​Join The Charlotte Fire Department

Close up of Charlotte Firefighter helmet with fire truck in the background

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Charlotte Firefighter. Our hiring needs vary from year to year; however, our goal is to continually seek out highly qualified and diverse candidates to join our world-class organization.

 

Hiring Process
Overview

Minimum Eligibility
Requirements

Automatic
Disqualifiers

Hiring Process
Steps

FAQs

Hiring Process Overview

The online application for the Firefighter Recruit position will be posted on the City of Charlotte job site.

After submitting an application, candidates will receive updates via email, text, and the Workday applicant portal. It is each applicant's responsibility to monitor their email (including Junk/Spam folders) and Workday account for notifications throughout the hiring process.

To receive updates on future firefighter hiring opportunities, submit a Charlotte Fire Department Interest Card.

The number of candidates hired each year depends on retirements, promotions, station growth, and funding. Academy start dates may vary, and the overall process can take 6-9 months from the Written Exam.

This competitive process requires several in-person steps, sometimes with short notice, and not all applicants will be hired.

Most communication will be through the Workday portal, email, and text, though phone calls may also be used. Candidates must ensure their contact information is current in Workday, with a reliable email and phone number, voicemail set up, and space available.

Once selected, recruits enter a six-month academy, Monday through Friday, approximately 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Candidates not selected for the initial class are placed in a pool for future classes until the process concludes.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

  • At least 18 years of age by the date of application
  • High school diploma, GED, or high school equivalency from accredited educational institution by the date of application
  • Must possess a valid driver's license before offer of employment
  • Applicants with military service must have an honorable discharge if any; "General discharge under Honorable conditions" will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
  • Must meet the medical requirements outlined in NFPA 1582. That means firefighters must have the agility and physical strength to do prolonged and arduous work under adverse conditions.
    • This includes but is not limited to the ability to lift, move and maintain position on items (e.g., charged hoses) up to 90 pounds; push objects up to 25 pounds; pull objects from 25 to 50 pounds; and lift or pull victims weighing more than 150 pounds.
  • In addition, firefighters must think critically and solve complex problems during physical exertion in stressful, hazardous environments.

Automatic Disqualifiers

  • Anything other than an Honorable Discharge from the military; "General discharge under Honorable conditions" will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
  • Admission and/or conviction of a felony offense
  • Admission and/or conviction of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude
  • Use of marijuana/THC (smoke, inhale, ingest, etc.) within 6 months before, or any time after, the date of application
  • Use of any other illicit or illegal drugs within 3 years before, or any time after, the date of application
  • Pattern of theft
  • Six or more points for moving violations on driving record during the past three (3) years.
    • The three-year period is to be calculated from the date of conviction for each violation.
    • Court decisions such as Prayer for Judgment Continued (PJC) will be counted as convictions.
  • DUI/DWI conviction within the last five (5) years
  • Candidates will be expected to be in compliance with this policy prior to employment: GO_209.01A-Body Art-Tattoo Policy(PDF, 154KB)

Hiring Process Steps

*Some steps listed may overlap or occur parallel to other steps.

Step 1: Complete Online Application

The online application for the FIrefighter Recruit position will be posted on the City of Charlotte job site during the application period.

After submitting an application, candidates will receive updates via email, text, and the Workday applicant portal. It is each applicant's responsibility to monitor their email (including Junk/Spam folders) and Workday account for notifications throughout the hiring process.

Step 2: Register For & Complete Structured Oral Interview and Written Exam

Soon after the application period has closed, following evaluation of all applications, eligible applicants will receive invitations and instructions on how to register for these components via email.

Note: The written exam does not require applicants to have prior knowledge of the fire service. Although study material is not required, the testing vendor (Industrial/Organizational Solutions) offers optional study guides and practice tests for the "Fire Selection Tool (FST) Written Exam" on their website, available for purchase. Applicants may choose to buy any of these FST study guides or practice tests--or none at all.

Step 3: Candidate Application Packet

Applicants will receive notifications containing a list of very specific documents to gather and compile into a Candidate Application Packet, as well as specific details on how/where to submit their packet and the required deadline for submission.

Step 4: Screening Assessment

Applicants will receive invitations and instructions to complete an online screening assessment.

Step 5: Committee Review

A CFD committee reviews all aspects of an application file and evaluates each as a "whole candidate." Applicants selected to move forward may be invited to an in-person Panel Interview.

Step 6: Panel Interview

CFD Operations personnel conduct in-person panel interviews. Applicants selected to move forward may be invited to take an in-person polygraph exam.

Step 7: Polygraph Examination

Applicants will be given an onsite polygraph exam.

Step 8: Conditional Offer Of Employment

Applicants selected to move forward may be issued a conditional offer of employment at this stage with a tentative start date to begin a recruit class at the Academy.

