Charlotte Fire Department

​Join The Charlotte Fire Department

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.

Charlotte Fire Department Hiring Process:

Minimum Eligibility Requirements:

  • At least 18 years of age

  • High school diploma or GED

  • Valid driver's license

  • Applicants with military service must have an honorable discharge if any

  • 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.

​Employment Opportunities


Automatic Disqualifiers Include:

  • Anything other than an Honorable discharge from the military

  • Admission and/or conviction of a felony offense

  • Admission and/or conviction of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude

  • Illegal drug use within 12 months before or after the written test date

  • A pattern of illegal drug use (including distribution)

  • 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

  • In addition, firefighters must think critically and solve complex problems during physical exertion in stressful, hazardous environments.

Entry-Level Firefighter Hiring Process Steps

STEP 1: Complete Online Application

The CFD ONLY accepts applications online during a designated window of time each year

STEP 2: Register For & Take Written Test

Those who completed the online application will receive an email with information on registering online for the written test. Applicants who pass the written test and structured oral interview will be invited back to take the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)

STEP 3: Structured Oral Interview

After candidates have taken the written test, they will be randomly scheduled onsite to return for a structured oral interview

STEP 4: Physical Abilities Test (PAT)

The PAT 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. An orientation will be offered by appointment in March; a practice run in April, and a final timed run in May. To learn more about the 2022 Fireground Physical Ability Test (FPAT), please watch the Fireground Physical Ability Test Video.

STEP 5: Application Packet Review

Human Resources reviews each application. Applicants who progress past this stage may be invited to a written psychological assessment

STEP 6: Written Psychological Assessment

STEP 7: Panel Interview

CFD Operations personnel conduct panel interviews. Successful candidates may then be invited to take a polygraph exam

STEP 8: Polygraph Examination & Fingerprinting

Applicants will be given a polygraph exam and will be fingerprinted.

STEP 9: Conditional Offer Of Employment

Successful applicants 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 10: Personal History Background Investigation/Oral Psychological Assessment

STEP 11: Pre-Employment Medical Examination & Uniform Fitting

The CFD follows the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1582 medical guidelines.

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.

STEP 13: Civil Service Certification

The Charlotte Fire Department will present a document package regarding selected candidates to the Civil Service Board for approval.

STEP 14: Formal Offer Of Employment To Start Recruit School

Upon approval from the Civil Service Board, applicants 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!

Fire Fighter Trainees, or Recruits, are paid full-time employees with a complete City of Charlotte benefits package beginning on day one of Recruit School at the Academy.

Charlotte Fire Department 2022 Hiring Process

The online application for the 2022 Fire Fighter Trainee Hiring Process is now closed.

Entry-Level Firefighter Written Exam Introductory Guide

Entry Level Firefighter Structured Oral Interview Introductory Guide


Frequently Asked Questions

The information contained herein is current as of the 2022 FF Hiring Process and is subject to annual review and change.

The online application for the 2022 Fire Fighter Trainee Hiring Process is now closed.

To submit an Interest Card and be placed on our distribution list to receive email updates on future Firefighter hiring opportunities, Charlotte Fire Department Interest Card.

Each year, the number of candidates hired and recruited classes seated at the Academy depends entirely on retirements, promotions, and funding. Exact dates will vary from year to year. Currently, the process duration for any given candidate could be anywhere from a few months to 15 months from the time of the Written Exam.

This highly competitive process does involve several steps in which a candidate must appear personally, at times with relatively short notice. Each candidate's experience and timeline throughout the process may be different, and not all who apply will be hired.

Contact with candidates may be made by phone or via email, so each is asked to continue to monitor incoming calls (be sure voicemail is set up and is not full) and emails, including Junk/Spam folders, for updates or invitations from CFD as we move through the year's process.

Once a candidate is selected for hire and placed into a class, Recruit School lasts approximately six months and is Monday through Friday, approximately 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Eligible candidates not selected for the first class(es) are placed into a pool for future classes until the year's process is completed.

​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.

​Yes, all new hires are required to be fully vaccinated.

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 must be attended in person, and candidates will be aware at least two weeks in advance:

    • Written Exam and Structured Oral Process

    • PAT - once for Orientation (optional), once to take the first Timed PAT (recommended), and/or once to take or retake at the Final PAT (if the candidate didn't pass the first time)

  • 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 and Fingerprinting (one appointment)

    • NFPA Physical, Oral Psychological Assessment, and Uniform Fitting (all appointments in one day)

Each candidate's experience and timeline throughout the process duration may be different, and not all who apply will be hired. Contact with candidates may be made by phone or via email, so each is asked to continue to monitor incoming calls (be sure voicemail is set up and is not full) and emails, including Junk/Spam folders, for updates or invitations from CFD as the year's process progresses. 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.

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

Yes. Purchases can be made up to 5 years of active military service and five years of prior government service. 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.

No.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Upon completion of Recruit School, candidates receive a 5% incentive for an associate degree or a 10% incentive for a bachelor's degree; an official transcript is required.