Employment FAQs
What's the qualifications to be a Firefighter?
Our minimum qualifications are:
– 18 years of age
– Possess a high school diploma or G.E.D
– Possess a valid driver’s license
– Be eligible to work in the United States
No fire and rescue experience or training is required. We hire both experienced and inexperienced candidates depending on department needs at the time a vacancy occurs. If a candidate selected for hire is not already certified in Firefighter I & II, BTFD will pay for them to attend Recruit School.
What disqualifies my application?
The following will disqualify you from employment as a Firefighter/EMT under South Carolina law:
– Have been convicted of or pled guilty to a felony in the last 10 years.
– Have been convicted of or pled guilty to arson.
– Have been convicted of or pled guilty to an offense involving a controlled substance.
– Have been convicted of or pled guilty to a felony involving criminal sexual conduct.
– Have been convicted of or pled guilty to a crime in which the victim is a patient or resident of a healthcare facility, including abuse, neglect, theft from, or financial exploitation of a person entrusted to the care or protection of the applicant.
– Inability to successfully obtain a medical clearance in accordance OSHA and NFPA 1582.
– Inability to pass random drug and alcohol screenings.
What is the shift schedule?
Firefighters are scheduled to work 24 hour shifts; 24 hours on-duty with 48 hours off. Our shifts begin and end at 0800.
I'm ProBoard/NFPQ/IFSAC (or other) Firefighter I and/or Firefighter II certified; will I be required to attend recruit school?
If applicants have a current ProBoard/NFPQ/IFSAC I and II certification, they will not be required to attend recruit school.
All Applicants who have not completed the SCFA Firefighter Candidate School or BTFD Recruit School will be required to obtain this certification. This cost will be paid for by the Bluffton Fire District. Recruits will be paid while attending Recruit School.
What is the starting salary & benefits?
Base annualized pay for Recruit Firefighters is $44,174. (annualized as of January 2023). Firefighters are hourly, overtime eligible employees.
In addition to a career of helping others, BTFD provides its personnel with advancement opportunities by taking classes through the South Carolina Fire Academy and National Fire Academy.
Recruit Firefighters must serve at least 12 months with BTFD prior to being eligible to promote. Each promotion in rank includes at minimum a 5% pay increase.
Our benefits package is one of the best in the region and includes:
– 100% employer paid Health, Dental, & Vision Insurance, and employer shared dependent coverage;
– Line of Duty Death Benefits;
– Life Insurance;
– Vacation and Sick Leave;
– Pension Plan (SC PORS Police Officers’ Retirement System);
– SC Deferred Compensation 401/457;
– South Carolina 1% Fund;
– Tuition Reimbursement Program; and
– Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A CONTRACT. THE BTFD MAY ALTER, AMEND, AND/OR DISCONTINUE ANY AND ALL ACCRUALS, BENEFITS, PLANS, & PROGRAMS, AT ANY TIME AT THE DISTRICT’S SOLE DISCRETION.
When can I expect to be hired?
We test each year to create a hiring pool; we will hire from this pool of eligible applicants as positions become available.
We do not have a ranked list; we hire from the pool of eligible applicants based on the needs of the department once a position becomes available due to attrition.
What EMT credential do you recognize?
If you do not have a current National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) EMT (or above) credential you will be required to attend EMT school once you are hired. This cost will be paid for by the Bluffton Fire District.
I can’t make the scheduled testing/interview dates, can I reschedule?
Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate any request for make-up testing. Our Staff strives to assure the testing process remains standard for all Applicants, and as such, we do not permit “make-up” testing.
