Division 7. Minimum Qualifications for Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Medical Service Care Clinicians
Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.
Division 7. Minimum Qualifications for Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Medical Service Care Clinicians
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 11-331 (2026)
Sec. 11-331. DefinitionsLinkCopy Citation
(a)
The words defined in this Section shall have the meanings set forth below whenever they appear in this Division, unless the context in which they are used clearly requires a different meaning or a different definition is prescribed for a particular provision.
(1)
Active experience means the aggregate cumulation of time in service either as a firefighter or EMS Care Clinician, as the applicable case may be, including and notwithstanding whether such time in service is or has been in the capacity of a volunteer or of an employee who receives compensation therefore, or whether the same may be cumulated with an organization other than the Fire Department or any designated organization.
(2)
Active status means that status by which any member of any designated organization shall constitute and serve in the capacity of a firefighter or EMS Care Clinician in accordance and within any applicable class provided under this Division.
(3)
Administrative Only Member means any person who joins the Volunteer Fire/EMS Corporation with the sole purpose of performing non-operational duties or administrative tasks (i.e., recruitment, fundraising, public fire & life safety education, data entry, accounting, etc.).
(4)
Apparatus means any motor vehicle which is owned, operated, or maintained by any designated organization and specially equipped for the purpose of responding to fire emergencies, medical emergencies, and other incidents of crisis attended by any designated organization, saving and excepting any such motor vehicle designed for the principal purpose of administrative or other nonemergency support functions as determined by the governing body of the designated organization.
(5)
Auxiliary Member means any person who joins the Volunteer Fire/EMS Corporation as a member of the Corporation's Auxiliary, whether part of the individual volunteer corporation or a separate entity.
(6)
Continuing education means a program, certification, or course of study or training, the subject matter of which is deemed and approved as substantially related to firefighting or the provision of emergency medical services, or the operation and enforcement of the provisions of this Subtitle, and includes, by way of illustration and not of limitation, an approved course for Maryland Emergency Medical Technician recertification purposes.
(7)
County experience means active experience, only and to the extent such time in service shall be cumulated in connection with the Fire Department or any designated organization.
(8)
Designated organization means any volunteer fire, volunteer rescue, or volunteer emergency medical service department, squad, or company established and operated in Prince George's County according to the provisions of Division 6 of this Subtitle.
(9)
Emergency Medical Service (EMS) means the provision of first aid or application of other developed medical techniques and treatments, the purpose of which is to save life and stabilize the medical condition of victims in trauma, medical crisis, or otherwise exigent medical circumstance.
(10)
Equivalent course of study means a program, certification, or course of study or training which is deemed and approved by the Fire Commission as materially equivalent with respect to any other such program, certification, or course.
(11)
Fire/ EMS General Order means the policies and procedures of the Prince George's County Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department.
(12)
Governing body means a board or committee of directors or trustees, or other governing body, having legal or fiduciary or ultimate corporate control with respect to any designated organization.
(13)
Interested party means a governing body or member of any designated organization, or any applicant to any designated organization, which is the subject of, interested in, or otherwise aggrieved by any determination made and rendered by the Qualifications Review Board or any governing body.
(14)
Junior Member means a member of a designated organization between the ages of 16 to 18 years old.
(15)
Medical emergency apparatus means any basic life support ambulance or other apparatus which is designed, specially equipped, and utilized for the purpose of providing emergency medical services and the transport of victims in trauma, medical crisis, or otherwise exigent medical circumstance.
(16)
Primary EMS Care Clinician means the EMS Care Clinician who shall be the most senior and Clinician in charge assigned to any medical emergency apparatus for the purpose of responding to any medical emergency and providing emergency medical services thereupon.
(17)
Qualifications Review Board means the Volunteer Fire Service Qualifications Review Board established pursuant to the provisions of this Division.
(18)
Standard means the National Fire Protection Association or identified industry best practices in firefighting, fire officers, rescue, and emergency medical services.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 11-332 (2026)
Sec. 11-332. Purposes; Construction; Applicability of DivisionLinkCopy Citation
(a)
The purposes of this Division are to prescribe minimum qualifications in policy and procedure for volunteer firefighters and volunteer EMS Care Clinicians, to establish appropriate standards of training for volunteer firefighters and volunteer EMS Care Clinicians and to enhance the standards and quality of service provided by the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department.
(b)
The provisions of this Division shall be construed and applied to promote the policies and procedures of the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department.
