How to become a fire service officer

Official title: Fire service officers (watch manager and below)

Also called: Fire guard, Sub officer, Sub-officer, Fire fighter, Crew manager, Fire officer, Fire engineer, Watch manager, Watch officer, Watch commander, Fire prevention man, Fire safety officer

Fire service officers (watch manager and below) co-ordinate and participate in firefighting activities, provide emergency services in the event of accidents or bomb alerts, and advise on fire prevention.

Main tasks

• Inspects premises to identify potential fire hazards and to check that firefighting equipment is available and in working order and that statutory fire safety regulations are met
• Arranges fire drills and tests alarm systems and equipment
• Travels to fire or other emergency by vehicle and locates water mains if necessary
• Operates hose pipes, ladders, chemical, foam, gas or powder fire extinguishing appliances
• Rescues people or animals trapped by fire or other emergency situations such as flooding and administers first aid
• Removes goods from fire damaged premises, clears excess water, makes safe any structural hazards and takes any other necessary steps to reduce damage to property
• Attends and deals with bomb alerts and accidents involving spillage of hazardous substances
• Advises on fire safety measures in new buildings

How to become one

There are no formal academic requirements, although applicants to fire control roles must demonstrate basic literacy and numeracy, keyboard and communication skills. Applicants to fire-fighter roles must pass psychological, physical and medical tests. Some Fire and Rescue Services operate direct entry recruitment processes to managerial operational roles. There is a minimum age limit of 18 years for entry to fire-fighter and control operator roles and DBS checks can be required.

Ways in

• Apprenticeship (England): Fire safety inspector (level 4). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0746.
• Apprenticeship (England): Operational firefighter (level 3). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0486.

Pay · Outlook

• Median full-time pay: £44,033 a year The middle half earn £38,111 to £50,976.
• About 41,100 people work in this job now, and about 47,200 are projected by 2035. (+14.8%)

Related jobs

• Non-commissioned officers and other ranks
• Police officers (sergeant and below)
• Prison service officers (below principal officer)

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Questions people ask

How do I become a fire service officer?

There are no formal academic requirements, although applicants to fire control roles must demonstrate basic literacy and numeracy, keyboard and communication skills. Applicants to fire-fighter roles must pass psychological, physical and medical tests. Some Fire and Rescue Services operate direct entry recruitment processes to managerial operational roles. There is a minimum age limit of 18 years for entry to fire-fighter and control operator roles and DBS checks can be required.

How much does a fire service officer earn in the UK?

Median full-time pay is £44,033 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £38,111 to £50,976.

Is a fire service officer a growing career in the UK?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 15% by 2035, from about 41,100 to about 47,200 people (Department for Education).

Do you need a degree to become a fire service officer?

Not always. 28% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Fire safety inspector (level 4).

Sources

• Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03