How to get hired at Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

Written by a career firefighter · Updated 2026-11-04

Fairfax County hires entry-level Firefighter/EMTs through its county careers page, with no certifications needed to apply. Applicants complete a personal history statement, written exam, physical abilities test, medical exam, polygraph and psychological evaluation, passing each step before moving on. Selected candidates must hold EMT certification before recruit school, which lasts about six months.

Apply / get notifiedOfficial recruitment page

Minimum requirements

• Age 18 or older at application src
• High school diploma or GED src
• Valid driver's license; no driving suspensions or more than two moving violations in the past 12 months src
• Drug-free for the past 12 months src
• Eligible to work in the United States src
• Eligible for Virginia EMS certification; EMT certification required before recruit school if selected src
• No residency requirement for uniformed staff src
• Must pass medical exam, polygraph and psychological evaluation src

Certifications

• EMT: required at application
• Firefighter I/II: not required (academy provided)

Source: official page

Tests

• Written exam (written): The test is not named; a passing score from the last 12 months can be reused. src
• Physical Abilities Test (PAT) (physical): A PAT certificate from an IAFF-certified facility within 12 months is accepted. src
• Polygraph (other) src

Hiring process

1. Online application
2. Personal History Statement
3. Written exam
4. Physical Abilities Test
5. Medical exam
6. Polygraph
7. Psychological evaluation
8. Recruit school (about 6 months)

Source: official page

Academy

About six months of recruit school src

Checked 2026-11-05 against the department's official pages (linked). Hiring windows open and close quickly; always confirm on the official site before you apply. See every academy, EMT program and test site in Virginia.