(c)
The provisions of this Division shall apply to any designated organization and to any member who shall actively engage in firefighting, rescue operations, or the provision of emergency medical services in connection with the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 11-333 (2026)
Sec. 11-333. Volunteer Firefighters and EMS Care Clinicians classesLinkCopy Citation
(a)
Subject to the applicable provisions of this Division and for purposes of this Division, volunteer firefighters shall be designated among classes of seniority as follows:
(1)
Junior Volunteer Firefighter;
(2)
Active Volunteer Firefighter;
(3)
Volunteer Fire Line Officer;
(4)
Deputy or Assistant Volunteer Fire Chief; and
(5)
Volunteer Fire Chief.
(b)
Subject to the applicable provisions of this Division and for purposes of this Division, volunteer EMS Care Clinicians shall be designated among the classes of seniority as follows:
(1)
Junior EMS Care Clinician;
(2)
Active Volunteer EMS Care Clinician;
(3)
Volunteer EMS Officer;
(4)
Deputy and Assistant Volunteer EMS Chief; and
(5)
Volunteer EMS Chief.
(c)
No member of any designated organization shall be appointed to active status to any officer, deputy chief, assistant chief, or chief class designation provided in this Section until such time as the governing body of such designated organization or the Fire Commission shall have duly issued a certificate, in writing, which evidences that such member meets or exceeds the conditions, qualifications, and requirements applicable thereto according the provisions of this Division.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 11-334 (2026)
Sec. 11-334. Junior Volunteer Firefighters and Junior EMS Care CliniciansLinkCopy Citation
(a)
Prior to appointment to the capacity of a Junior Volunteer Firefighter or Junior EMS Care Clinician, each applicant thereto shall establish compliance with the minimum qualifications as follows:
(1)
Age. Such applicant shall have attained an age of not less than sixteen (16) years.
(2)
Compliance with certain qualifications and training. Such applicant shall establish full and complete compliance with the provisions for minimum qualifications and training requirements set forth hereunder at Section 11-335, saving and except to the extent such minimum qualifications may otherwise require the attainment of any age.
(b)
Special restrictions.
(1)
No Junior Volunteer Firefighter or Junior Volunteer EMS Care Clinician shall be permitted or authorized to operate any apparatus responding to an emergency alarm.
(2)
No Junior Volunteer Firefighter or Junior Volunteer EMS Care Clinician shall be permitted or authorized to ride as a passenger upon any apparatus until such time as they shall have satisfactorily completed the Prince George's County Volunteer Recruit School, or any equivalent course of study, and furnished to the applicable designated organization a valid work permit.
(3)
No Junior Volunteer Firefighter may be permitted or authorized during emergency operations to enter a burning building or other structure until such time as they may have completed and obtained the Firefighter I certification provided at Section 11-335(b)(2) hereunder; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing limitation, an Incident Commander acting on site at any such fire may direct, authorize, or permit such Junior Volunteer Firefighter to enter such building or structure in the event such Incident Commander shall have first determined the subject fire is placed under control.
(4)
No Junior Volunteer Firefighter or Junior EMS Care Clinician shall be eligible to serve as a primary EMS Care Clinician on any medical emergency apparatus until such time as they shall have obtained a Maryland Emergency Medical Technician course certification, or any equivalent course of study.
(c)
Upon attaining the age of not less than eighteen (18) years, any member who shall have qualified in accordance with the provisions of this Section as a Junior Firefighter or Junior EMS Care Clinician shall be duly and automatically qualified thereafter as an active firefighter or active EMS Care Clinician, as the applicable case may be.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 11-335 (2026)
Sec. 11-335. Volunteer Firefighters and Volunteer EMS Care CliniciansLinkCopy Citation
(a)
Except as otherwise provided herein, prior to appointment to the capacity of a volunteer firefighter or EMS Care Clinician, whether of the junior or active class designation, each applicant thereto shall establish compliance with the minimum qualifications as follows:
(1)
Age. Such applicant shall have attained an age of not less than eighteen (18) years.
(2)
Application. Such applicant shall have furnished a completed application form as prescribed from time to time by the Fire Commission, which application form shall require the recordation of such information as is reasonably necessary to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the qualifications required by this Section.
(3)
Medical standards. Such applicant shall meet or exceed such medical standards as are established by the Fire Commission, which medical standards shall be based upon reasonable tests and examinations necessary to ascertain that the applicant's physical and mental health is adequate to insure that the applicant is able to perform in firefighting or rescue operations without the threat of injury to self, other firefighters or EMS Care Clinicians, or members of the general public.
