There are minimal state requirements that must be met by individuals seeking a career in a paid Fire Department, however, a candidate who has obtained some training prior to applying or testing for a position is very desirable.  Because of this, competition can be very high for even one professional firefighter position.  Most municipal departments in New Hampshire require candidates to have passed Firefighter I and even the Firefighter II curriculum, have some emergency medical training and hold a valid NH commercial drivers license before being hired.  All newly hired Firefighters are also required to pass Certified Career Firefighter at the NH Fire Academay, usually within one year as a condition of employment.

Fire Service courses are time consuming and equipment intensive.  Each Firefighter student must wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) in order to participate in live fire and hazardous exercises.  PPE includes protective pants, coat, gloves, helmet, boots and SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus).  PPE can add up to 50 pounds to a persons weight.  In addition to PPE, students will also carry tools such as saws, hoses, ground ladders and other equipment.  As a result, students must have stamina and mental fortitude to work through physically demanding tasks.  Students must also "play well with others", participating as a member of a team accomplishing overall objectives.  

Some students choosing a career in the fire service gain training through Technical College program courses.  Others may obtain certifications with the help of a volunteer or "paid on-call" fire department willing to sponsor them for training.  An overview of the Firefighter I, and the Firefighter II programs can be found at the NH Fire Academy web page.  Information regarding the Associates Degree in Fire Science program held in Laconia be found at the NH Community Technical College  website.