Philly Firefighter study plan
Philly Firefighter · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Written Examination (cognitive ability, reading comprehension, mathematics, and reasoning) & Firefighter Knowledge and Safety (fire behavior, PPE, SCBA, tools, ladders, hose, water supply, ventilation, rescue)
Diagnose baseline in all four domains by taking one timed 40-question mixed practice set and recording per-domain scores
Build a personal math error log covering fractions, decimals, proportions, and unit conversions used in fireground calculations
Define the five stages of fire development (incipient, growth, fully developed, decay, and the flashover/backdraft warning signs) in your own words
Label the components of structural firefighter PPE and identify the NFPA standard governing each component
Your checkpoint
A one-page baseline score sheet plus a written PPE component-to-standard reference card
Firefighter Knowledge and Safety (fire behavior, PPE, SCBA, tools, ladders, hose, water supply, ventilation, rescue)
Demonstrate donning and doffing of full PPE including SCBA within a self-timed 60-second target
Explain the operation, limitations, and emergency bypass of a self-contained breathing apparatus
Identify the four common fire behavior indicators (smoke, heat, flame, air track) and describe what each signals
Practice reading a simple building pre-plan sketch and locate primary egress routes
Your checkpoint
A timed PPE/SCBA donning video or checklist log with three consecutive attempts under 60 seconds
Written Examination (cognitive ability, reading comprehension, mathematics, and reasoning) & Physical Ability Test (CPAT-style events: stair climb, hose drag, equipment carry, ladder raise, forcible entry, search, rescue drag, ceiling breach)
Complete two timed reading comprehension passages on fire service topics with 80% or better accuracy
Solve ten word problems involving hose friction loss, pump pressure, and water volume without a calculator
Begin CPAT-style stair climb conditioning three days per week, building to 3 minutes at a steady pace
Practice hose drag technique with proper body mechanics and record completion times
Your checkpoint
A math and reading practice log with scores plus a three-week stair climb conditioning record
Physical Ability Test (CPAT-style events: stair climb, hose drag, equipment carry, ladder raise, forcible entry, search, rescue drag, ceiling breach) & Firefighter Knowledge and Safety (fire behavior, PPE, SCBA, tools, ladders, hose, water supply, ventilation, rescue)
Perform equipment carry and ladder raise drills twice weekly with correct form and controlled breathing
Explain ladder types, placement angles, and the four-point raise sequence used on the fireground
Describe the components of a water supply system from hydrant to nozzle and calculate basic flow requirements
Practice forcible entry techniques on a training prop or simulated door with proper tool selection
Your checkpoint
A physical drill log documenting times for equipment carry, ladder raise, and forcible entry practice
Firefighter Knowledge and Safety (fire behavior, PPE, SCBA, tools, ladders, hose, water supply, ventilation, rescue) & Situational Judgment and Interpersonal Skills (teamwork, communication, integrity, community interaction)
Explain ventilation principles including horizontal versus vertical ventilation and their safety limits
Demonstrate search techniques including oriented search and right-hand or left-hand search patterns
Role-play three interpersonal scenarios involving crew conflict, a hesitant civilian, and a request to cut a safety corner
Write a short response describing how you would report an integrity concern through the chain of command
Your checkpoint
A written ventilation and search summary plus a log of three role-play scenarios with your chosen responses
Physical Ability Test (CPAT-style events: stair climb, hose drag, equipment carry, ladder raise, forcible entry, search, rescue drag, ceiling breach) & Situational Judgment and Interpersonal Skills (teamwork, communication, integrity, community interaction)
Complete a full simulated CPAT circuit in event order and record total and per-event times
Practice rescue drag technique with a weighted dummy or partner using proper lifting mechanics
Practice ceiling breach technique with controlled, deliberate tool work
Role-play two community interaction scenarios involving a distressed resident and a language barrier
Your checkpoint
A full simulated CPAT circuit scorecard with per-event times and a two-scenario community interaction reflection
Written Examination (cognitive ability, reading comprehension, mathematics, and reasoning) & Situational Judgment and Interpersonal Skills (teamwork, communication, integrity, community interaction)
Complete a full-length timed written practice exam covering all four written subareas
Review every missed question and write the underlying rule or fact for each
Practice two teamwork scenarios focused on giving and receiving clear radio-style instructions
Draft a personal integrity statement describing how you would handle pressure to misreport a training result
Your checkpoint
A full-length practice exam score report with a corrected error log and a one-page integrity statement
Written Examination (cognitive ability, reading comprehension, mathematics, and reasoning) & Physical Ability Test (CPAT-style events: stair climb, hose drag, equipment carry, ladder raise, forcible entry, search, rescue drag, ceiling breach) & Firefighter Knowledge and Safety (fire behavior, PPE, SCBA, tools, ladders, hose, water supply, ventilation, rescue) & Situational Judgment and Interpersonal Skills (teamwork, communication, integrity, community interaction)
Re-take the full-length practice exam and compare scores against the week 7 baseline
Complete two full CPAT-style circuits on separate days with recovery between
Review all error logs and reference cards for retention using spaced repetition
Rehearse situational judgment responses aloud for six common scenarios under time pressure
Finalize a test-day logistics plan covering sleep, nutrition, arrival time, and required documents
Your checkpoint
A final readiness packet containing the second practice exam score, two CPAT circuit times, a consolidated error review sheet, and the test-day plan
Milestones
Week 2: Don full PPE and SCBA in under 60 seconds on three consecutive attempts, and score at least 70% on a 20-question fire behavior and PPE quiz
Week 4: Complete the stair climb, equipment carry, ladder raise, and forcible entry drills with recorded times and no form breakdown; score at least 75% on a 30-question hose, water supply, and ladder quiz
Week 6: Finish a full simulated CPAT circuit within the event time limits and score at least 75% on a 25-question ventilation, search, and rescue quiz
Week 8: Improve the full-length written practice exam score by at least 10 percentage points over week 7, and complete two full CPAT-style circuits with all events within target times