Requirements

Fire service officer (watch manager and below) - requirements

As a fire service officer, you’ll be involved in a variety of firefighting activities, saving people from emergency situations. You’ll work with the local community, educating people on fire safety. Keep reading to learn about a career as a fire service officer and to find out how to become one.

Know what you'll need to land a job below.

What qualifications do you need to be a fire service officer?

Personal qualities and physical abilities are far more important than academic qualifications when it comes to getting into the fire service. An undergraduate degree isn’t usually needed but there are some relevant subject areas you could study, like:

Please note this is a beta version. We'll continue to improve our suggestions here so that we show you the most relevant subjects.

Do you need a postgraduate qualification to be a fire service officer?

You won’t need a postgraduate qualification to apply for fire service officer jobs but having one could increase your knowledge and employability and could be useful if applying for more senior roles.

Examples of taught master's and research degrees at postgraduate level include courses in:

Fire safety engineering
Emergency management in high hazard industries
Fire and service rescue management
Fire scene investigation

What skills do you need to be a fire service officer?

As well as physical fitness, you’ll need to show bravery and the ability to work as part of a team.

Hard skills usually include:

Fire alarm systems
Fire strategy
Machinery
Risk analysis

Soft skills include:

Communication
Leadership
Problem-solving
Confidence
Judgment

Do you need work experience to be a fire service officer?

It’s not usually possible to get work experience before joining the fire service, due to health and safety requirements. However, you may be able to spend some time at a fire station in a safe environment to get a feel for the job. You’ll need several years of experience as a firefighter before moving into a more senior role like watch manager.