Employment

The application window for Entry Level Fire and Lateral Recruits is currently closed. Check back soon for more information.

Fire Recruit Hiring Process

Application

All candidates must submit an online employment application.  The email you provide on your employment application will be the primary means in which you are contacted and notified throughout the hiring process. Please contact Richmond Fire and EMS Sworn Recruitment Team at (804) 646-2500 or email [email protected] if you need assistance completing your online application.

Recruit Test

After submission of the online application, qualified candidates will receive correspondence to register for the Fire Recruit Test. 

Fireground Physical Ability Test 

A fireground physical ability test is utilized to assess a candidate’s physical agility to complete critical firefighting tasks effectively and safely.

Interviews

Selected candidates will be contacted regarding interview(s).

Conditional Offer of Employment and Background Checks

Candidates that pass all recruitment benchmarks referenced above will receive conditional offers of employment and will be required to complete pre-employment background checks offered by OEMS and the City of Richmond. All candidates selected for hire must have their COVID vaccination or submit a request for a religious or medical exemption.

The following recruitment benchmarks will occur: Fit Testing (Uniform and PPE) Psychological Written Test, Psychological One-on-One sessions, Health Physicals and Pre-Employment Drug Screenings.

Final Candidate Selection

All successful candidates will receive final offers of employment with a tentative date of employment for the Richmond Fire Recruit Academy.

*Richmond Fire & Emergency Services reserves the right to alter the recruitment benchmarks and the sequence of the benchmarks throughout the recruitment process.

Click here to watch past RFD Recruit Class videos