r/hazmat • u/TrainingGuava6307 • Jul 18 '25
Training/Tactics/Education HELP getting into field
Hi everyone im trying to become a hazmat specialist, im currently in fire but i want to branch out any certs/degree that could help me, i live in socal too, id like to know what types of jobs you guys are working
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u/sealjosh Jul 18 '25
See what classes your local fire academy does, if they do hazmat tech. Because you’re in fire you can do the hazmat tech class at the CDP in Anniston AL. If you have the time, there’s a 2 week course at SERTC in CO that’s also DHS funded that does hazmat tech, highway and tank car specialist all in one.
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u/TrainingGuava6307 Jul 18 '25
im in wildland and only emt, but i plan for academy this year so ill check those out when i enroll thank you!
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Jul 18 '25
Go. To. The. CDP. It is the nations most well equipped training facility on all-hazards training and their COBRA facility is the only place in the nation you can get live chemical warfare agent training IIRC. A cobra certified hazmat tech means something to those in the industry. I’m going in September.
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u/TrainingGuava6307 Jul 18 '25 edited Jul 18 '25
when i get into fire ill ask about this, this definitely feels like up my alley, are you in fire??
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Jul 18 '25
Fire adjacent. I’m in an incident command related field. There are a lot of things going on in the world you’re entering that you have yet to learn.
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u/TrainingGuava6307 Jul 19 '25
idk whether to be intimated or excited for that but i appreciate the heads up
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Jul 19 '25
Haha no I’m not trying to intimidate anyone here. I’m just saying are a LOT of different positions and agencies to work for when you enter the world of hazmat.
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u/TrainingGuava6307 Jul 19 '25
if you dont mind me asking do you know what types? but that sounds exciting getting into the world hazmat !!
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Jul 19 '25
For hazmat you have two industries, the public agency first responders and the industrial manufacturing/transportation industry. Both intersect in many areas and we interact with the other frequently but our mission set is different. I'm apart of a public agency side of hazmat focusing on human and natural disaster response and recovery. Think of FEMA. Most hazmat in industry is hazardous waste clean up and emergency response, which is what HAZWOPER stands for. Think a waste water treatment plant.
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u/TrainingGuava6307 Jul 22 '25
thank you for the input! id like to be in public agency for haz but i think thatll come with FIRE along the way, ill look into the manufacturing for now!
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u/Testiclesinvicegrip Jul 20 '25
Highway and tank car specialist are not included in it. They are portions of the class. Those are district courses.
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u/yakshave Jul 18 '25
The bare minimum to get in is the OSHA 40 hour technician class there is a vast difference between the NFPA 80 hours or more depending on where you go and the OSHA class if you want to just get in the door do the OSHA but typically fire departments require at least the NFPA
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u/TrainingGuava6307 Jul 18 '25
thank you ill look into both! is there any difference with the hr?? or should i aim to get them all
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Jul 18 '25
Have you done your NFA 160hr hazmat tech?
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u/TrainingGuava6307 Jul 18 '25 edited Jul 18 '25
no i have not, i have no hazmat experience but ill look into it, but do you men nfpa?
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Jul 18 '25
Could be. There is the National Fire Academy and the National Fire Prevention Academy and they both do similar things so I forget. It’s a 160 hour technician-level course; after that you can begin testing up to specialist.
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u/TrainingGuava6307 Jul 18 '25
i found it! ill look more into it im starting to understand the levels
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u/BumSprog Jul 18 '25
CHMM
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u/TrainingGuava6307 Jul 19 '25
would chmp also be good to pair up?
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u/harleybrono Jul 18 '25
The best industry-standard cert to get is the Hazwoper 40 for sure. Being in fire I’m sure you’ve got plenty of first responder stuff which is also helpful