(4)
Background investigation. Such applicant shall have authorized the conduct of, and successfully completed, a background investigation as may be determined, required, and administered by the applicable designated organization, which background investigation may include an investigation of the applicant's character, including an examination of the applicant's criminal history.
(b)
Upon appointment to the capacity of junior or active firefighter, each such person appointed shall comply with each of the several training requirements set forth below; and any failure thereafter of any person to meet such requirements shall result in automatic termination of active status until such time as the same requirements shall be satisfied.
(1)
Not later than twelve (12) months after the assignment of the members Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department identification number, each junior or active firefighter shall either enroll in the Maryland Emergency Medical Technician course or in the Firefighter I certification course, or any equivalent course of study.
(2)
Not later than thirty-six (36) months after the month of appointment, each junior or active firefighter shall have satisfactorily completed the Maryland Emergency Medical Technician course and obtained the Firefighter I certification, or any equivalent course of study.
(3)
For purposes of this Section 11-335(b), in the case of any volunteer firefighter who may attain the active class designation by operation of the conversion from the junior class in accordance with the provisions of Section 11-334(c), the month of appointment shall be determined and deemed to be the month during which they were first appointed to such junior class designation.
(c)
Upon appointment to the capacity of Active Volunteer EMS Care Clinician, each such person appointed shall comply with each of the several training requirements set forth below; and any failure thereafter of any person to meet such requirements shall result in automatic termination of active status until such time as the same requirements shall be satisfied.
(1)
Not later than eighteen (18) months after the month of appointment, each Active Volunteer EMS Care Clinician shall have completed and obtained a Maryland Emergency Medical Technician certification.
(2)
For purposes of this Section 11-335(c), in the case of any Volunteer EMS Care Clinician who may attain the active class designation by operation of the conversion from the junior class in accordance with the provisions of Section 11-334(c), the month of appointment shall be determined and deemed to be the month during which they were first appointed to such junior class designation.
(d)
Restrictions.
(1)
No Active Volunteer Firefighter or Active Volunteer EMS Care Clinician shall be eligible to operate, or ride as a passenger upon, any apparatus until such time as they shall have satisfactorily completed the Prince George's County Volunteer Recruit School.
(2)
No Active Volunteer Firefighter may be permitted or authorized during emergency operations to enter a burning building or other structure until such time as they may have completed and obtained the Firefighter I certification provided at Section 11-335(b)(2) hereinabove; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing limitation, an Incident Commander acting on-site at any such fire may direct, authorize, or permit such Active Volunteer Firefighter to enter such building or structure in the event such Incident Commander shall have first determined the subject fire is placed under control.
(3)
No Active Volunteer Firefighter or Active EMS Care Clinician shall be eligible to serve as a primary EMS Care Clinician on any medical emergency apparatus until such time as they shall have obtained a Maryland Emergency Medical Technician course certification.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 11-336 (2026)
Sec. 11-336. Volunteer Training StandardsLinkCopy Citation
The Volunteer Training Requirements for Volunteer Firefighters, Volunteer Line Officers, Volunteer Chief Officers, Volunteer Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Care Clinician, Volunteer Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Care Clinician Line Officers, Volunteer Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Care Clinician Chief Officers. All certification requirements shall be consistent with National Fire Protection Association standards, eligibility and professional development requirement shall be consistent with Career and Volunteer Professional Development guide, and are listed in the Prince George's County Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department General Order 11-20 (Volunteer Training Standards). Any revision to General Order 11-20 (Volunteer Training Standards) or any successor shall be consistent with National Fire Protection Association standards or shall be approved by the County Council via Resolution.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 11-337 (2026)
Sec. 11-337. ReservedLinkCopy Citation
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 11-338 (2026)
Sec. 11-338. ReservedLinkCopy Citation
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 11-339 (2026)
Sec. 11-339. ReservedLinkCopy Citation
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 11-340 (2026)
Sec. 11-340. ReservedLinkCopy Citation
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 11-341 (2026)
Sec. 11-341. ReservedLinkCopy Citation
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 11-342 (2026)
Sec. 11-342. Administration of DivisionLinkCopy Citation
(a)
Disputes. Subject to the provision for recommendation by the Qualification Review Board and any governing body which is an interested party, any dispute concerning the purposes, provisions, and administration of this Division shall be subject to determination by the Fire Commission.
