How Do I Become a Pump Operator?

A pump operator is a firefighter who works on a pumper truck — a fire truck with a pump unit attached to it. Becoming a firefighter and gaining at least a couple years of experience are the first steps one should take to become a pump operator. Firefighter training requires that you have at least a high school diploma, but a background in math, science and engineering will be especially helpful. Certification as a pump operator requires dozens of hours of training prior to passing an exam. To become a pump operator, you must understand — more than a regular firefighter — how the truck's various levers, valves and nozzles affect water pressure, and you must be able to work without becoming stressed out.

If you want to become a pump operator, you can do so with just a high school diploma. At the same time, having a background in science and math, specifically fields such as physics, geometry and algebra, will be especially helpful. This background can help you prepare for pump operator certification and will help you understand how outside forces affect water pressure and angle, and how to set the pumps accordingly.

Engineering skills also will be useful in controlling water pressure, but they serve another purpose, as well. When a fire is blazing, it is not unheard of for a pump to break or malfunction. An engineering background, along with what you learn during the certification process, can help you fix the pumps accurately and efficiently. Much like a math and science background, this is not a requirement to become a pump operator, but it should help on the job.

All firefighters who want to become a pump operator must pass a rigorous certification process, which is typically separated into two 40-hour courses. If the courses are not combined, then one will commonly teach you about using firefighting equipment, in general, while the other will specifically cover the pumper. Applications for the courses and the certification exam can be obtained from firehouses or state offices. This training will teach you how to operate a pump, how to fix equipment and other skills required to work the pumper.

While the pump operator certification process covers all the standards and tries to prepare you for what will really happen during a fire, you also may benefit from several personal skills in a firefighting situation. You must be able to read levels and adjust pump equipment on-the-fly to adequately douse a fire. Operating without stress is a high-priority skill; a pump operator does not have time to feel stressed, because lives may be in danger. If equipment breaks, you will need problem-solving skills so you can quickly analyze the issue and make the correct repairs.