How to get hired at Howard County Fire and Rescue
Howard County hires career Firefighter/EMT Trainees in numbered training classes, testing about once a year when it is hiring. Candidates apply through the county's governmentjobs.com portal and then take a written exam, the CPAT and an interview, followed by background, medical, psychological and drug screening. Trainees are paid during a 32-week non-residential academy, where they are trained as EMTs.
Apply / get notifiedOfficial recruitment page
Minimum requirements
- No age limit is stated src
- High school diploma or GED src
- Valid Class C driver's license from Maryland or your state of residence src
- Proof of legal eligibility to work in the U.S. src
- Tobacco-free on and off duty as a condition of employment src
- Must pass background, NFPA 1582 medical, psychological and drug screening src
Certifications
- EMT: earned in the academy
- Firefighter I/II: not required (academy provided)
Source: official page
Tests
- County written exam (written): Multiple choice, 2 hr 20 min, with four sections: video-based human relations, animated mechanical aptitude, reading and math. The vendor is not named. src
- CPAT (physical): Only for candidates who pass the written exam. Bring a physician authorization form. src
- Interview (oral) src
Hiring process
- Apply online
- Written exam
- CPAT
- Interview
- Conditional offer
- Background
- Medical (NFPA 1582)
- Psychological evaluation
- Drug screen
- Final offer
- 32-week academy
Source: official page
Starting pay
Starting $65,267/yr (trainee), with full pay during the academy and a $7,000/yr paramedic premium src
Academy
32-week paid, non-residential academy, Monday to Friday about 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; trainees are trained as EMTs 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 Maryland.