT training and hazardous material training are also essential here.

As firefighters develop their skills and gain experience on
the job, they can also gain certifications in specializations like dealing with
confined spaces, extraction, search and rescue and a lot more.

Fire Academies in
Tennessee

Tennessee doesn’t have the same range of fire academies and other training facilities as other states. But, that doesn’t mean that you can’t gain a good education here.

There are different options available in some of the biggest cities in the state. You can also talk to your department if you are a volunteer firefighter to see what is available nearby.

• Memphis: Southwest Tennessee Community College
• Knoxville: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
• Gallatin: Volunteer State Community College
• Chattanooga: Chattanooga State Community College

The Knoxville campus offers a Fire Protection program to
teach students about the behavior of fire and how to prevent against it. They
claim that this is the only such graduate certificate program in the southeast.

This is an appealing option to those that want to learn more
about the subject in a short space of time because it is a 12-credit hour
certificate within a summer program.

Therefore, it is a good starting point for those that have other commitments and can’t yet enroll in a full academic course. You can see more about this option here.

Volunteer State Community College has an option provides
students with a more comprehensive education on the subject of Fire Science.

There is the opportunity to take the credits from this program
and turn them into a degree if preferred. The flexibility of this course
continues with the fact that this is can be taken 100% online.

This is perfect for those that like the concept of the course and but can’t relocate to the area. The promise here is that students at different levels of their career can learn new approach and skills to prepare them for managerial roles. You can find out more about this program here.

Major Fire
Departments in Tennessee

The following is a list of
major fire departments in Tennessee.  While it isn’t comprehensive it’s a
great place to start if you’re interested in learning more about how to become
a firefighter in Tennessee.

How to Become a Nashville,
TN Firefighter

• 21 years
  of age
• Valid
  driver’s license
• A record
  free from habitual use of drugs or intoxicants, felony convictions, and
  misdemeanors involving dishonesty or false statements.
• Qualified
  firefighter candidates will be invited to take a written test and a pass/fail
  Physical Ability Test.
• Firefighter
  candidates must pass a physical examination, as well as a background check,
  which will include a polygraph examination.

I have to start with Nashville because of its reputation as
a leading department in the United States. Nashville is currently in the
national top 20 because of its population and the number of calls it receives.

This supports that idea of a state that is growing fast and
the high demand for firefighters. The department can handle as many as 100,000
calls each year because of the density of the population and the range of the
jurisdiction.

There are 526 square miles to cover. This includes a lot of
residences and large buildings in Nashville itself but also smaller communities
and rural areas on the outskirts. That is why they have 38 stations in total
right now with around 1200 crew members.

There are several units in this department are comprehensive
with a lot of apparatus for different situations. There are 12 ladder companies
to handle all the high-rise buildings but also EMT services, heavy rescue
trucks and a wildland division.

Therefore, anyone coming to work in Nashville needs to be prepared to continue their training throughout their career. You never know what this city will offer next that is why they have such high standards for ongoing education and skills in this city. Learn more here.

How to Become a Franklin,
TN Firefighter

• 21 years
  of age
• Valid
  driver’s license
• A record
  free from habitual use of drugs or intoxicants, felony convictions, and
  misdemeanors involving dishonesty or false statements.
• Qualified
  firefighter candidates will be invited to take a written test and a pass/fail
  Physical Ability Test.
• Firefighter
  candidates must pass a physical examination, as well as a background check,
  which will include a polygraph examination.

Franklin is much smaller as it doesn’t have the same demands
as growing cities like Nashville and Knoxville. There are 8 stations here with
a slightly narrower scope in terms of their services.

The focuses here are on the basics of fire suppression, prevention
and EMS services. There is a strong desire to engage with the community to
provide the best possible care for those living in the area.

The department may be smaller, but the standards remain the same in regard to age, criminal history, physicality and education. You can learn more here.

Job Prospects for
Firefighters in Tennessee

The job prospects in Tennessee would seem pretty average
when you compare them to previous stats about employments and wages to other
states. In 2018, there were 5,710 firefighters employed at a rate of 1.93 per
1000 jobs.

The average annual
salary for firefighters in Tennessee is $40,280.

This puts them above Kentucky and North Carolina and roughly
on par with Alabama. The areas of Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin was
the highest employer with 1,390.

Knoxville paid the most at $43,850 a year. However, we have
to expect that ongoing growth will drive demand for firefighters and may
increase pay in the future.

https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes332011.htm#st

While the age restrictions are a little bit tougher here in
Tennessee than in some other states, there are a lot of opportunities if you
are interested in how to become a firefighter in Tennessee.

The rapid growth of Tennessee means that there is demand for
those that will put in the time and effort to train hard, improve their
knowledge and serve their communities well. This could be in one of the
thriving cities or one of the rural communities.

Wherever you choose to train and work in Tennessee, you can
be sure of the best experience and a highly rewarding career.

How Much Do Firefighters Make in Tennessee?

Curious about firefighter pay in Tennessee? We’ve put together a detailed salary guide with data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Check out our complete breakdown: Firefighter Salary in Tennessee.

Free Firefighter Career Tools

Check out our free career tools to help you get hired:

• Firefighter Salary Calculator — See what firefighters earn in your state
• Free Resume Review Guide — Download our free firefighter resume review checklist
• Eligibility Checker — Find out if you meet the requirements to become a firefighter
• Interview Prep Quiz — Test your firefighter interview knowledge with our free quiz
• CPAT Training Timer — Practice all 8 CPAT events with our free countdown timer

Before you start your journey, take our free Firefighter Eligibility Checker to see if you meet the basic requirements.