Resources | Fairfax County Fire Fire & Rescue Recruiting

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Application Process

joinfcfrd

minimum qualifications

  • Highschool Diploma or GED issued by a state department of education
  • 18 years or older at the time of application
  • possess a valid motor vehicle driver's license at the time of application, and at all times during employment in the uniformed service
  • No more than two moving violations within the last 12-months
  • drug free for the past 12 months (THC free for 90-days preceding application)
  • eligible to hold a va Ems certification
  • eligible to work in the United States (Note: Fairfax County Government does not sponsor employment of visa holders. see more on the fairfaxcounty.gov site under Identification/Right to Work

creating a neogov account

Ready to apply? Watch below for a step-by-step guide to create a government jobs account to apply to the FCFRD

personal history statement

The Personal History Statement is the applicant’s opportunity to present themselves to the Fire and Rescue Department. The PHS collects information including education, military background, previous firefighter/EMT experience, residential history, driving history, arrest history, drug use history, and official supplemental documentation. Inaccurate, untruthful, or misleading statement(s) in the PHS are cause for disqualification

written exam

the fcfrd utilizes the i.o. solutions national firefighter selection inventory (nfsi) written exam. the exam consists of the following:
  • 105 multiple-choice cognitive ability questions: verbal comprehension, verbal expression, problem sensitivity, deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, information ordering, mathematical reasoning, and numeric facilitation.
  • 50 behavioral orientation questions: stress tolerance, team orientation, and motivation/attitude.
  • Total test time: 2.5 hours.
all exam scores are recorded in the application packet and will be reviewed during employment consideration. Applicants may choose to purchase study guides and/or interactive tests through the test developer, Industrial/Organizational, or, through other third-party entities. Please ensure the correct exam is selected: I.O. Solutions National Firefighter Selection Inventory (NFSI).
*note: Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department does not purchase, supply, or reimburse; all purchases are voluntary and are the sole responsibility of the applicant.

physical abilities test

  • The FCFRD Physical Abilities Test (PAT) consists of eight (8) separate events, that must be completed in 10:20 minutes or less. The candidate wears a 50-pound vest to simulate the weight of a self-contained breathing apparatus and firefighter protective clothing.
preparing for the exam:
  • Ensure a proper night’s sleep, proper hydration, and body-ready to complete the orientation and/or testing.
  • Review all PAT materials sent through your government jobs account

polygraph exam

  • the polygraph exam is conducted by a certified polygraph examiner through the Fairfax County police department, designed to measure the accuracy of information provided during the application process. The exam may last up to 4-hours and is conducted at the public safety headquarters.
  • the recruitment section evaluates all applicants with a "whole person" approach. many applicants have negative history disclosures on a polygraph, however, these disclosures do not always prohibit progress within the application process.
best success comes from applicants who remain forthcoming and truthful!

psychological evaluation

  • the psychological profile evaluation is conducted by thinkbot behavioral sciences. this evaluation measures the psychological suitability for a career in the fcfrd.
  • it consists of several written tests and a structured clinical interview.
  • this test can take up to eight hours to complete.

eligibility list and selection

After completion of the process components, the applicant file is reviewed by fcfrd senior leadership. applicants are rated and placed on the fcfrd eligibility list for 12-months. job offers are made regularly by phone; applicants are encouraged to notify the recruitment section of any phone number changes, set up their voicemail box on their phones, and continually check their government jobs account.
if an applicant has not received a job offer after their application expires, they are permitted to reapply.
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faq

Yes! There is no residential requirement.

You do not have to be a U.S. Citizen to work for Fairfax County Government, however, you must be eligible to work in the United States.

The process can take 5 months or longer to complete.

Yes, if you have taken CPAT within 12-months from an IAFF certified facility. Applicants will be exempt from taking the FCFRD PAT, contingent on certificate validation.

    1. The FCFRD is committed to assisting veterans in accessing the benefits they have earned. Military members may be eligible for GI Bill® benefits during and immediately following recruit training.

This institution is approved to offer GI Bill® educational benefits by the Virginia State Approving Agency. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

After completing the process, applicants are placed on the eligibility list for 12-months. If you are selected for employment, you will be notified. If you are not selected for employment after 12-months, you may reapply.

The academy is 6 months long and is conducted Monday-Friday, 40-hour work weeks. The academy is not residential.

The FCFRD shift schedule operates on a 24-hour rotation. Members are on duty for 24-hours at a time, every other day, for 5 days. After the “tour”’ is complete, members are off for 4-days. More simply: 24 on, 24 off, 24 on, 24 off, 24 on, 96 off.

Please check the Fairfax County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Associations website: Fairfax County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association | Courage. Pride. Integrity. Volunteers Serving Our Community. (fcvfra.org)

Please reach out to a recruiter today: [email protected]

CONTACT A

RECRUITER.

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