Join Caroline County Fire-Rescue

Serve with Purpose. Grow with Us.

Every call is an opportunity to make a difference.

At Caroline County Fire-Rescue, we believe a career in public safety is more than responding to emergencies.  It's about serving your community, building lifelong relationships, and continually growing as a professional.

Whether you're an experienced firefighter, a certified EMT or Paramedic, or someone looking to begin a career in Fire & EMS, we invite you to become part of our team.

Now Hiring

• Firefighter/EMT
• Firefighter/AEMT
• Firefighter/Intermediate
• Firefighter/Paramedic
• Firefighter/EMT Recruits

Updated 07/10/2026

Recruit Firefighter/EMTs, Recruit Firefighter/AEMTs, or Recruit Firefighter/Medics

Caroline County is accepting applications from Recruit Firefighter/EMTs, Recruit Firefighter/AEMTs, or Recruit Firefighter/Medics.  These candidates do NOT have to hold current Fire and/or EMS certifications.  They will attend a new recruit school.   Job Classifications include:

• Recruit I - This Fire and Rescue Recruit I (3250027) position is intended for an employee hired to fill the role of Firefighter/EMT who does not possess the required Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Fire Fighting certifications, at the time of appointment.  Candidates will obtain both firefighter and EMT certification during their recruit school.
  
  
• Recruit II - This Fire and Rescue Recruit II (3250035) position is intended for an employee hired to fill the role of Firefighter/EMT who holds either current EMT or Firefighting certifications but does not possess both at the time of appointment.  Candidates will obtain (as needed) either firefighter or EMT certification during an abbreviated recruit school.
  
  
• Recruit III - This Fire and Rescue Recruit III (3250038) position is intended for an employee hired to fill the role of Firefighter/AEMT who holds current Advanced EMT (AEMT) certification but does not possess the required Fire Fighting certifications, at the time of appointment. Candidates will obtain firefighter certification during an abbreviated recruit school.
  
  
• Recruit IV - This Fire and Rescue Recruit IV (3250028) position is intended for an employee hired to fill the role of Firefighter/Medic who holds current EMT-Intermediate or Paramedic certification but does not possess the required Fire Fighting certifications, at the time of appointment.  Candidates will obtain firefighter certification during an abbreviated recruit school.

Basic Requirements

• 18 years of age or older
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Valid Virginia driver's license with an acceptable driving record
• Must meet the medical requirements set forth in NFPA 1582, Chapter 6: Medical Evaluations of Applicants.
  
  
• Recruit II candidates must also hold:   
  • Basic Cardiac Life Support (Health Care Provider CPR)
  • Virginia Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Virginia Department of Fire Programs Firefighter II and Virginia Department of Fire Programs Hazardous Materials Operations
    
    
• Recruit III candidates must also hold:
  
  • Basic Cardiac Life Support (Health Care Provider CPR)
  • Virginia Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)
    
    
• Recruit IV candidates must also hold:
  • Basic Cardiac Life Support (Health Care Provider CPR)
  • Virginia Emergency Medical Technician – Intermediate or Paramedic (EMT-I/P)
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) or equivalent

 Note – 1) Virginia accepts many Pro-Board Firefighter certifications; 2) Paramedics receive an additional $5,000 yearly stipend for their advanced level of education.

Applications must be submitted electronically via the County’s website at: https://keynet.carolinecountyva.gov/keynet/Applicants/Job_View.asp  .   Please include copies of your Fire and EMS certifications and driving record with your submission. 

Please apply by 08/10/2026

Experienced Firefighter / EMTs, Firefighter /AEMTs,  and Firefighter / Medics 

Caroline County is accepting applications from fully certified Firefighter/EMTs, Firefighter/AEMTs, or Firefighter/Medics.  These candidates complete an in-house orientation and do NOT need to complete a new recruit school.   Compensation for experienced candidates will be based on previous experience and years of service.    Paramedics receive an additional $5,000 yearly stipend for their advanced level of education.

Basic Requirements

• 18 years of age or older
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Valid Virginia driver's license with an acceptable driving record
• Currently hold and maintain certification or equivalent in the following:
  • Basic Cardiac Life Support (Health Care Provider CPR)
  • EVOC Class III
  • Virginia Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), AEMT, or EMT – Intermediate or Paramedic
  • ICS 100, 200, 700, 800
  • Virginia Department of Fire Programs FireFighter II *
  • Virginia Department of Fire Programs Hazardous Materials Operations *
• Must meet the medical requirements set forth in NFPA 1582, Chapter 6: Medical Evaluations of Applicants.
  