Step 9: Personal History Background Investigation

Background, criminal history, social media, motor vehicle, and reference checks will be conducted.

Step 10: Pre-Employment Medical Examination

The CFD follows the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1582 medical guidelines. CFD will schedule candidates for their NFPA 1582 physical in Charlotte and cover the cost of the physical.

Step 11: Physical Abilities Test (PAT)

The FPAT was developed to allow fire departments to obtain pools of trainable candidates who are physically able to perform essential job tasks at fire scenes. The test consists of multiple events that must be completed in a specific time period. Candidates must continuously progress along a predetermined path from event to event and complete the entire skills test in 8 minutes or less. During the FPAT, an orientation session will be held followed by the candidates' first attempt at the test. Those who do not pass the first attempt will then be scheduled for a final attempt at the test. To learn more about the Fireground Physical Ability Test (FPAT), please watch the Fireground Physical Ability Test Video. CFD will schedule candidates for a uniform and gear fitting appointment on the same day as their FPAT appointment.

Step 12: Pre-Employment Drug Screening

The Charlotte Fire Department follows the City of Charlotte's Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace policy. Applicants will be scheduled for a drug screening within 30 days prior to their start date at the Academy and will submit at a location based on their current zip code.

Step 13: Civil Service Certification

The Charlotte Fire Department will present a document package regarding selected candidates to the Civil Service Board for approval, typically held on the first Tuesday of that month.

Step 14: Formal Offer Of Employment To Start Recruit School

Upon hiring approval from the Civil Service Board and cleared results from the pre-employment drug screening, candidates will receive a firm formal offer of employment to begin Recruit School, with at least a two-week window to provide notice to their current employer.

Step 15: Welcome To The Charlotte Fire Department!

Firefighter Recruits are paid full-time employees with a complete City of Charlotte benefits package beginning on day one of Recruit School at the Academy. All newly hired Firefighter Recruits receive the current fiscal year's "Firefighter I" new hire pay rate, which will be listed in the job posting at the time of application. Fighter Recruits receive a 5% pay incentive for an Associate's degree OR a 10% pay incentive for a Bachelor's degree. Firefighter Recruits who have served at least 2 years of Active-Duty military or 6 years in the Reserves/National Guard, who do NOT have any educational degrees, may be eligible for a military 5% pay incentive.

Frequently Asked Questions

My friend/family member works for CFD. Can I ask them to find out my next step or my status in the hiring process?

CFD Recruitment and HR staff cannot discuss a candidate's status with anyone except the candidate; this includes other CFD employees as well as the candidate's family, friends, or significant others. Candidates are participating in a highly competitive process and, as such, are the individuals responsible for making necessary contacts. The appropriate means of contact for candidate questions or concerns is via the email addresses and phone numbers used and provided to each candidate throughout the year's process.

During the hiring process, are candidates given advance notice about the process events they will be going through in order to have time to get off from work?

This highly competitive process involves several steps for which a candidate must appear personally. There may be times a candidate receives relatively short notice (i.e., a few days or a week) of a request for personal appearance for the next step (i.e., interview, polygraph, physical, etc.). It is a candidate's responsibility to make themselves available for these steps when requested and to communicate any concerns with their hiring team.

  • Initially, the following may require attendance in person, and candidates will be aware at least two weeks in advance:
    • Written Exam and Structured Oral Process
  • If selected to move forward at each stage, there are a few more times throughout the process that a candidate would be required to appear in person, at times with relatively short notice:
    • Panel Interview
    • Polygraph
    • Uniform & Gear Fitting, FPAT Orientation, and FPAT first attempt (all scheduled on one date). Those who do not pass the FPAT first attempt will be scheduled for a final attempt.
    • Pre-Employment Medical Examination (NFPA 1582 Physical)

My friend/family member and I are both in the current process. I have received an invitation for a panel interview, but they have not; does that mean their application has been closed?

Each candidate's experience and timeline throughout the process duration may be different, and not all who apply will be hired. The appropriate means of contact for candidate questions or concerns is via the email addresses and phone numbers used and provided to each candidate throughout the year's process. Candidates whose applications have ben closed will receive notification by email sent via their JobAps Portal.

Can I be provided with my grades for the Written Exam and FPAT?

Individual scores from hiring process components (i.e., Written Exam, Structured Oral Process, interviews, etc.) are not provided to candidates. The FPAT is pass/fail, and candidates are aware at the time of their FPAT whether they have passed or failed.

I am currently finishing up an active-duty contract in the military. Before my time in the military, I was a Firefighter/Paramedic in another city/state for eight years. Can either of these time periods: be bought back towards retirement?

Yes. Purchases can be made up to 5 years of active military service and half of any prior government service up to five years. The purchase of service credit can be made after five years of vesting with CFD and can be purchased using 401(k) and 457 funds as a trust-to-trust transfer which you don't have to pay back and are not penalized for.

