Oklahoma State Firefighter Requirements

• Firefighters risk their lives to rescue children, animals and adults from dangerous situations, including fires, floods, danger due to terrorism or natural disasters, and accidents. The job is difficult but rewarding; firefighters are often seen as national heroes for their selfless effort to protect the citizens of their cities and towns. No specific set of guidelines applies for individuals seeking to work as firefighters in Oklahoma. Requirements vary by city.

Age and Education

• All firefighters, including those applying for a position in Oklahoma, must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. Students are advised to take courses in mathematics, science, English, communications and computer science.

Firefighter Education

• Increasingly firefighters are expected to have some postsecondary education in fire science. In Duncan, Oklahoma, firefighter applicants must have completed the Firefighter I course at Oklahoma State University or an equivalent school. The fire department in Edmond, Oklahoma, wants candidates to have FSAC Firefighter I Certification as well as an associate's degree in fire sciences. The website of the Oklahoma City Fire Department says many of its firefighters choose to return to school to earn a degree, and the position offers tuition reimbursement.

Physical Requirements

• Firefighter applicants in Oklahoma must fulfill various physical requirements, depending on their city of employment. Generally, applicants must be able to wear equipment that weighs up to 50 pounds, and climb multiple flights of stairs wearing and carrying equipment that can total 100 pounds. Applicants must be in excellent physical condition, agile, able to carry animals and people ranging from infants to adults, and flexible enough to move around and perform rescue missions from a ladder. They must have steady arms and hands and have manual dexterity and good speech, vision and hearing. Applicants must be able to make life-or-death decisions and perform in physically uncomfortable situations.

Mandatory Testing

• All fire departments in Oklahoma require applicants to pass physical and written testing before being considered for the position. For example, the written examination in Oklahoma City includes questions testing reasoning, mechanical ability, problem solving, reading ability, mathematical ability, verbal expression, spatial ability, teamwork, customer service and memorization skills. The city's physical examination tests candidates on their ability to climb stairs, drag hoses, carry equipment, raise and extend a ladder, forcibly enter a building, search, rescue and breach a ceiling.

Medical Training

• Though requirements vary by city, firefighters are typically required to hold an emergency medical technician (EMT) certification. Duncan, Edmond and Oklahoma City all list this as a requirement.

Miscellaneous Requirements

• Oklahoma firefighter applicants must meet several miscellaneous requirements, depending on their city of intended employment. These include passing a drug test, a background check, being of good moral character and having a current Oklahoma driver's license. In Duncan, applicants must live within a 30-minute drive of the main fire station.