3 answers
Breanna
Student
Rock Hill, South Carolina
1
Question
Updated
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Career obstacles?
Is it hard for a girl to get into one of these fields? And is there any requirements you may not know of before going into something like this?
3 answers
Ryan Pfeiffer, MA
Firefighter Training Officer / EMT
83
Answers
Fort Collins, Colorado
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
Hi Breanna. I can really only speak to the firefighting career field, but the short answer is no! It shouldn't be any harder for you to get into firefighting than it is for anyone else. That doesn't mean it's not hard - you must be mature, responsible, self-motivated, a teamplayer, and physically fit. It will take work, but it is very doable, and you'll be very proud when you achieve your goal because you'll know that you earned it.
Firefighting is a very fair career. The main nationally recognized fitness test - the CPAT - has 1 standard for males and females. There is no prorating, handicap, or different standard based on age, gender, size, or anything else because in the fire service the airpack I wear weights exactly the same as the one you'll wear, the hoseline we'll both pull will weigh the same, and the victims we may find in a burning building will weigh the same and they won't care if you're a 30-year old 5 foot tall female or an 18-year old 6 foot tall male.
It is true that firefighting is still a "male-dominated" career - about 90% of firefighters are male. But the number of female firefighters are on the rise and many fire departments are actively recruiting females to make their workforces more diverse. That may actually help you get hired as a firefighter!
I've been in public safety for over 15-years, and I can honestly say that some of the best firefighters I know are females. I instruct alongside several of them at the local college's fire academy for the past 5-years. In that time, I've seen quite a few female students graduate and become firefighters - several of whom have graduated at or near the top of their class!
Long story short, yes, it's very doable. It will still take effort, it will be challenging, but it is obtainable and it is worth it. Keep your head up, don't make excuses - just take extreme ownership and work hard and you can do it. Good luck!
Firefighting is a very fair career. The main nationally recognized fitness test - the CPAT - has 1 standard for males and females. There is no prorating, handicap, or different standard based on age, gender, size, or anything else because in the fire service the airpack I wear weights exactly the same as the one you'll wear, the hoseline we'll both pull will weigh the same, and the victims we may find in a burning building will weigh the same and they won't care if you're a 30-year old 5 foot tall female or an 18-year old 6 foot tall male.
It is true that firefighting is still a "male-dominated" career - about 90% of firefighters are male. But the number of female firefighters are on the rise and many fire departments are actively recruiting females to make their workforces more diverse. That may actually help you get hired as a firefighter!
I've been in public safety for over 15-years, and I can honestly say that some of the best firefighters I know are females. I instruct alongside several of them at the local college's fire academy for the past 5-years. In that time, I've seen quite a few female students graduate and become firefighters - several of whom have graduated at or near the top of their class!
Long story short, yes, it's very doable. It will still take effort, it will be challenging, but it is obtainable and it is worth it. Keep your head up, don't make excuses - just take extreme ownership and work hard and you can do it. Good luck!
Janet Upton
Retired fire chief
3
Answers
Napa, California
Updated
Janet’s Answer
Hi, Breanna
I’ll speak to firefighting as a 32 year fire service veteran. It’s not difficult for women to get into the field if you are motivated, in good physical condition and prepared to be a life long learner! I recommend getting involved in youth programs like Fire Explorers at your local fire department (if they have one) and looking for other opportunities to get exposed to the job like this one: https://www.fire.ca.gov/camp-cinder
You can also apply to become a volunteer firefighter once you turn 18 - it’s a great recruiting pool for the professional fire service and many of us began our careers that way.
Another piece of advice is to get your CPR certification and look for EMT or Paramedic courses at your local Community College.
Best of luck!!!
I’ll speak to firefighting as a 32 year fire service veteran. It’s not difficult for women to get into the field if you are motivated, in good physical condition and prepared to be a life long learner! I recommend getting involved in youth programs like Fire Explorers at your local fire department (if they have one) and looking for other opportunities to get exposed to the job like this one: https://www.fire.ca.gov/camp-cinder
You can also apply to become a volunteer firefighter once you turn 18 - it’s a great recruiting pool for the professional fire service and many of us began our careers that way.
Another piece of advice is to get your CPR certification and look for EMT or Paramedic courses at your local Community College.
Best of luck!!!
Aaron Holloway
Mortgage Operations-Closing Specialist
33
Answers
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Aaron’s Answer
Hi Breanna,
There are many prerequisites to get into the field of mechanics, agriculture/farming, and firefighting. Try to figure what you most are interested in and dive into that field to see if that interest you. In order to become a firefighter you will need to apply at your local fire department, get accepted then pass the training program.
Good luck to you.
https://www.learnhowtobecome.org/mechanic/
https://learn.org/articles/becoming_a_farmer_career_path_education_requirements.html#:~:text=Some%20farmers%20hold%20a%20bachelor's,help%20farmers%20learn%20the%20trade.
There are many prerequisites to get into the field of mechanics, agriculture/farming, and firefighting. Try to figure what you most are interested in and dive into that field to see if that interest you. In order to become a firefighter you will need to apply at your local fire department, get accepted then pass the training program.
Good luck to you.
Aaron recommends the following next steps:
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