Firefighter Recruit

City of Norfolk, VA; Norfolk (VA); On-site; USD 57,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Norfolk's Norfolk Fire-Rescue is accepting applications for Firefighter Recruit. This paid 8-month academy trains recruits to become Firefighter EMT-Advanced (EMT-A).

The program combines classroom instruction, physical fitness, technical rescue training, and hazardous materials response. Selected applicants progress through a rigorous process including written exams, physical agility tests, interviews, background checks, and medical evaluations.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED equivalent required.
• No experience necessary.

Responsibilities

• Acquires knowledge of fire and EMS to become a member by completing certification courses.
• Performs limited fire or emergency medical service functions.
• Participates in physical fitness training.

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Firefighter Recruit: $57,142/annually

Firefighter EMT-Advanced (EMT-A): $60,000/annually

Norfolk Fire-Rescue: https://www.norfolk.gov/6016/Fire-Rescue

Are you looking for a career that is exciting, meaningful, and never a dull moment. Norfolk Fire-Rescue (NFR) is accepting applications for Firefighter Recruit.

If you are cool under pressure, committed to training, and passionate about serving the community consider joining a world class fire department in America's most authentic and urban waterfront city.

NFR has a rich history of quality and innovative response to emergencies. Over 100 years of fire service response and over 30 years of pre-hospital emergency medical service (EMS) response have resulted in high service delivery standards. Members of NFR are cross-trained fire and EMS providers that respond on fire and medic apparatus. Norfolk's firefighters respond to calls for service that involve threats to life, property, and the environment. As well as technically challenging calls involving hazardous material responses, technical rescue responses, and water rescue emergencies.

Academy Information

Firefighter Recruits participate in a paid 8-month Firefighter Recruit Academy designed to become a Firefighter EMT-Advanced (EMT-A). The Academy offers comprehensive instruction that includes:

• Classroom education
• Physical fitness conditioning
• Technical rescue training
• Hazardous materials response

No two days are the same, and every shift is a chance to make a difference. Consider becoming part of the NFR team. For any questions, please email [e-mail].

Essential functions

• Acquires knowledge of fire and emergency medical service (if applicable), to become a member of NFR by participating and successfully completing certification courses determined by the Commonwealth of Virginia, NFR Training, NFR Administration, course Medical Director and all testing and additional certification elements of an approved Fire Academy as documented by the Training Chief and verified by the Fire Chief.
• Performs limited fire or emergency medical service functions.
• Participates in physical fitness training.

Education/Experience

High school diploma or GED equivalent required.

No experience necessary.

Additional Information & Requirements

• The Written Examination will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2026 at the Norfolk Fire-Rescue Training Center**

Applicants must meet the minimum eligibility requirements at the time of applying

• Be a (U.S.) citizen, lawful permanent resident, or authorized to work in the U.S.
• Be 18 years of age.
• Possess a high school diploma or equivalency.
• Possess Valid Driver's License.

Overview of Process: Firefighter Recruit Hiring Process Smart Book

• Applicants must successfully complete the following steps:
  • Written Examination: Designed to measure the reading comprehension necessary to successfully complete required trainings(s) and certification(s).
  • Physical Agility Test: Designed to simulate typical work-related situations that require the ability to perform specific physical activities.
  • Ranking Interview: Panel interview. All applicants are asked the same set of questions.
  • Personal History Booklet: Used to gather information of your personal history.
  • Background Investigation: Involves obtaining and verifying information related to prior employment, drug usage, personal and professional references and criminal records, DMV records and credit records. Includes a criminal and an Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) fingerprint background check.
  • Polygraph Examination: Used to verify the background data disclosed in the Personal History Booklet and employment application, provided at City expense. Deception noted in the areas of the automatic disqualifiers may prevent further processing of your application.
  • Psychological Evaluation: Using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Test (MMPI), used to assess personality traits and psychopathology, provided at City expense.
  • Medical Examination: Includes medical physical and drug screen, provided at City expense. Required vaccinations will be verified.

Tobacco Use

Selected candidates will be required to sign an acknowledgement indicating that they will refrain from using tobacco products, both on and off duty.

