FAQs

Interested applicants are encouraged to watch the video “How to Apply to DC Government Jobs." In addition to submitting an application on careers.dc.gov, many of our positions require the upload of attachments (please read job announcement).

How Do I Add Attachments?

• Click on “My Job Application” then scroll to the bottom.
• Click Add Attachment from “My Cover Letters and Attachments”.

Please note that attachments are not specific to a job application and only one cover letter per profile.

***Failure to follow instructions may result in removal from the selection process***

No, effective September 14, 2022, COVID-19 vaccines are no longer required for DC Government employees. To learn more, please visit Covid-19 Vaccination Requirements.

Applicants can be awarded hiring preference points after successfully passing the written entrance exam. The following preference points are available:

• Residency Preference
• Veteran Preference
• Foster Care Youth Employment

To learn more about hiring preference points, please visit Hiring Preference.

Firefighter/Paramedic

Applicants for the position of Firefighter/Paramedic must meet the following criteria:

1. United States citizen and be 19 years of age or older at time of application.
2. Have obtained a High School Diploma or a General Education Diploma (GED).
3. Have a full Driver’s License (Provisional licenses are not acceptable)
4. Must possess a National Registry Paramedic certification, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification, and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification.

Firefighter/EMT

Applicants for the position of Firefighter/EMT must meet the following criteria:

1. United States citizen and be 19 years of age or older at time of application.
2. Have obtained a High School Diploma or a General Education Diploma (GED).
3. Have a full Driver’s License (Provisional licenses are not acceptable).

Fire Cadet

Applicants for the Cadet Program must meet the following criteria:

1. United States citizen and a current D.C. resident between the ages of 18-21 (age is determined by closing date).
2. Have obtained a High School Diploma from a D.C. Public, Charter, or Parochial High School or a General Education Diploma (GED) from a D.C. testing location.
3. Must have maintained a 2.0 grade point average or higher upon graduation or equivalent based on the school grading system.
4. Have a Driver’s License, Provisional or Learner’s Permit at the time of application. A full driver’s license must be obtained by the time of graduation.

According to the National EMS Scope of Practice Model:

“The primary focus of the Emergency Medical Technician is to provide basic emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. This individual possesses the basic knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation. Emergency Medical Technicians function as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight. Emergency Medical Technicians perform interventions with the basic equipment typically found on an ambulance. The Emergency Medical Technician is a link from the scene to the emergency health care system.”

The National EMS Scope of Practice Model defines the role of a paramedic as:

“The Paramedic is an allied health professional whose primary focus is to provide advanced emergency medical care for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. This individual possesses the complex knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation. Paramedics function as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight. Paramedics perform interventions with the basic and advanced equipment typically found on an ambulance. The Paramedic is a link from the scene into the health care system.”

To learn more, please visit:

https://www.ems.gov/pdf/education/EMS-Education-for-the-Future-A-Systems-Approach/National_EMS_Scope_Practice_Model.pdf

and

https://nremt.org/

We’re often looking for civilian employees because we are a large department, and we have a lot of behind-the-scenes work to be done. You can find civilian positions at https://fems.dc.gov/page/employment-positions-fire-ems.

Right now, the only EMS certification that is required is for the Firefighter/Paramedic position. This position requires all applicants to be a National Registered Paramedic. Having an emergency medical technician certification prior to coming on is helpful because the subject material is familiar, but it is not required. You will still be required to successfully pass all the tests leading up to the national registry test. However, if you already have a national registry certification, you won’t be required to retake the main test.

Yes, we offer an abbreviated academy for Firefighter/Paramedics that meet the following requirements:

• Must be at least 19-years of age at the time of applying
• Certified as a IFSAC or Pro-Board Firefighter I and Firefighter II
• Certified as a Nationally Registered EMT-Paramedic
• Possess a valid ACLS certification
• Completion of at least 18-months as a previous Career Firefighter/Paramedic
• Completion of a Career Recruit Training Academy, consisting of 10-weeks of training or more.
• Must successfully pass all preemployment screening, to include Medical Director interview and EMS Simulation Lab evaluations
• Must successfully pass the CPAT or provide a passing CPAT card from within the last twelve months.

For Firefighter/Paramedic applicants that meet the requirements for the abbreviated academy, you will participate in a ten-week orientation training program at the Training Academy. During these ten weeks, recruits will go through onboarding, firefighting orientation, and paramedic orientation. After completion of the ten-week orientation program, recruits will participate in our FTEP program, where recruits will ride fire and EMS units for 10 weeks on a 24/72 schedule. During these 10 weeks, recruits will be evaluated and released as an independent provider. After successful completion of the FTEP program, recruits will receive their permanent duty assignment. **The FTEP program can be extended on a case by case if needed.

For more information regarding the entrance exam, please visit the National Testing Network (NTN) website to learn more.

Yes, it’s the International Association of Firefighters Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT). You can find more information at https://www.iaff.org/cpat/.

There are many online resources that can guide you in the right direction. Many gyms also have training programs to prepare applicants for the test. We see most applicants fail on the stair portion of the test.

The selection process is a multi-step process that may take up to 6 months after signing a conditional offer of employment.

Recruits should expect to be in recruit training for up to 36 weeks. During the academy recruits will participate in 20 weeks of EMT and 16 weeks of firefighting, hazardous materials, and emergency vehicle operator.

Recruits will report to the Training Academy for 8-1/2 hours each day, five days a week (excluding holidays). Each recruit is provided a thirty-minute lunch break; however, you will not be permitted to leave the Training Academy. The reporting and departure times will be established during the first week of the academy. Recruits may also be required to work on nights and weekends while participating in their EMS evaluation period.

It’s 100% paid training. You can start recruit school with zero training and by the time you graduate, you’re certified to fight fires, perform around hazardous materials, and function as an EMT.

We currently have O2X running our physical fitness aspect of the training school. They have fitness, training, and dietary specialists on-site to ensure our recruits/cadets have the best possible training and oversight while performing rigorous, job-related tasks. Our employees are our most valuable assets, so we give them as many tools as possible to succeed.

Yes, recruits are expected to successfully pass exams and maintain a satisfactory score throughout the entire academy. Academic requirements will be discussed during the administrative onboarding week.

Yes, every applicant that gets hired as a uniformed employee must be dual-role fire & EMS. American Medical Response handles many of our non-emergent medical runs and they are strictly EMS-only. You can visit their website at https://www.amr.net/.

Ambulance/Medic Unit: 2 people

Engine companies: 4 people

Truck companies: 5 people

Rescue squads, Hazmat, & Fireboat: 5 people

Air units: 1 person

Battalion chief buggies: 2 people

EMS Supervisor vehicles: 1 person

We work a 24/72 schedule once out of the academy. This means you’re at the firehouse and ready for emergency runs for 24 hours and then you have 72 hours away from work.

Yes, these range from becoming a technician (driver/operator of the various emergency vehicles), going to a different division (fire prevention, fire investigations, special operations), and getting promoted (sergeant, lieutenant, captain, etc.).

You can find information about retirement here: https://dcrb.dc.gov/service/retirement

Yes, IAFF Local 36 is the bargaining unit for those who’ve graduated from the Fire & EMS training academy and get appointed to a unit. You can find more information at https://www.dcfirefighters.org/.

Having a degree doesn’t get you extra hiring preference points, but once in the department, having an education does garner more points for promotion. Many within the ranks of the DC Fire & EMS Department have bachelor’s, master’s, and even doctoral degrees.

We have a tuition reimbursement plan. We encourage our employees to advance their learning.