The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department's Recruit School is held at the Fire and Rescue Academy located at 4600 West Ox Road. All recruits are subject to duty 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, but fire suppression training lasts for 24 weeks. 5 days per week, 8 hours per day except for holidays. Recruits are required to work some weekends and evenings. Students who graduate are certified with the Virginia Department of Fire Programs as a Firefighter I & II in accordance with NFPA 1001 Standard - 2008 Edition.

In addition to the academic requirements recruits are required to participate in the daily physical training (P.T.) program which includes running, weight training, core exercises, and work performance evaluation training Recruit school is structured in a paramilitary manner and recruits are expected to maintain a high standard of professionalism at all times.