Can I apply out of state, or ‘am I limited to the state I reside in?

Some agencies do have specific residency requirements that you need to meet prior to applying. This is common in New York State & some other East coast departments. However, the majority of the departments throughout the Country do not have a residency requirement.

Sometimes the certification & license requirements are State specific. You should first check with the agency to find out if your state certificate or license will be accepted. Even if the list of requirements says that you must possess that states certification, you should inquire about reciprocity. You should always inquire directly with the department if you have any questions or doubts about a department’s qualifications. Chances are you can apply for the test but would be required to obtain that states certification before or upon hire. If you are going to be testing out of state frequently it may be a good idea to get national certifications such as a National Registry EMT and an NFPA Firefighter I.