Career guide · Illinois
How to Become a Female Firefighter in Illinois
9 active openings· pay $68k–$86k/yr
New to this path? Start with the firefighter career guide →
Know your readiness score — free
See exactly where you stand against CPAT standards before you apply. Built for women, scored against real numbers.
Get your free Firefighter readiness assessmentIllinois Firefighter requirements
The core documents and certifications most Illinois departments expect from firefighter candidates:
- ✓Valid driver's license
- ✓Birth certificate or passport
- ✓High school diploma / GED
- ✓EMT-Basic certification
- ✓CPR / BLS certification
- ✓CPAT completion certificate
- ✓Firefighter I certification
- ✓Firefighter II certification
- ✓Physical exam clearance letter
- ✓Background check authorization
CPAT fitness standards
Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) benchmarks. Women pass these at high rates when they train to them specifically — here are the minimum and target numbers:
| Event | Minimum | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Push-Ups | 25 reps | 40 reps |
| Pull-Ups | 3 reps | 8 reps |
| Sit-Ups (1 min) | 25 reps | 40 reps |
| 1.5-Mile Run | 15:30 | 13:00 |
| Stair Climb (Step Mill Hold) | 200 sec | 170 sec |
| Victim Drag (165 lbs, 35 ft) | 35 sec | 25 sec |
Take the free assessment → to see your gap on each event.
The Illinois hiring process
Insight from tracked Illinois departments like Chicago Fire Department.
high
Competitiveness
8,000
Est. applicants
Where Illinois candidates fall short
4 common failure points and 4 insider tips for Illinois departments are inside the app. Unlock the full hiring intel →
Open firefighter jobs in Illinois
9 live openings, updated weekly from official agency boards.
Entry-Level Firefighter
Fire · Champaign Fire Department, IL
EMT/Firefighter Bourbonnais
Metro Paramedic Services , Inc. · Bourbonnais, IL
Fire Protection Engineer
Fire & Risk Alliance, LLC · Chicago, IL
EMT/Firefighter New Lenox
Metro Paramedic Services , Inc. · New Lenox, IL
Firefighter Paramedic - Glenwood Fire Dept
AMR · Glenwood, IL
Senior Fire Protection Engineer — Hybrid, ESOP Growth Path
Interface · Chicago, IL
EMT/Firefighter New Lenox
Superior Ambulance · New Lenox, IL
Firefighter
Fire - Union · 1 Gary K Anderson Plz Decatur, IL
Firefighter Paramedic
American Medical Response · Glenwood, IL
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