Fire Battalion Chiefs: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of fire battalion chiefs about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for fire battalion chiefs to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of fire battalion chiefs expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for fire battalion chiefs.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Fire Battalion Chiefs?
Do fire battalion chiefs need a degree? What kind of experience do fire battalion chiefs typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for fire battalion chiefs to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Fire Battalion Chiefs
Jobs Postings for Fire Battalion Chiefs By Education
- No Education Listed: 2,404 (35%)
- Bachelor's degree: 2,060 (30%)
- High School or GED: 1,242 (18%)
- Master's degree: 850 (12%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 289 (4%)
No education was listed by most employers of fire battalion chiefs. According to job data, no education was required for 35% of positions. In 30% of job listings a bachelor's degree was required and in 18% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Fire Battalion Chiefs
Jobs Postings for Fire Battalion Chiefs By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 480 (15%)
- 2-3 Years: 788 (24%)
- 4-6 Years: 963 (30%)
- 7-9 Years: 404 (13%)
- 10+ Years: 591 (18%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for fire battalion chiefs. In 30% of job postings for Fire Battalion Chiefs, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 24% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 10+ years of experience was sought in 18% of job postings for fire battalion chiefs.
What Kind of Degree Do Fire Battalion Chiefs Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for fire battalion chiefs, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 11 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective fire battalion chiefs, and in 2021 a total of 49,166 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective fire battalion chiefs.
Top Degree Programs for Fire Battalion Chiefs
Top 5 Degree Programs for Fire Battalion Chiefs (2021)
Program | Completions |
---|---|
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic). | 26,277 |
Fire Science/Fire-fighting. | 8,101 |
Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician. | 3,891 |
Homeland Security. | 3,012 |
Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management. | 2,708 |
Program | Completions |
---|---|
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic). | 26,277 |
Fire Science/Fire-fighting. | 8,101 |
Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician. | 3,891 |
Homeland Security. | 3,012 |
Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management. | 2,708 |
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other. | 1,640 |
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, General. | 1,622 |
Fire Services Administration. | 1,450 |
Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services. | 249 |
Fire Protection, Other. | 126 |
Wildland/Forest Firefighting and Investigation. | 90 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Fire Battalion Chiefs
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Launch an exciting career as a police officer, corrections officer, or investigator by learning the ins and outs of the U.S. criminal justice system and all its interconnected components, including law enforcement, corrections, and the courts.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Maintain social order and earn credentials for a leadership role in police, corrections, security, or court administration.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Earn college credit for your public safety experience and get promoted to a leadership rank with this degree-completion major.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Acquire specialized knowledge while developing a holistic view of the criminal justice system.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 6
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Tackle critical issues facing individuals and communities with advanced leadership and management skills ideally suited for a complex criminal justice system.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Fire Battalion Chiefs Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by fire battalion chiefs to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for fire battalion chiefs, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Fire Battalion Chiefs
Based on 0 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Fire Battalion Chiefs
Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
---|
Top 5 Common Skills for Fire Battalion Chiefs
Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
---|---|---|
Management | 2,543 | 42% |
Operations | 2,506 | 41% |
Communications | 2,382 | 39% |
Leadership | 1,806 | 30% |
Planning | 1,503 | 25% |
Based on 0 job postings related to fire battalion chiefs, was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with % of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for were also highly sought.
As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for fire battalion chiefs, followed by operations, communications, leadership, planning and coordinating.
Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
---|
Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
---|---|---|
Management | 2,543 | 42% |
Operations | 2,506 | 41% |
Communications | 2,382 | 39% |
Leadership | 1,806 | 30% |
Planning | 1,503 | 25% |
Coordinating | 1,306 | 22% |
Writing | 1,085 | 18% |
Customer Service | 1,044 | 17% |
Investigation | 753 | 12% |
Presentations | 702 | 12% |
Research | 646 | 11% |
Problem Solving | 643 | 11% |
Budgeting | 622 | 10% |
Interpersonal Communications | 550 | 9% |
Verbal Communication Skills | 540 | 9% |
Decision Making | 521 | 9% |
Strategic Planning | 508 | 8% |
Good Driving Record | 504 | 8% |
Microsoft Excel | 484 | 8% |
Supervision | 483 | 8% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about fire battalion chiefs? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for fire battalion chiefs.
What do fire battalion chiefs do?
How much do fire battalion chiefs make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.