In order to become an Oconee County volunteer firefighter or medical responder all recruits must pass a criminal background check, driving history check, and a drug test. Firefighter recruits must pass an assessment lab to ensure proper physical and mental condition. Firefighter recruits must also enroll in and pass the Firefighter I course. Medical responder recruits must enroll in and pass the First Responder course.

Each fire station holds a fire training meeting at their station every Thursday night at 7pm. Medical responders have monthly training at one of the fire stations.

Oconee County Fire Rescue is one of the few volunteer departments in the state of Georgia requiring volunteer firefighters to be tested using the NPQ standards for firefighting. These high standards are the same that paid departments require and are a standard of training recognized throughout the country.

The OCFR Firefighter I course is one of the best volunteer programs in the state and totals over 240 hours of training. It involves classroom training, hands-on training, and an 8-hour live burn at the Athens-Clarke County Fire Training Center. The course concludes with the National Professional Qualification (NPQ) written test and the NPQ skills test administered by the Georgia Fire Academy.

The Oconee County First Responder course is 80 hours plus 24 hours of clinicals.