Fire Department · Career
Dekalb County Fire & Rescue Services
Tucker, GA · DeKalb County
“One DeKalb. One Mission. One Future.”
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Department careers page ↗DeKalb County Fire Rescue serves a large, diverse suburban county on the eastern edge of Atlanta, covering unincorporated DeKalb plus 11 municipalities including Brookhaven, Chamblee, Dunwoody, Stone Mountain, Stonecrest, and Tucker. The department protects a population of more than 750,000 residents.
Operations run out of 26 strategically located fire stations. The department carries an ISO Class 2 rating, placing it among the top few percent of fire departments nationwide for fire suppression capability.
The department was established in 1937 and today operates across several divisions, including Fire Operations, EMS, Training and Professional Services, and Planning and Community Risk Reduction.
MissionTo be responsive to the needs and safety of our community, and committed to the highest level of risk reduction and incident response while delivering superior customer service and professionalism.
DeKalb County Fire Rescue recruits at several entry points: a Firefighter Recruit track that requires no prior experience (about 36 weeks of training to earn certifications), a Prequalified Firefighter track for candidates who already hold NPQ Firefighter I & II, HazMat Awareness/Operations, and EMT/Paramedic certifications, and dedicated EMS roles at the EMT-B, EMT-A, and Paramedic levels.
All applicants must have a high school diploma or GED and a valid driver's license, and must clear a set of automatic disqualifiers covering criminal history, driving record, and drug use. The path runs through the DeKalb County Human Resources careers portal: set up job alerts, pass a Physical Agility Test, and submit the online application with the required documents. Recruiting questions go to dcfrrecruiting@dekalbcountyga.gov or 404-368-6914.
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid driver's license
- U.S. citizenship
- For Prequalified Firefighter: NPQ Firefighter I & II, HazMat Awareness/Operations, and EMT or Paramedic certification
- For EMS roles: EMT-B, EMT-A (Advanced), or Paramedic certification (NREMT or Georgia)
- No felony conviction within 10 years, no domestic violence conviction, no DUI within 3 years
- No more than 5 moving violations in 3 years
- No drug use within 12 months and no history of drug sales
- No dishonorable military discharge
Hiring process
- Set up job alerts and apply through the DeKalb County Human Resources careers portal (Oracle Cloud)
- Submit required documents (birth certificate, driver's license, Social Security card, high school diploma/GED and transcripts, resume, tattoo policy acknowledgment and photos of all tattoos)
- Pass the Physical Agility Test (PAT)
- Complete the online application portal submission
Firefighter Recruits complete roughly 36 weeks of training to obtain their certifications; Prequalified Firefighters complete about 8 weeks of initial training.
Do I need prior experience or certifications to apply?
No. The Firefighter Recruit track requires no prior experience, and recruits complete roughly 36 weeks of training to earn their certifications. Candidates who already hold NPQ Firefighter I & II, HazMat Awareness/Operations, and an EMT or Paramedic certification can apply for the Prequalified Firefighter role instead.
What are the minimum requirements?
You need a high school diploma or GED, a valid driver's license, and U.S. citizenship. You must also clear a set of disqualifiers covering criminal history (no felony within 10 years, no domestic violence conviction, no DUI within 3 years), driving record, and recent drug use.
What is the starting pay?
Starting pay depends on the role: Firefighter Recruit begins at $55,000 ($55,692 after graduation), Prequalified Firefighter and EMT-B at $57,750, EMT-A at $60,638, and Paramedic at $65,492.
How do I apply?
Applications go through the DeKalb County Human Resources careers portal. Set up job alerts there, prepare the required documents, pass the Physical Agility Test, and submit through the online application portal. Recruiting questions can go to dcfrrecruiting@dekalbcountyga.gov or 404-368-6914.
Are there EMS-only positions?
Yes. The department hires EMT-B, EMT-A (Advanced), and Paramedic roles for candidates holding the corresponding NREMT or Georgia certifications, in addition to its firefighter tracks.
What documents do I need to apply?
You'll need a birth certificate, driver's license, Social Security card, high school diploma or GED with transcripts, a resume, a signed tattoo policy acknowledgment, and photos of all tattoos.