Boot Bound Get the book

For future firefighters

Your blueprint to the badge.

The step-by-step guide to getting hired by any fire department in the U.S., from the written test to your first day as a boot. Written by a career firefighter/paramedic who now helps choose new hires.

Get the ebook · $37 Free interview guide
  • 10+ years in the fire service
  • Licensed paramedic
  • Helps choose new hires
Boot Bound: Your Blueprint to the Badge, by Tyler Rochford

Every stage of the hiring process, covered

  1. Application
  2. Written test
  3. Physical test
  4. Oral board
  5. Background
  6. Polygraph
  7. Psych eval
  8. Chief's interview

The book

Boot Bound: Your Blueprint to the Badge

Most candidates piece the process together the hard way, through test after test and interview after interview. This book gives you the whole thing up front, in the order you'll face it.

$79 $37 Sale
Buy the ebook · $37

Instant PDF download. Sale price for a limited time; regular price $79. Paperback coming soon on Amazon.

  • Written test practicePractice sets for mechanical reasoning, math, reading, maps and memory recall, with answer keys and diagrams.
  • The ARTS MethodA four-step way to answer any oral board question, with real model answers.
  • The interview question bankThe questions panels ask most, what they're really asking and how to answer.
  • Background, polygraph and psychHow to build a background packet that holds up, and what happens in the room.
  • The academy and probationHow to make it through, and how to be the best boot your station has seen.
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About

I'm Tyler Rochford.

My path to the fire service started at a swimming pool, when I pulled a 3-year-old out of the deep end as a lifeguard. From there it was EMT school, ambulance shifts, a community college fire academy, reserve firefighting, a trauma center ER and, finally, paramedic school.

I tested all over the country, sat through every kind of interview and learned the process the hard way. Today I'm a career firefighter/paramedic, and I help my department choose its new hires. Boot Bound is everything I wish someone had handed me at the start.

10+years in the fire service
15 of 18of my academy class hired
5fire academies completed

Questions

FAQ

Does this work for any fire department?

Yes. The book covers the hiring process most U.S. departments follow. Every department is a little different, so you'll also learn how to read each announcement and adjust.

Do I need my EMT before I start?

No. The book starts from the very beginning, including how to get qualified. Many departments do require an EMT certification to apply, so the book shows you how to get it.

Am I too old to start?

No. Recently I helped a man in his 40s land a conditional offer. If you know what departments are looking for, it's very possible.

How long does it take to get hired?

Anywhere from 6 months to 10 years. It depends on your qualifications, how many departments you test with and how well you interview. The book shows you how to use the waiting time to keep making yourself a stronger candidate.

I keep getting stuck at the oral board. Will this help?

That's what the book focuses on most. You'll learn the ARTS Method, what the panel is really scoring, the questions you'll always see, real model answers and what to do on interview day.

I already passed the written test. Is the book still worth it?

Yes. Most of the book covers what comes after the written test: the physical test, the oral board, the background investigation, the polygraph, the psych evaluation, the chief's interview, the academy and probation.

Which tests does the book cover?

It covers the written test formats most departments use, including FCTC and NTN's FireTEAM, plus the CPAT and the Biddle physical tests. Every department is different, so always check its announcement for the exact tests it requires.

Are the practice questions from real exams?

No. Every practice question is original, written in the style of the real tests so you know what to expect. You get answer keys and diagrams for each set.

What format is the ebook?

A 110-page PDF you can download right after purchase and read on your phone, tablet or computer. A paperback is coming soon on Amazon.