Firefighter Recruit-Accelerated Academy

Loudoun County Fire and Rescue (LCFR) is currently seeking qualified applicants to establish a candidate pool for the position of Firefighter/EMT for an Accelerated Recruit School tentatively planned to start April 8, 2027. Selected candidates are expected to provide skilled emergency and non-emergency related services, including, but not limited to fire suppression, basic and advanced pre-hospital emergency medical care, hazardous materials incident response, technical rescue operations, life safety, public education program delivery, and other duties, as assigned.

All candidates will be required to successfully complete an accelerated Fire and Rescue Recruit School before being assigned to a fire and rescue station. Recruit School is expected to last approximately 16 weeks, inclusive of BLS precepting in Operations. While in Recruit School, Recruits will be assigned to a 40-hour work week. During BLS precepting and upon successful completion of Recruit School, personnel transition to a 48-hour work week. This schedule equates to 24 hours on shift, 48 hours off shift with an assigned "Kelly day" (Kelly Day- A regularly scheduled day off at a scheduled interval to ensure a consistent 48-hour average work schedule). Employees' salaries will remain the same upon transition from a 40-hour schedule to a 48-hour schedule.

ALS Benefit: Upon successful completion of Recruit School, ALS providers who achieve Local Authorization are eligible for a one-time, lump sum incentive, in addition to an ALS Specialty Pay adjustment. The current one-time, lump sum incentive values are as follows: AEMT - $5,000 and Paramedic - $10,000. After obtaining AEMT authorization and receiving the initial AEMT bonus, employees who upgrade and obtain local authorization as a Paramedic may request an additional $5,000 incentive lump-sum payment. The current ALS Specialty Pay levels, in addition to base salary are as follows: Advanced (AEMT) - $7,354.38, and Paramedic - $15,759.38.

Education Benefit: Applicants with a Bachelor's degree start at Step 2, those with a Master's Degree at Step 3. Experience Benefit: Applicants with career fire and rescue experience from Departments with an established recruit training academy may receive year-for-year credit, up to 3 steps (placement at Step 4). Applicants with career fire and rescue experience from other jurisdictions without recruit training experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants who completed an LC-CFRS Volunteer Fire School Program and are active LC-CFRS Operational Volunteer Members may receive one (1) Step for every two (2) full years of Volunteer Member experience up to 3 steps (placement at Step 4).

Minimum Qualifications: Candidates must be at least 18 years of age, must hold a valid driver's license, and possess a High School Diploma or GED by time of hire. Candidates MUST possess all of the following certifications by the date of ad closure: NFPA 472 Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations, NFPA 1010 (previously 1001) Firefighter 1, NFPA 1010 (previously 1001) Firefighter 2, and Virginia or National Registry EMT (or higher).

Selection Process: The selection process includes the successful completion of a Comprehensive Written Examination, Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT), Polygraph Examination, Comprehensive background check, including NCIC/VCIN criminal history check, fingerprinting, a driving record check, interview, and an NFPA 1580 Medical Examination/Substance Abuse Screening to be placed in the eligibility pool, as well as filling out the LCFR Supplemental Question form.

Preference will be given to those candidates possessing one or more of the following: Virginia or National Registry Advanced EMT (AEMT), Virginia or National Registry Paramedic, Loudoun County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Experience, career fire and rescue experience from Departments with an established recruit training academy, and/or Military Experience.

Requirements: Age 18+, valid driver's license, High School Diploma or GED by hire date, NFPA 472 Hazmat Awareness/Operations, NFPA 1010 Firefighter 1, NFPA 1010 Firefighter 2, Virginia or National Registry EMT or higher certification

Salary: $65,138.75 - $115,242.75 Annually

Application Deadline: 2026-10-01