How to get hired at Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service

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

Hiring statusNot currently hiring

Summer application period has closed; applications for Recruit Class 62 are expected to open in Winter 2027. Subscribe to the recruitment email list for notice. src

LocationGaithersburg, MD

Career firefighters1,162

Stations37

MCFRS hires career Firefighter/Rescuer I recruits in numbered recruit classes, with application periods announced through an email list. Candidates take an online or in-person entrance exam, the CPAT, a background investigation and a health assessment. New hires attend a roughly 26-week Recruit School that covers fire and EMS training.

Apply / get notified Official recruitment page

Minimum requirements

Pass the entrance exam with a score of 70% or higher src
Pass the CPAT (8 events, about 10:20 time limit, up to three attempts) src
Pass background investigation, medical exam and drug screen src

Certifications

EMT: unknown
Firefighter I/II: unknown

Tests

Entrance exam (IO Solutions) (written): Online at home or in person; tests critical thinking and decision making; 70% to pass src
CPAT (physical): Up to three attempts; CPAT mentoring program offered src
Background interview (oral): Oral interview and psychological exam may be added src

Hiring process

Apply online by the deadline
Entrance exam
CPAT
Background packet and interview
Recruitment Advisory Committee review
Conditional offer, medical exam and drug screen
Final offer
26-week Recruit School

Source: official page

Starting pay

Starting $62,102/yr (F1 Grade A, FY2026 schedule effective July 13, 2025) src

Academy

About 26-week Recruit School, Mon-Fri, including roughly 10 weeks fire and 10 weeks EMS training, then 6 months probation 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.