Must be 18 years of age, a high school graduate or equivalent.

Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Virginia Basic EMT certification. The applicant may be required to obtain and/or maintain Advanced Life Support Certification up to the level of Paramedic and released by the department at that level within the period designated by the department.

Must have the ability to satisfactorily complete the Hampton Roads Fire Academy and/or other recruit school programs as assigned, and all associated courses/certifications. Must have the ability to acquire the following certifications: Virginia Firefighter II, Hazardous Materials Operations, specified Emergency Vehicles Operator course(s), specified technical rescue, and/or rope rescue programs and/or other fire, EMS, rescue and/or emergency management programs/certification as required and/or assigned.

Requires the ability to obtain Professional Rescuer CPR certification by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association equivalent. Must also complete the department's Driver Pump Operator program in addition to any other training, education, or certifications as required for continued employment.

Must possess a valid driver's license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia with an acceptable driving record.

Excellent Pay and Benefits:

• 
  Starting pay of $47,981 annually along with overtime pay
• EMS certification incentive pays
  • Virginia EMT-Paramedic-$10,000 annually upon release
  • Virginia EMT-Intermediate-$4,000 annually upon release
• Educational incentive pay for approved college degrees upon completion of the probationary period
  • Associates degree-$1,000 annually
  • Bachelor’s degree-$2,000 annually
  • Master’s degree-$3,000 annually
• Advancement opportunities
• Retirement benefits - Retirement benefits through the Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• Insurance benefits - Health, life and dental insurance
• Holidays - additional pay for working any of the County’s 14 holidays along with a special stipend when not working a specific holiday
• Paid vacation
• Tuition reimbursement benefit

• Graduates of the Hampton Roads (recruit) Fire Academy (or approved equivalent)
  • With certification as a Virginia EMT-Basic or Virginia Advanced-EMT-$5,000 one-time signing bonus after release at the certified EMS level (EMT-B or A-EMT) with 3 year employment agreement.
  • With certification as a Virginia EMT-Intermediate-$6,000 one-time signing bonus after release at the certified EMS level (EMT-Intermediate) with a 3-year employment agreement.
  • With certification as a Virginia EMT-Paramedic-$9,000 one-time signing bonus after release at the certified EMS level (EMT-Paramedic) with a 3-year employment agreement.
• Certified Virginia EMT-Paramedics (and/or eligible for such through reciprocity) without Hampton Roads (recruit) Fire Academy (or approved equivalent)
  • Eligible for a $4,000 one-time signing bonus upon successful completion of the Hampton Roads (recruit) Fire Academy and after operational release to perform at the EMT-Paramedic level—with a 3-year employment agreement.

Must meet NFPA (2000) 1582 Standards. Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including driving fire and rescue apparatus, and operating such firefighting and rescue equipment as pumps, ladders, aerial platforms, hoses, nozzles and appliances, hand tools, gasoline-powered tools, hydraulic and pneumatic tools, self-contained breathing apparatus, two-way radios, etc. Must be able to operate emergency medical equipment including radio communications systems between the ambulance and the physician at the hospital emergency department, cardiac monitor/defibrillator/pacers, medications, intravenous fluid administration systems, automated cardiopulmonary resuscitation devices, oxygen administration equipment, airway management equipment, wound care and fracture immobilization equipment, ambulance cots, stretchers, backboards, stair chairs, and other patient movement equipment. Must be able to operate hazardous materials management equipment and supplies, including radiological monitoring equipment. Must be able to lift and push and pull objects weighing between 25-165 pounds, and work with full gear that easily weighs 55 pounds. Physical demand requirements are those for Very Heavy Work.