  * Note – Virginia accepts many Pro-Board Firefighter certifications

Applications must be submitted electronically via the County’s website at: https://keynet.carolinecountyva.gov/keynet/Applicants/Job_View.asp  .   Please include copies of your Fire and EMS certifications and driving record with your submission. 

Please apply by 08/10/2026

Why Caroline?

Many questions of today are met with uncertainty.  The individual desire for purpose, however, has not changed.

Are you someone looking for work that is as meaningful as it is challenging?  Do you want to work closely as an essential part of a team?  Do you want to learn about yourself and what you are capable of? Does lifelong learning matter to you?  Do you wish for time to cultivate a healthy work-life balance?

Have you been seeking a career with purpose, rather than just a job?

If you have answered yes to these questions, we believe Caroline County is the place for you.

Caroline County Fire and Rescue is a small and growing combination fire/EMS department.  A combination department means that both career and volunteer staff work within the system. 

We pride ourselves on our commitment to adapt and grow with the increasingly changing times both within our trade and without…and we believe this commitment is the bedrock of who we strive to be.  We promote an atmosphere of teamwork, valuing the contributions of all organization members.  Growth often happens at work, together, with your coworkers in a hands-on environment.  It also happens through the individual contributions of our firefighters toward this common goal.

Our department is certainly not the largest in the area.  Our staff needs to be ready to meet the demands of the job with often limited resources.  Nothing will be handed to you, except the expectation to do your work in fire/EMS and bring your unique interests and talents along.

That means there are opportunities here that don’t exist elsewhere.  Our firefighter/EMT’s and firefighter/medics have occasion to learn and grow far beyond their counterparts in other localities. 

Caroline is working towards bringing together the values of the age-old work of taking care of our neighbors and the overwhelming desire of people to produce real change.

Come see for yourself what’s possible.

Hiring Process Overview

Caroline Fire and Rescue has a simple hiring process.

Step One – Apply

Apply for open positions through the County’s official website at:

https://keynet.carolinecountyva.gov/keynet/Applicants/Job_View.asp 

Applicants are reviewed and screened to ensure they meet the minimum qualifications. 

Step 2 – Written Examination

You’re invited to take our written FireTeam exam - Our FireTeam exam evaluates four areas:  Human Relations, Mechanical Reasoning, Reading, and Math.   None of these tests require specific fire or EMS knowledge.   They offer us feedback on which candidates are likely to be a good fit for our organization and be successful in our training program.  This is a video-based exam.

Note – Caroline does NOT conduct physical agility testing for applicants.   

Step 3 – Panel Interview

Candidates are invited to a panel interview - This interview allows us to meet candidates and get to know them better.  It also allows you, the candidate, an opportunity to interview our organization.

Step 4 – Reference and Background Checks are conducted

Step 5 – Conditional Job Offer

New hires complete:

• Post hire physical and drug testing - Once a candidate accepts an offer, they are scheduled for a post hire medical physical and drug testing. This medical physical is based on the industry standard National Fire Protection Association 1582. It evaluates your medical ability to successfully perform the job.

Fingerprinting / Criminal Records Search - Before starting in Caroline, all new hires undergo required Virginia OEMS fingerprinting / criminal history checks.  

Once VA OEMS returns acceptable results, new hires are scheduled to begin orientation.

New Firefighter / EMT Recruit 

Considering a career in Fire and EMS, but don’t have any formal training?  Then consider applying for one of our Firefighter / EMT Recruit positions.   These positions will attend a six-month training academy, in which they will learn basic firefighting, emergency medical technician, hazardous materials response and emergency driving skills and obtain their initial course certifications. 

Candidates do NOT have to have previous fire or EMS certifications of experience.   

Basic Requirements

• 18 years of age or older
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Be eligible to obtain EMS certification within the Commonwealth of Virginia
• Valid Virginia driver's license with an acceptable driving record
• Must meet the medical requirements set forth in NFPA 1582, Chapter 6: Medical Evaluations of Applicants.

Once Recruit Positions Open, applications must be submitted electronically via the County’s website at:  https://keynet.carolinecountyva.gov/keynet/Applicants/Job_View.asp

Recruits will attend a 6-month training academy.  