Military Benefits

Veterans' benefits (GI Bill) may be awarded to eligible members that attend the NFR academy and during their probationary periods.

• Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.
• Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.
• Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.

Retirement

If you are hired October 5, 2010, or after to a position with City of Norfolk Retirement System benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

• The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self‑development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part‑time classified, unclassified permanent, full‑time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant’s school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.

Note

The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.

Non-City

Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.

01

I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.

02

Do you possess a valid Driver's License?

• Yes
• No

03

What is your highest completed level of education?

• High school diploma or GED
• Some college, training or certifications
• Associate's Degree or equivalent
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree

04

Program(s) Currently Enrolled: (Please check all that apply)

• EMT
• Advanced EMT
• EMT-Intermediate
• Paramedic
• Firefighter Level 1
• Firefighter Level 2
• None

05

If you are currently enrolled in a program(s), please indicate your expected completion date(s). If not, please indicate by typing "N/A".

06

Current EMS Certification and certifying agency: (Please check all that apply)

• EMT-Basic
• Advanced EMT
• EMT-Intermediate
• Paramedic
• Virginia Office of EMS
• National Registry
• Another State (other than Virginia)
• None (I do NOT hold an EMS Certification)

07

Current Fire Certification and certifying agency: (Please check all that apply)

• Firefighter Level 1
• Firefighter Level 2
• Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP)
• International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC)
• ProBoard Accreditation Program
• None (I do NOT hold a Fire Certification)

08

Do you possess any of the following: (Select all that apply)

• Have you been convicted of drunk driving or driving under the influence within the past 3 years?
• Have you been convicted of a hit and run within the past 3 years?
• Have you used a Schedule I or a Schedule II of the Code of Virginia controlled substance within the past 5 years? This includes but is not limited to Heroin, LSD, MDMA, Cocaine, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Methamphetamine, PCP, etc. ***excludes the usage of Marijuana***.
• Have you used a Schedule III-VI of the Code of Virginia controlled substance, or any noxious chemical inhalants within the past 6 months? This includes, but is not limited to, illegal steroids, huffing, etc.
• At any time, have you participated in any illegal act arising from the manufacture and/or distribution of any illegal drug?
• I do not possess any of the above.

09

If you answered YES to any of the above, please provide an explanation including the city, state and date of the conviction or name of drug and last use. This excludes minor traffic violations such as speeding tickets or prescribed medication. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A".

10

How did you become aware Norfolk Fire-Rescue was hiring? (Please check all that apply)

• Career Fair/Job Event
• Military Resources: Career Development Center
• Military Resources: TAP
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Poster/Sign
• Banner
• Tidewater Community College
• Old Dominion University
• Norfolk State University
• Google search
• Norfolk.gov
• Government.Jobs
• Indeed
• Family Member/Friend
• Norfolk Fire-Rescue employee
• [e-mail]
• Radio
• News

11

If you were referred for this position by a current City of Norfolk employee, please provide the employee's full name, department, and job title. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A".

12

What type of discharge did you receive from the military? If not currently serving or discharged from the military, please indicate by selecting "N/A".

• I am currently still serving
• Honorable Discharge
• General Discharge under Honorable Conditions
• Other than Honorable Discharge
• Bad Conduct Discharge
• Dishonorable Discharge
• Other type of Discharge
• N/A

13

If you are currently serving in the United States Reserves, please select if you are in a ready or standby status. If you are not currently serving in the Reserves, please select N/A.

• Ready status
• Standby status
• N/A

14

I have ATTACHED ALL of the required documents and/or certificates to my employment application. I understand that failure to include ALL required documents and/or certificates will result in my employment application being deemed incomplete and that incomplete employment applications will not be given further consideration in the recruitment process. For a list of the required documents, please review the Description Tab and Application Process section of this job announcement and see below. --Valid Driver's License. --Complete and recent (generated within 1 year of application date) Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) report from the state in which you are licensed. This report should show driving history. This needs to be a complete report, the end of the document should read, "This ends transmission" or "End of record." --High school diploma or GED certification. Proof of a higher education diploma is also acceptable. --DD214 long form that shows discharge information, if applicable (prior military only). --Any relevant and valid EMS and/or Fire certifications.

• Yes
• No
• Required Question