Application Process 

The Greensboro Fire Department takes applications throughout the year. You may apply at any time regardless of whether a Recruit Academy is starting. Once you complete your application and complete Steps 1-4, you remain in the applicant pool until your application expires (one year after the end of the period in which your application was accepted), or until you have been contacted for a position within the Department, contingent upon successfully passing a background check, medical physical and drug screen. Please read below for more information about the application process.

Periods are as follows:

Periods	If your application is accepted between:	Expiration date is:
1st*	October 1 - March 1	March 31 (of the following year)
2nd**	April 1 - September 30	September 30 (of the following year)

*For applications received between October 1 – March 31: Firefighter Abilities Test (FFAT) and Suitability Test (Fire Team) are scheduled in April. Interviews will be scheduled after April 30.

**For applications received between April 1 – September 30: Firefighter Abilities Test (FFAT) and Suitability Test (Fire Team) are scheduled in October. Interviews will be scheduled after October 31.


1. Complete Application

Applications can be picked up at the City’s Human Resources Department (300 West Washington Street), the Public Safety Training Facility, the Fire Department's Human Resources Office, or printed from the City’s or the Fire Department’s Web pages. Use the "To Apply" link on the left to open and print a PDF version of the application.

You must furnish copies of your:

• Birth certificate - copy
• Driver’s license - copy
• High School Diploma - copy
• College diploma (if applicable) - copy
• Military discharge - Form DD-214 - (if applicable) - copy

Incomplete applications without all supporting documentation will be held at the City's Human Resources Department until all remaining supporting materials arrive. Applications are not considered "accepted" until all documentation is received.

After acceptance of an application, all qualified applicants will be contacted by mail to inform them of how to schedule their Firefighter Abilities Test (FFAT). FFAT is a two-part process that occurs in April and October. The week before the actual testing sessions, applicants can sign up to attend practice sessions to become familiar with the course. It is not a requirement of the applicant to attend the practice sessions. Your actual testing date depends on the period in which your application was received (see chart above). You must attend the FFAT session in the period of your application acceptance or your application will be removed from the process.

You must arrive by 7:30 am for the FFAT session. Anyone arriving after that time will not be admitted to test. There are no make-up dates due to inclement weather. We will continue testing “rain or shine.” Make plans to be at the training facility for up to eight hours because we will conduct the written Suitability Test in the afternoon if you successfully complete the Firefighter Abilities Test. Out-of-town applicants should make necessary arrangements to be on time. If you are unable to attend your scheduled FFAT date, you must call the Public Safety Training Facility at 336-373-2449 in advance of your date / time in order to be allowed to reschedule. Only “No Fault” absences will be considered for rescheduling. If you are absent without calling in advance, you will be considered a no-show and your application will be removed from the process.

2. Complete Firefighter Abilities Test (FFAT)

To meet the minimum requirements of the Greensboro Fire Department, all candidates need a combination of strength and endurance. The City and the Fire Department have determined that any individual can successfully compete for the position of Firefighter Recruit if his or her preparation is focused on the physical abilities listed below.

The Abilities Test is the result of a significant amount of research on the occupation of fire suppression. The tasks reasonably test the physical abilities of an individual as they apply to performing basic fireground duties. The Abilities course consists of five tasks performed consecutively.

Hose Load Carry / Stair ClimbCarry a 42-pound hose load up the drill tower interior stairs (48.5 vertical feet).

Hose Hoist
Hoist a 39-pound hose roll a distance of 51.5 vertical feet by pulling up a 1/2-inch diameter rope with the roll attached.

Forcible Entry Simulator Using a nine-pound sledgehammer, strike the end of a steel beam and drive it five feet horizontally on a skid.

Hose Advance Pull a charged 1 3/4-inch diameter hose line a distance of 75 feet across pavement.

Victim RescueDrag a 165-175 pound mannequin 100 feet horizontally.

Note A: In addition to the timed portion called the Firefighter's Abilities Test, you are required to crawl through a three-foot wide, 30-foot long tunnel in blackout conditions and climb an aerial ladder. Both requirements test for phobias (fear of confined spaces and fear of heights). Neither test is timed.

Immediately after successful completion of the abilities test, you will be given a lunch break and then you will take the written Suitability Test. The exact test time will be determined once everyone has gone through the course. This test is timed and video-based, so all applicants must start at the same time. If you are late returning from your break, you will not be allowed to test and will be dropped from the process.

Note B: If you finish the Firefighter Abilities Test (FFAT) course in its entirety, your application will continue to be valid for one year from application expiration date. If you do not finish the abilities course in its entirety, your application will expire. The application will not be fully accepted for you to be considered part of the applicant pool until you have completed the Abilities course test and the Suitability portion successfully.

3. Take Written Suitability Examination

This exam consists of three tests developed for the fire service by Ergometrics and Applied Personnel Inc. (Fire Team) and is used to determine your compatibility for this line of work. Applicants must report to the testing room at least 15 minutes in advance. A picture ID is required to take the test. Applicants will be notified if they passed the test. Applicants who successfully pass the written exam will be placed in an applicant pool for upcoming interviews. Notification generally takes about two to three weeks. Your application will be dated from the last day of the quarter in which you applied and will be valid for 12 months from that date. If you wish to add any information or make address changes during that time, contact Wanda Wyant at 373-2449.

4. Participate in an Oral Interview

After reviewing the results of an applicant's Firefighter Abilities test, written Suitability test and application, you may be asked to participate in an in-depth oral interview with the Fire Training Staff. Second interviews may be required. Applicants completing Steps 1-4 are considered part of an applicant pool.

5. Complete Background Investigation, Medical Exam and Drug Screen

When a date for a class has been determined, applicants' data is reviewed and selected candidates will receive a contingent job offer stating that they must successfully complete Step 5 in order to be accepted into the Recruit Academy. Step 5 consists of a thorough background investigation, medical evaluation and drug screen. You will be scheduled for a complete medical evaluation and drug screen through the City's Medical Services. Upon satisfactory completion of the background check, medical exam and drug test, a final offer of employment will be made and the candidate will be informed as to any further details needed to prepare for the recruit academy.

Note: All others still within the applicant pool remain active until their application expires - see explanation of expiration above. An applicant in the pool may be selected for any future class as long as their application remains valid. During the interview, applicants will be informed of their expiration date. Once in the applicant pool, no further notification will be sent to that applicant unless they have been selected for an Academy. It is the applicant's responsibility to reapply after expiration if they choose.