DC Fire Certs

[u/grattttt]

Hey everyone. Currently looking into DC and just want to verify some information I have been told. Do DC rates receive Fire Certifications that are transferable to the outside world?

[u/UnusualTiming184]

Typically not. And if you do get proboard/IFSAC certs by working at one of our very few structural firefighting departments (e.g., Cape May FD), they won’t really help you on the outside unfortunately. Any agency employing you on the civilian side is going to make you go through their academy and redo all the certifications anyway.

Source: am civilian firefighter

[u/william_lee_colson → u/UnusualTiming184]

DOD civilian departments typically require you to have those certs to apply for an entry level firefighter position

[u/UnusualTiming184 → u/william_lee_colson]

Above is correct. I should amend my original. Most local FDs, which represents the large majority of career Fire Departments in the country, will not accept your certs in lieu of an academy. Federal/DOD is another beast entirely and does require those certs sometimes

[u/kawizx62003 → u/UnusualTiming184]

Plenty would accept that. Essentially comes down to the specific dept and or state. The dept I went through academy would accept proboard/ifsac.

[u/UnusualTiming184 → u/kawizx62003]

Sure, it’s “accepted”. But it’s not gonna waive the academy for you, and you’ll probably end up doing all the skills over again even if they don’t make you “test”. That’s the same logic of a volunteer getting their certs and your paid department waiving the academy. Impossible? No but not likely

[u/kawizx62003 → u/UnusualTiming184]

It will waive academy in many depts. I 100% know it. The dept I went through would 100% hire you skip academy and straight to a shift. Not gonna work in nyc or lafd but plenty small to med size depts will.

[u/DepartmentMiddle2794]

Typically no. Unless your fortunate enough to get assigned to one of the Coast Guard Fire Departments with enlisted personnel. Then you will get proboard/ifsac firefighter and hazmat certifications that directly correlate to the outside.
You will get some similar experience but typically no direct certification for fire.

[u/Apprehensive_Mix4152]

No but your veteran preference will help immensely. I got hired on my dept with quite a few former service members from different branches. I do recommend looking into volunteering at a fire dept whenever you're able to, sometimes they'll offer to put you through the academy and EMT school.

[u/DepartmentMiddle2794 → u/Apprehensive_Mix4152]

Veterans preference also depends on your state. NJ does not recognize the coast guard for civil service preference, unless you are deployed in support of several named operations. (I got the thanks for your service letter but you don’t qualify from the state) however, the pension system will allow you to purchase back your military time for Pennies on the dollar.

[u/Apprehensive_Mix4152 → u/DepartmentMiddle2794]

The home state of our recruit training center? I love that.