Firefighter / EMT and Firefighter / Medic Recruits
with existing EMT or higher certification

Caroline Fire – Rescue gives special consideration to applicants with existing EMT, Intermediate, or Paramedic certification.   These candidates bypass the traditional recruitment process and attend specific Firefighter training certification classes and orientation. 

To be considered for this classification of hiring, candidates should minimally have:

• 18 years of age or older
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Valid Virginia driver's license with an acceptable driving record
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (Health Care Provider CPR)
• Virginia Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), EMT – Intermediate or Paramedic
• ICS 100, 200, 700, 800
• ALS providers are required to maintain certification in ACLS, PALS and PHTLS
• Must meet the medical requirements set forth in NFPA 1582, Chapter 6: Medical Evaluations of Applicants.

Applications must be submitted electronically via the County’s website at: https://keynet.carolinecountyva.gov/keynet/Applicants/Job_View.asp .  Please include copies of your EMS certifications and driving record with your submission.

Firefighter / EMT Recruits
with existing Firefighter II certification

Caroline Fire – Rescue gives special consideration to applicants with existing Firefighter II certification.   These candidates bypass the traditional recruitment process and attend specific EMT training certification classes and orientation. 

To be considered for this classification of hiring, candidates should minimally have:

• 18 years of age or older
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Valid Virginia driver's license with an acceptable driving record
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (Health Care Provider CPR)
• Virginia Firefighter II certification (or Pro-Board equivalent)
• Must meet the medical requirements set forth in NFPA 1582, Chapter 6: Medical Evaluations of Applicants.

Applications must be submitted electronically via the County’s website at: https://keynet.carolinecountyva.gov/keynet/Applicants/Job_View.asp .   Please include copies of your Fire certifications and driving record with your submission.

Experienced Firefighter / EMTs and Firefighter / Medics 

Caroline County has an open application process for individuals already trained and working elsewhere as Firefighter / EMTs.   These candidates complete an in-house orientation and do NOT need to complete a new recruit school.   Compensation for experienced candidates will be based on previous experience and years of service.  

Basic Requirements

• 18 years of age or older
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Valid Virginia driver's license with an acceptable driving record
• Currently hold and maintain certification or equivalent in the following:
  • Basic Cardiac Life Support (Health Care Provider CPR)
  • EVOC Class III
  • Virginia Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), EMT – Intermediate or Paramedic
  • ICS 100, 200, 700, 800
  • Virginia Department of Fire Programs FireFighter II *
  • Virginia Department of Fire Programs Hazardous Materials Operations *
• Must meet the medical requirements set forth in NFPA 1582, Chapter 6: Medical Evaluations of Applicants.
  
  * Note – Virginia accepts many Pro-Board Firefighter certifications

Applications must be submitted electronically via the County’s website at:  https://keynet.carolinecountyva.gov/keynet/Applicants/Job_View.asp .   Please include copies of your Fire and EMS certifications and driving record with your submission.

Work/Life Balance – Our Schedule

Firefighters in Caroline maintain an excellent work / life balance based on their unique 24-hour shift schedule.  This schedule is designed to maximize one’s time off when away from the station.   Staff love the built in 5-day break every three weeks.

Below is a chart that provides a snapshot of the rotational schedule:

Operational Firefighter/EMTs and Firefighter/Medics are assigned to rotating 24 hours shifts over a 28 day pay cycle.   Firefighters are scheduled 9 to 10 days a month.   A typical rotation is as follows:

Crews conduct shift change at 06:00 AM each morning.   This allows for an easier traffic commute to and from work.

Salary and Benefits

Caroline County offers a comprehensive benefits package that supports you both on and off duty.

Benefits Include

• Virginia Retirement System with Hazardous Duty Supplement
• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• County contributes approximately 80% of family health insurance premiums
• Paid Vacation Leave
• Paid Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Training
• Career Development Incentive Pay
• Uniforms & Personal Protective Equipment
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition and professional development opportunities

Compensation for Recruits (40-hour week schedules) - starting July 12, 2026

Experienced Firefighter/EMTs (212 hr / 28 day cycles)

Paychecks are issued every two weeks.

Questions / More Information

Apply on line at https://keynet.carolinecountyva.gov/keynet/Applicants/Job_View.asp

If you have any questions about the position or would like more details, please call the Department of Fire and Rescue at (804) 633-9831.