Firefighter training duration varies depending on the program and location but generally falls within these ranges:

• Basic firefighter training programs often last between 10 to 14 weeks. For example, the Georgia Fire Academy offers a 10-week program with 428 hours of training, and the Connecticut Recruit Firefighter Program spans 14 weeks with over 800 hours of instruction

• Some fire academies have programs lasting about 12 weeks, such as the Ontario Fire Academy's full-time program and the TEEX Recruit Fire Academy, which is a 12-week (545-hour) intensive course

• Other departments may have shorter programs around 3 to 6 months, which provide foundational skills in fire suppression, rescue, and emergency response

• Overall, becoming a paid firefighter usually requires at least one year of training when including all required certifications, hiring processes, and post-hiring training, which can add several hundred hours more

• Additional specialized training, such as EMT or paramedic certification, can extend the total training time by several months to years depending on the level of certification pursued

• Volunteer firefighter training can be much shorter, sometimes just a few weeks, but full-time career firefighters typically undergo more extensive training and probation periods lasting 6 to 12 months

In summary, firefighter training programs typically range from about 10 weeks to 6 months for initial academy training, but the full process to become a career firefighter including certifications and post-hiring training often takes a year or more.