Austin Fire 2026 Hiring Process

The Austin Fire 2026 hiring process was designed to comply with all applicable laws, is managed by several City offices - both inside and outside of the department - and is intended to hire qualified candidates.

Austin Fire's hiring process (Candidate Interest Card through Final Employment Offer) is comprised of two phases:

Phase 1: Application period, written exam and structural oral assessment process (SOP)
Phase 2: Pre-hire assessments (candidates who receive conditional offers of employment must successfully complete all pass/fail pre-hire assessments or are disqualified).

Candidates who complete the written exam will receive a composite score. Applicable veteran preference points will then be factored into all passing test scores. The total will determine placement on the ranked eligibility list.

Austin Fire reserves the right to update, change, cancel, and/or alter any dates and times listed below with or without notice.

Eligibility Requirements

Austin Fire adopted and follows Texas Local Government Code 143. This code also addresses eligibility for a beginning firefighter position, which includes age and eligibility for future certification.

The following are the minimum requirements for an Austin fire cadet. Applicants must meet all requirements as of October 25, 2025:

AGE: Applicants must be at least 18 years of age but not exceed age 35 on the day the written exam is administered.
EDUCATION: Must possess a high school diploma or GED.
CITIZENSHIP: U.S. (birth or naturalized). Applicants who are not U.S. citizens must have a current immigration status and must be permitted to work a full-time job in this country. Applicants must have a valid Social Security card. Contact United States Citizenship and Immigration Services with immigration status questions.
LANGUAGE: Must be able to read, write, and speak English.
DRIVER LICENSE: Must possess a current valid driver license issued from state of residence.
SOCIAL SECURITY: Must have a valid Social Security card.
MEDICAL: Must meet the requirements set forth in NFPA 1582, Latest Edition, Standard on medical requirements for firefighters. Contact NFPA or a medical professional with questions.
ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE CERTIFICATIONS: Meet all legal requirements necessary to become certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and the Texas Department of State Health Services. Contact these agencies directly with certification questions.

Fitness Expectations

Austin Fire cadets must meet the following fitness expectations on the first day of the academy:

1.5 Mile Run

Minimum: Under 12 minutes
Competitive: Under 10:40

Metronome Push-ups

Minimum: 30 push-ups at 80 beats/minute onto 5 inch tall prop
Competitive: 43 push-ups at 80 beats/minute onto 5 inch tall prop

Metronome Inverted Rows

Minimum: 30 inverted rows at 80 beats/minute up to a 5 inch tall prop
Competitive: 40 inverted rows at 80 beats/minute up to a 5 inch tall prop

Side Plank

Minimum: 1:13/side Competitive: 1:20/side

The following exercises will be taught and developed throughout the cadet academy:

Tower Stair Climb

Minimum: 18-story stair climb with 35 lbs additional weight (vest, dumbbells, etc)
Competitive: 27-story stair climb with 35 lbs additional weight (vest, dumbbells, etc)

Familiarity with variations of the squat, deadlift, overhead press, and bent-over row

Application

Applications must be submitted exclusively through the City of Austin Jobs webpage.

Instructions for locating the position on Austin City Jobs:

Create an account.
Search for Jobs.
Use the keyword: fire cadet.
Complete the application.

For technical assistance in creating or submitting the application, please utilize the HELP link within the application system.

Written Exam & Structured Oral Assessment Process (SOP)

Invitations containing the assigned test date and time for the written exam and SOP will be sent to qualified applicants via email. Candidates will be scheduled by confirmation number. Attendance and successful completion of both the written exam and the SOP are mandatory to progress further on in the hiring process.

Written Exam

The written exam is a general aptitude test designed to evaluate abilities in areas including, but not limited to: verbal comprehension, deductive reasoning, and mechanical aptitude. No prior knowledge about the fire service is required.

SOP

The SOP is a professional job interview and should be treated as such. During the exercise, applicants are placed in a room and recorded while providing answers to videos of hypothetical situations/scenarios. Each question is allocated a limited time for the applicant to make his/her response. These recordings are reviewed and scored by assessors after the event has concluded.

Test Dates: October 25-26, 2025. The number of test dates are determined by the number of qualified applicants.
Location: Hilton Austin | 500 East 4th Street | Austin, Texas 78701
Required Documentation: Bring email invitation with confirmation number and valid current U.S. driver's license.

Veteran Preference Points

Austin Fire extends veteran preference points to eligible applicants who achieve a passing score on the written exam. To qualify for veteran preference points, applicants must submit a DD form 214 , confirming an honorable discharge with a minimum of 180 consecutive days of active duty status. Only an honorable discharge status is accepted for consideration.

In order to be considered for these additional points, applicants will be invited to provide a copy of their DD214, which must display boxes 23 through 30. Applicants must also meet the following criteria to be eligible for these points:

Electronic submission of a legible copy of the DD214, uploaded to the online AFD portal in electronic format (PDF, TIFF, DOC, JPEG, etc.). We will not accept paper copies via mail or hand delivery, or electronic copies provided outside of the AFD portal such as by e-mail.
Have an Honorable Discharge. No other discharge status will be accepted.
Have served a minimum of 180 days of continuous active duty in any branch/component of the U.S. military.
Passing written exam score.

Conditional Offer of Employment

Upon completion of both the written exam and the oral interview, candidates will receive a composite score. Veteran preference points, if applicable, will then be added to determine the total score and the candidate's position on the ranked eligibility list.

The ranked eligibility list will be made available on Austin Fire's Hiring Process Updates page. Top-ranked applicants will be extended a conditional offer of employment, contingent upon successful completion of pass/fail pre-hire assessments. Applicants who do not receive a conditional offer of employment are encouraged to apply to a future Austin Fire hiring process.

Applicants should regularly visit the Hiring Process Updates page for up-to-date information.

Pre-hire Assessments

Background Check: Criminal background investigation, including a fingerprint check
Candidate Physical Ability Test© (CPAT): An obstacle course that consists of eight occupational-related events. No previous or alternate CPAT certificates accepted, only those issued by Austin Fire
Medical Assessment: Conducted by the City of Austin's Public Safety Wellness Center physicians.
Psychological Assessments: Candidates will take a written psychological evaluation. This is followed by interviews conducted by third-party psychologists contracted by the City of Austin

Learn more about pre-hire assessment information here.

Disqualification Criteria

Age Requirements

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, but not exceed age 35, on the day the written exam is administered.

Certification Eligibility

While applicants do not need to be certified during the application process, eligibility for future certification with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and the Texas Department of State Health Services is required. Contact these agencies directly with certification inquiries.

Unresolved Legal Matters

Applicants should obtain a criminal history to review and address unresolved issues before submitting the Austin Fire application. Texas residents may do so through the Texas Department of Public Safety. Offenses that occurred in other states will be held to the Texas equivalent.

Tattoos and Tunnels

Tattoos must be coverable by Austin Fire's formal uniform (button-down, long-sleeve shirt with a tie). Tunnels with a diameter larger than 1/2 inch are prohibited.

Medical Issues

Applicants must meet the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1582, Latest Edition, and Standard on Comprehensive Occupational medical program for Fire Departments.

A comprehensive overview of Austin Fire's disqualification criteria is available here.

Final Ranked Eligibility List

In compliance with relevant regulations and laws, fire cadets will be appointed from the final ranked eligibility list in sequential order for the life of the list (minimum of 12, but less than 24 months).

Final Employment Offer

Once a final employment offer is extended, applicants become official Austin Fire Academy cadets.