Are you looking for a career that's both exciting and impactful? Consider joining the Arlington County Fire Department (ACFD) as a Firefighter/EMT! We offer a unique combination of professional challenges and benefits that will make a lasting difference in the lives of others.
Diverse Service Opportunities:
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Respond to emergencies across a wide range of environments, from high-rise buildings and bustling highways to single-family homes and major airports.
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Join a specialized unit: Become part of our elite Hazardous Materials, Technical Rescue, Swift Water Rescue, or Bomb Squad teams.
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Make a broader impact: Serve in fire prevention, emergency communications, logistics, health and safety, human resources, and training.
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Collaborate with regional partners: Work alongside other fire and rescue departments, state, and federal agencies to ensure the safety of our entire community.
Industry-Leading Support:
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Schedule flexibility: Work a predictable schedule equivalent to 8 or 9 days per month with a 50-hour workweek.
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Comprehensive benefits: Enjoy full health benefits, a generous retirement plan, and competitive pay. We even offer pay premiums for specialty certifications.
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Investment in your growth: We provide paid recruit school to get you started and support your advancement to ALS (Advanced Life Support) certification.
If you're a motivated individual who thrives in challenging situations and wants to make a real difference, then the ACFD is the place for you! We're not just your average fire department. We're a progressive force with a rich history of innovation. In fact, we were the first in the nation to have a professional female firefighter in 1974, and we formed the country's first Metropolitan Medical Strike Team to respond to the toughest emergencies.
Our 9 fire stations serve Arlington, Virginia, a vibrant community of 235,000 residents located right across the river from the nation's capital. It's an exciting place to be part of the action and make a real difference. Want to learn more? Click here.
Minimum qualifications:
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Education: Completion of the requirements for graduation from a standard senior high school or vocational school, a GED certificate, or the equivalent.
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Eligible applicants must be within 6 months of acquiring a high school diploma or a GED.
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Age: 17 years and 6 months of age, must be 18 years old by date of hire.
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Testing: Must obtain passing grade on written and practical Firefighter examinations, and all pre-employment physical and mental evaluations.
Desirable Qualifications:
Preference may be given to applicants who have any of the following certifications:
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Virginia EMT-I (Intermediate) Certification:
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EMT-P (Paramedic) Certification; or
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National Registry EMT-P (Paramedic) Certification.
The ACFD Firefighter/EMT hiring process is comprehensive and includes the following:
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FireTEAM Exam*;
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Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT);
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Character/Background Investigation;
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Fingerprinting;
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Panel Interview with Fire Department;
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Polygraph Examination; and
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Medical/Physical/Psychological Examinations.
Interested applicants should review the hiring process information on the ACFD website to learn more!
- The ACFD utilizes the National Testing Network’s FireTeam exam as part of the hiring process.
After your completed application is received, you will receive further instructions via email about the next steps and how to register to take the FireTEAM exam.
If you have taken the National Testing Network's FireTEAM exam during the past year (within 365 days), you do not need to retake the exam. We can use your existing score.
Want to use your previous score? Just let us know by responding to the email confirmation.
The salary listed is effective July 1, 2024.
Important: make sure we can communicate with you throughout the hiring process by providing us with an active email address, mobile number, and mailing address.
If you possess a current valid Virginia (VA) EMT-Intermediate or VA Paramedic certification you will be eligible to receive the relative premium pay upon hire:
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VA EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) Intermediate - $0.88 per hour (non-shift rate)
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VA Paramedic - $1.75 per hour (non-shift rate
Have questions about becoming an Arlington County firefighter/EMT? Reach out to firerecruitment@arlingtonva.us!
Applicants who have questions or need assistance with the application may telephone (703) 228-3500 or visit the Human Resources Department. Our staff will be happy to work with you to enter your application into the system. Public access computers are available at all County Libraries, and in the Human Resources Department.
The examination process for this position may include: (1) training and experience evaluation; (2) written and oral examination; (3) personal interview; (4) performance test/work sample; and/or (5) physical examination.
Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process. Please call the ADA Coordinator at 703-228-3559 (voice) or email pers@arlingtonva.us.