(b)
Determinations by Fire Commission. The Fire Commission shall have the specific authorities and responsibilities to render the following determinations provided in accordance with this Division:
(1)
Any dispute concerning the issuance or failure to issue any certificate provided in accordance with the purposes, provisions, and administration of Section 11-333(c);
(2)
Any determination concerning the qualification of any program, certification, or course as one which shall be deemed an equivalent course of study with respect to any other course enumerated herein, within the meaning of Section 11-331(a)(6) and purposes of this Division; and
(3)
Any request of appeal tendered by an interested party with respect to any prior adverse determination provided in accordance with this Division and rendered by the Qualifications Review Board or any governing body.
(c)
Determinations by a governing body. A governing body shall have the specific authorities and responsibilities to render the following determinations provided in accordance with this Division:
(1)
Any initial determination concerning the qualifications or compliance with applicable training requirements of any firefighter or EMS Care Clinician in active status, or any applicant for such active status;
(2)
Any certification provided in accordance with the purposes, provisions, and administration of Section 11-333(c); and
(3)
Any determination concerning the qualification of any program, certification, or course as one which shall be deemed substantially related to firefighting or the provision of emergency medical services, or the operations and enforcement of the provisions of this Subtitle, and shall constitute continuing education within the meaning set forth in Section 11-331(a)(6) and for purposes of this Division.
(d)
Determinations by Qualifications Review Board. The Qualifications Review Board shall have the specific authorities and responsibilities as follows:
(1)
To evaluate and make recommendation with respect to any dispute made subject to determination by the Fire Commission pursuant to the provisions of this Division, including, without limitation, any dispute concerning the issuance or failure to issue any certificate provided in accordance with the purposes, provisions, and administration of Section 11-333(c);
(2)
To evaluate and develop recommendations concerning qualification of any program, certification, or course as one which shall be deemed substantially related to firefighting or the provision of emergency medical services, or the operations and enforcement of the provisions of this Subtitle, and shall constitute continuing education within the meaning set forth in Section 11-331(a)(10) and for purposes of this Division;
(3)
To make such general studies, surveys, inquiries, and evaluations concerning the improvement of qualifications or training for active status; and
(4)
To report its recommendations, findings, and evaluations to the Fire Commission.
(e)
Form and standards of determinations. Any determination made pursuant to the provisions of this Division by the Fire Commission, a governing body, or the Qualifications Review Board shall be rendered in writing, and shall be certificated through attestation by any officer so authorized by the governing body in interest, and shall be made upon the basis of a preponderance of the evidence.
(f)
Procedures; regulations. The Fire Commission shall promulgate its own rules and regulations as may be necessary and appropriate to execute its responsibilities under this Division; provided, such rules or regulations shall provide, among other things, that any appeal as provided under this Division shall be duly taken only upon the giving of timely notice thereof to the Qualifications Review Board and, further, shall provide that the Qualifications Review Board shall be afforded a period of not less than thirty (30), and not more than sixty (60) days, from the date of notice for the purpose of evaluating such appeal and making such recommendations as provided herein.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 11-343 (2026)
Sec. 11-343. Volunteer Fire Service Qualifications Review BoardLinkCopy Citation
(a)
There is hereby established a Volunteer Fire Service Qualifications Review Board which shall monitor the development of appropriate qualifications and standards of training for volunteer firefighters and volunteer EMS Care Clinicians, and to support the enhancement of standards and qualifications of service provided by designated organizations.
(b)
The Qualifications Review Board shall consist of five (5) members who shall be designated in accordance with the following:
(1)
One (1) member shall be designated from, among, and by the Fire Commission, which member shall constitute and serve as Chairman of the Qualifications Review Board;
(2)
Two (2) members shall be designated by the Fire Chief from and among the members of the Prince George's County Fire Service, one of which members shall be sworn to the rank of Assistant Fire Chief and the other of which shall be appointed to the position of Volunteer Assistant Fire Chief;
(3)
One (1) member shall be designated from among the members of the Prince George's County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, Inc., a Maryland nonstock corporation, or its lawful successor, which is organized and existing in Prince George's County, Maryland, and which member shall be so designated by the President of such association; and
(4)
One (1) member shall be designated from, by, and among the members of the Volunteer Fire Chief's Council or its lawful successor, an unincorporated and nonprofit professional association organized and existing in Prince George's County, Maryland.
(c)
Each member of the Qualifications Review Board shall serve for an indefinite term, and subject to the pleasure of the person or association by which such member is so designated to serve.
(d)
The Qualifications Review Board shall promulgate its own rules and regulations as may be necessary and appropriate to execute its responsibilities under this Division.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 11-344 (2026)