Beginning a Career with PCFR

Are you looking for a rewarding career with Polk County? Are you looking to serve others? Polk County Fire Rescue is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) and employees some of the finest firefighters, EMTs and paramedics the county has to offer. If you would like to be a part of this highly qualified and growing department, click below to learn how to become a Florida Certified Firefighter or a Florida EMT or paramedic.

Steps to Starting a Career with Polk County Fire Rescue

Application Process: To be considered for employment with Polk County Fire Rescue, please complete the following steps:

Step 1 – Complete CPAT & FireTEAM
Candidates must successfully complete both the Candidate Physical Abilities Test (CPAT) and the FireTEAM assessments. The National Testing Network (NTN) offers both CPAT and FireTEAM. To learn more about CPAT and FireTEAM, and to sign up for testing, go to the National Testing Network website. Tests are offered multiple times a week, including Saturdays. During the registration process, make sure you select Polk County Fire Rescue to receive your test results. Upon completing the CPAT and FireTEAM assessments, your test results will be forwarded to Polk County Fire Rescue.

Step 2 – Submit Your Supporting Documents
Legible copies of the documents must be submitted on the National Testing Network. Only applicants who successfully complete these steps will have their scores and documents forwarded to Polk County Fire Rescue for further consideration. Supporting documents required include:

• Valid Florida Class E or higher driver license
• High-School Diploma or Equivalency Certificate
• State of Florida Firefighter Certificate of Compliance
• State of Florida EMT-Basic or Paramedic Certificate
• CPR or ACLS card
• CPAT/Fire Team Certificate
• National Incident Management System (NIMS) certifications:
  • ICS-100: Introduction to the Incident Command System
  • ICS-200: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
  • IS-700: National Incident Management System, An Introduction
  • IS-800: National Response Framework, An Introduction
• Emergency Vehicle Operator Course Certification card or a recognized 16-hour course that is equivalent
• Proof of vehicle insurance

Entry-level Position Requirements

Firefighter-EMT
Candidates for this position must possess a:

• State of Florida Certificate of Compliance certification
• State of Florida EMT certification
• Valid American Heart Association CPR “BLS for Health Care Providers” card, the American Red Cross Professional CPR card, American Heart Association (AHA), or American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI) card

Firefighter-Paramedic
Candidates for this must:

• Hold a State of Florida Paramedic certificate
• Hold a State of Florida Certificate of Compliance certification
• Possess a valid American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support provider or instructor card
• Prefer those with:
  • Valid International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) or Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) provider or instructor certification
  • Valid Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) provider or instructor certification
  • Valid Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) provider or instructor certification

Paramedic
Candidates for this must:

• Hold a State of Florida Paramedic certification
• Possess a valid American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support provider or instructor card
• Prefer those with:
  • Valid International Trauma Life Support (ITLS), or Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) provider or instructor certification
  • Valid Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) provider or instructor certification

Driving Requirements:

• Have not accrued 12 points within 36 months or 18 points within 48 months
• Have not been convicted on alcohol/drug related offenses within 36 months
• Have not been convicted of two alcohol/drug related offenses within 10 years
• Have not had a suspension, revocation or restriction due to moving violations or alcohol/drug related problem, including failure to take a breath test within the 36 months prior
• Have not had two failures to pay fines within 36 month
• Have not had two seat belt violations within 36 months
• Have not had three lapses of insurance within 36 months
• No serious traffic violations such as leaving the scene or driving on a suspended license within 36 months

Diplomas and Degrees
If your education was obtained in the United States, the county recognizes degrees or diplomas which are accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). If you have obtained education from a country other than the United States, your degree or diploma must be evaluated to determine the United States equivalency by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Service (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluations (AICE) at your expense.

Additional Information:
You must successfully complete the FireTeam and CPAT no more than one year prior to submitting an application. Applications for employment are only accepted during open recruitment. Open recruitment occurs periodically as dictated by operational needs.

Pre-employment Testing Information:
Polk County Fire Rescue uses both National Testing Networks and a paramedic exam (paramedics only) for the initial screening tools in the pre-employment process for the positions of:

• Firefighter-Paramedic
• Firefighter-EMT

Visit the National Testing Network, where you can schedule events. Select the fire icon and click on the applicable position sought with Polk County Fire Rescue. The site will then navigate you through the various components required to schedule an exam.