Training Division

Fire Department Training Division

Are you looking to join the Forsyth County Fire Department? With competitive pay, excellent benefits and an opportunity to serve your community when it needs you - an adventure awaits you at the Forsyth County Fire Department.

HIRING REQUIREMENTS

2020 BENEFITS SUMMARY

Have a question regarding the recruitment process or training for the Forsyth County Fire Department? Send your question to FCFDrecruiting@forsythco.com.

The Fire Department Training Division consists of a training chief, five (5) full-time fire instructors, one (1) part-time fire instructor, and is located within the Fire Department Headquarters on Settingdown Road. Training facilities include: a classroom for small classes, an auditorium for large classes, library, a two-story live fire training facility, a five-story training tower (for rappelling, search/rescue, etc), a vehicle fire simulator, above/below grade confined space facilities, ventilation simulator, and a pump drafting pit.

Prior to employment with the fire department, the fire candidate: 1) Must be at least 18 years old, 2) Cannot have been convicted of a felony in the past 10 years, 3) Must be of good moral character as determined by investigation, and 4) Must possess a high school diploma or GED. Following employment, the recruit will attend a 36-week firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification program and complete a probationary period to prove they have what it takes to perform the demanding job of a firefighter.

Annually, each career firefighter is required by Georgia state law to attend 120 hours of Fire/EMS related training. Beyond the state minimum of 120 hours we require an additional 120 hours for a total of 240 hours of annual fire-related training. The Training Division is responsible for approving and tracking the training hours of each employee. This training can be attained through departmental level training, classes at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, the National Fire Academy, national or state fire related conferences, and other accepted training methodologies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Recruit School?

Recruit school or “rookie school” is an intensive training program designed to not only teach a recruit how to be a firefighter, but also to push a person’s mental and physical limitations. Think of it as “boot camp” for the fire service.

How long is Recruit School?

The fire portion of recruit school is 14-16 weeks long preceded by 20 weeks of Emergency Medical Technician-Advanced (EMT-A) training.

What are the qualifications to be hired as a firefighter in Forsyth County?

A qualified candidate must be a minimum of 18 years old and must possess a high school diploma or G.E.D. The candidate must also be a U.S. citizen. All candidates will also go through an extensive background and reference evaluation to determine their qualification status.

What are the steps to be hired as a firefighter in Forsyth County?

The hiring process consists of the following steps:

· Submit an online application: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/forsyth/

· Written exam

· Physical agility test (PAT)

· Reference verification

· Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ)

· Panel Interview

· Conditional job offer

· Pre-employment drug screen and physical

· Criminal background investigation/fingerprints

· Psychological evaluation

· Polygraph

· Official job offer

What is the Physical Agility Test (PAT) and what does it consist of?

The PAT is an intensive 10-station “obstacle course” of basic firefighting tasks that a firefighter may encounter on the fire ground. These tasks are designed to challenge a candidate both physically and mentally. All candidates must complete the course in the allotted time to continue in the hiring process.

How often does the department hire new firefighters?

The department is usually in one phase or another of the hiring process or recruit school. The hiring process takes approximately four months to complete followed by recruit school.

What are the different levels of medical licenses that firefighters have?

There are three levels of licensing that firefighters in the Forsyth County Fire Department possess. All new employees will be trained to the EMT-A level.

-Emergency Medical Technician (formally referred to as EMT-Basic)

-Emergency Medical Technician-Advanced

-Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic

What is probation and how long does it last?

Once a firefighter has completed recruit school, they are released to the Operations Division to begin their career as a firefighter. This is the period when a probationary firefighter begins to learn about the job. During this period, a “probie” is constantly evaluated to determine if they have what it takes to be a Forsyth County firefighter. This probationary period lasts 18-months from the date of hire.