Fire Department · Career
Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue
Hilton Head Island, SC · Beaufort County
No active openings right now
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Department careers page ↗Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue was formed on July 1, 1993, through the consolidation of the Hilton Head Island Fire District, the Sea Pines–Forest Beach Fire Department, and the Hilton Head Island Rescue Squad, building on a long local tradition of volunteer and combination fire protection. Today the department is a full-service, all-hazards agency covering the island's residents, visitors, and businesses from a network of seven fire stations.
Crews respond to roughly 9,700 calls a year, the large majority of them medical in nature, and provide fire suppression, advanced life support ambulance transport, hazardous materials response, and technical rescue. Every member trains to at least Basic EMT, with about half of the workforce holding paramedic certification, and the department runs its own in-house 911 communications center and vehicle maintenance shop to support around-the-clock station coverage.
Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue recruits through a standing Firefighter/EMT/Paramedic hiring pool rather than one-off job postings, drawing both certified lateral candidates and applicants with no prior fire service experience, and pairs new hires with a fully paid path through the South Carolina Fire Academy and EMT school.
MissionCommitted to serving our citizens and visitors by preserving life, protecting property, and conserving the environment.
The department fills Firefighter/EMT/Paramedic positions through a standing, multi-year hiring pool rather than individual job postings. There are two tracks: a Certified Candidate Pool for applicants who already hold IFSAC/ProBoard Firefighter II, National Registry EMT, and Haz-Mat Ops certification (no written exam required, straight to physical ability test and panel interview), and an Uncertified/Partially Certified Candidate Pool that is refreshed roughly annually and is open to applicants with no prior fire service experience or training.
Requirements
- Eligible to work in the United States
- At least 18 years old at time of hire (may apply before turning 18)
- High school diploma or G.E.D. (may apply before graduating, required by time of hire)
- Valid driver's license
- No felony conviction within the past 10 years, and no conviction for arson, controlled-substance offenses, felony criminal sexual conduct, or crimes against healthcare facility patients/residents (per SC law)
- No prior fire rescue experience or certification required to apply
Hiring process
- Submit online job application
- Entry-level Firefighter Exam (administered by National Testing Network) for uncertified/partially certified applicants
- Physical Ability Test on Hilton Head Island (no exemption for outside CPAT cards)
- Panel interview, held the same day as the physical ability test
- Background and driver's record check
- Certification verification
- Post-offer medical exam and drug test
- Orientation upon accepting the offer
- Eight-week South Carolina Fire Academy (Columbia, SC) — waived for candidates with IFSAC/ProBoard Firefighter II
- EMT training at a local technical college, completed alongside shift work
Benefits
Health, dental, and vision coverage; employer-paid life and disability insurance; SC Police Officers Retirement System (PORS) pension plus the SC One Percent Fund supplemental retirement plan and 457 deferred compensation; an employer-funded Health Reimbursement Arrangement; paid vacation, sick leave, and floating holidays; tuition reimbursement; employee credit union access; and sign-on bonuses of $2,500 for certified firefighters/EMTs and $10,000 for paramedics with transferable/reciprocal credentials.
New hires without existing certification attend an eight-week South Carolina Fire Academy program in Columbia, SC, fully paid for and compensated, followed by EMT coursework at a local technical college completed during shift work. Candidates with IFSAC/ProBoard Firefighter II certification have the academy requirement waived.
How do I become a firefighter with Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue?
Apply online to join the Firefighter/EMT/Paramedic hiring pool. There is a track for certified candidates (IFSAC/ProBoard Firefighter II, NREMT, Haz-Mat Ops) and a separate track for uncertified or partially certified applicants; both go through a physical ability test and interview, and candidates without certification are sent to a fully paid fire academy and EMT school.
What are the requirements to apply to Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue?
Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S., at least 18 at time of hire, hold a high school diploma or G.E.D. by time of hire, have a valid driver's license, and have no disqualifying criminal convictions under South Carolina law. No prior fire service experience or certification is required to apply.
Does Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue hire paramedics or lateral transfers?
Yes. Certified firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics can apply through the Certified Candidate Pool, which skips the written exam and moves directly to the physical ability test and panel interview. Paramedics with transferable or reciprocal credentials receive a $10,000 sign-on bonus.
Are there current job openings at Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue?
The department hires from a standing, multi-year Firefighter/EMT/Paramedic hiring pool rather than posting individual openings continuously; positions are filled from the pool as they occur based on department needs, and candidates can subscribe for notifications.
What is the work schedule for Hilton Head Island firefighters?
Most firefighters work a 24-hours-on, 48-hours-off shift rotation, with an additional day crew working a 10-hour, 4-day weekly schedule for daytime and training coverage.