I am currently finishing up an active-duty contract in the military. Before my time in the military, I was a Firefighter/Paramedic in another city/state for eight years. Will I be considered for promotion eligibility or quicker advancements to specialized units?

No.

If the window for applications opens before my discharge date from the military, would I be able to apply for the position and complete the application process while I am still in the service?

Active-duty members of the military are welcome to apply.

Currently, I reside in another state. Are there any policies requiring candidates or employees to live within the City of Charlotte?

The City of Charlotte and/or the Charlotte Fire Department do not monitor or restrict where an employee resides other than to maintain that information on file.

During Recruit School at the Academy, do recruits live/sleep at the Academy?

No, recruits do not stay overnight or live at the Academy; they attend Recruit School daily Monday through Friday, approximately 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Do recruits receive pay during Recruit School?

Yes, Firefighter Recruit is a paid position beginning on day one of Recruit School at the Academy.

Do recruits receive medical benefits?

Yes, their City of Charlotte benefits are effective on day one of Recruit School at the Academy.

What can I do to improve my chances of being hired as a recruit with CFD?

Individuals should thoroughly review and monitor Careers In Firefighting for information about the CFD's hiring process and requirements and for videos, study guides, prep guides, and more information about becoming a Charlotte Firefighter. Individuals are encouraged to continue striving for their personal best.

Do I have to have any firefighting experience in order to apply for or be hired as a recruit with CFD?

No. All Firefighter Recruits hired, with or without previous Fire/EMT experience, are fully trained in firefighting and EMT skills during Recruit School.

Do I have to have my EMT certification in order to apply for or be hired as a recruit with CFD?

No. All Firefighter Recruits hired, with or without previous Fire/EMT experience, are fully trained in firefighting and EMT skills during Recruit School, and all CFD firefighters maintain their NC EMT certification (at minimum) throughout the duration of their careers with CFD.

I currently have my NC EMT certification. Do I still have to go through Recruit School, and do I still have to take an EMT course during Recruit School?

Yes. All Firefighter Recruits hired, with or without previous fire/EMT experience, are fully trained in firefighting and EMT skills during Recruit School, and all CFD firefighters maintain their NC EMT certification (at minimum) throughout the duration of their careers with CFD. If a candidate is hired who already possesses their valid NC EMT certification and is fully up to date on their related con-ed (verified by CFD's EMS Coordinator during Recruit School), that recruit would not be required to retake the state's EMT test at the conclusion of training.

I am an NR-EMT holder, and I also have my EMT certification from my home state. Does North Carolina have reciprocity for NR and other states' licenses/certifications?

Yes, North Carolina does have reciprocity, and candidates who hold their National Registry EMT or out-of-state EMT can visit Office of Emergency Medical Services for more information on or begin the reciprocity process.

Is there a pay incentive if I have my college degree?

Fire Fighter Recruits receive a 5% incentive for an Associate’s degree OR a 10% incentive for a Bachelor’s degree; an official transcript is required. Fire Fighter Recruits who have served at least 2 years of Active-Duty military OR 6 years in the Reserves/National Guard, who do NOT have any educational degrees, may be eligible for a 5% military incentive; DD-214s/NGB Form 22s are required.

I am currently a Firefighter in another state or jurisdiction. Does CFD have a lateral entry program?

No, the CFD does not currently have a lateral entry program.

However, the CFD may, at times, run an "Accelerated" Fire Fighter Recruit hiring process with very specific additional requirements which would be outlined in the job posting. These may include, but are not limited to: Must currently be employed as a full-time, paid firefighter at a municipal department for at least the past three years from the date of applications (does not include volunteer or part-time experience); must hold the NC Firefighter I & II certs, the NC EMT Basic cert, and the NC HazMat Ops Level 1 Responder cert -- *OR* equivalent certs which would be eligible for NC reciprocity.

Similarly, the CFD may at times seat an "accelerated" class from the regular hiring process cycle, comprised of candidates with similar existing certifications as each other. 

I am currently a City of Charlotte employee in another department. If I am selected for hire as a Fire Fighter Recruit would I remain in my current pay scale or see an increase/decrease in pay?

All newly hired Fire Fighter Recruits receive the current fiscal year's "Firefighter I" new hire pay rate, which would be listed in the job posting at the time of application. Firefighter Recruits receive a 5% pay incentive for an Associate's degree OR a 10% pay incentive for a Bachelor's degree. Firefighter Recruits who have served at least 2 years of Active-Duty military or 6 years in the Reserves/National Guard, who do NOT have any educational degrees, may be eligible for a military 5% pay incentive.

Still, have questions?

Please call 704.336.2979 or email cfdrecruitment@charlottenc.gov

 
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