Lateral and Entry-level Firefighter Opportunities
Central County Fire Department (CCFD) is always looking for new team members who are passionate and knowledgeable about the fire service. We offer a progressive and highly skilled department, where we strive to provide the best service to the communities we serve (Burlingame, Hillsborough and Millbrae).
If you are looking for a career that provides exciting and rewarding challenges, competitive pay and benefits, and a positive impact on our communities, please consider a career with CCFD.
Interested?
- Check our FAQs and minimum requirements information below
- View our current lateral and entry-level firefighter job openings
- For further information regarding the Central County Fire Department or our recruitment process, contact our Hiring Committee via e-mail at GRP-hiring.committee@ccfd.org
Intern Program
We also have an Intern program available. For more information on the program, please click here or contact us at our Intern Program e-mail
Minimum Employment Qualifications
If you decide to pursue a fire service career, then a plan should be put in place to guide you towards your goal. To be a firefighter with the Central County Fire Department, you must meet our minimum employment qualifications. They are:
- Minimum 18 years of age at time of employment
- Eligible to work in the United States
- High School diploma or equivalent
- Current EMT-1, (B)asic, (D)efibrillator, or Paramedic licenser (National Registry acceptable)
- Valid California Class “C” license or equivalent.
- Candidates must be on the Firefighter Candidate Testing Center, “FCTC”, statewide eligibility list
When you have met the minimum qualifications (this oftentimes varies between departments), you can begin the actual testing process. For the Central County Fire Department, the testing process typically consists of the following:
- CCFD Hiring Committee interviews
- Fire Chief’s interview
- Thorough background investigation
- Physical examination along with drug screening
Once you have completed this extensive pre-employment process, you will join other recruits throughout San Mateo County and attend a fourteen-week fire academy.
After academy graduation, you will undergo more rigorous training and testing with the goal of successfully completing our Department’s eighteen-month probationary period. The training doesn’t end there, though. A career in the fire service means continuous training throughout the duration of your career. You should also consider the physical demands placed on firefighters and take steps to keep yourself in top physical condition throughout your career.
If you think a career with the Central County Fire Department is the career for you, and you would like more information on how to become a Central County Firefighter, contact the CCFD Equal Employment Opportunity and Recruitment committee at (650) 558-7623 or by email.
Employment FAQs
CCFD will post the job openings on CalOpps, our website, and social media. CCFD uses the Firefighter Candidate-Testing Center (FCTC) to establish an eligibility list. Candidates must meet the minimum requirements for the position and be on the FCTC eligibility list. CCFD will send out invitations to eligible candidates after determining the minimum passing score of the FCTC written exam.
Individuals that move through the process to the Chief’s interview will be put on an eligibility list. The list will last 12-24 months at the Chief’s discretion.
Candidates being considered for the position will be notified by email and/or mail.
Once candidates are notified they are advancing in the process, they are provided the rules and regulations of station visits. We encourage candidates to visit stations, but please understand that crews are not always going to be available due to operational needs.
Our screening process is explained under our minimum requirement information.