Careers
Austin – Travis County EMS Recruiting
We are looking for qualified individuals to join our elite team of medics and help us change the lives of the people we serve. If you’re looking for a lifelong career where you will be encouraged, trained, and supported to practice medicine as a highly-skilled clinician, then this is the place for you. We strive to make a difference by serving the people of our community on their best days, worst days, and all the days in between.
As a provider with Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS), you’ll work in a culturally rich city comprised of unique (some may say “weird”) characteristics and a flourishing population. Like our beautiful city, ATCEMS offers many diverse career opportunities that are specific to this department.
Want to make sure ATCEMS is right for you? Request a ride-along with Field or Communications staff by filling out our Rider/Observer Application.
City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or TTY (512) 974-2445.
The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk. ADA Office: (512) 974-3256 TDD (512) 974‑3303.
How to Apply
Links to apply for a Field or Communications position can be found below. While we do accept applications continuously, we hire in cycles to fill each Academy class so there are deadline dates for each application cycle. Academy dates and application deadlines for each class are posted to this page. Please apply for the Academy you wish to attend. Applications must be submitted by the deadline listed for each Academy class--once the posting has closed, additional applications will not be accepted for that class. Be sure you’ve read through the Hiring Process page for information on minimum requirements and how the application process works.
PLEASE NOTE: A complete application and supporting documents must be submitted by the application deadline. Complete applications include your last 5 years of work history (ALL full-time, part-time, internship, volunteer, temporary, seasonal, contract work or military service must be included) with gaps of employment for 6 months or more explained. Supporting documents include: EMT certification(s); certified abstract driving record(s) for the last 3 years (or since you were licensed), to include all states in which you held a driver's license during this period; and DD-214 Member 4 copy for all military applicants.
Current Hiring Processes
Open and accepting applications:
EMS Cadet – Communications January 2024 Academy Class
Application Status: Accepting applications -- -- apply here by Monday, July 31, 2023 at 12pm (Central time). Additional hiring process dates for this process are below.
EMS Cadet – Field January 2024 Academy Class
Application Status: Accepting applications -- apply here by Monday, July 31, 2023 at 12pm (Central time). Additional hiring process dates for this process are below.
EMS Lateral Clinical Specialist - Field (Paramedic Only) January 2024 Academy Class
Application Status: Accepting applications -- apply here by Monday, July 31, 2023 at 12pm (Central time). Additional hiring process dates for this process are below.
Hiring Process Dates for interviews and testing (subject to change):
A complete application and supporting documents must be submitted by application deadline.
Note: Cadet-Field and Cadet-Communications candidates will only need to travel to Austin for Final Phase testing elements. All other testing will be held virtually. Lateral Clinical Specialist-Field candidates must complete a knowledge exam in addition to all other required hiring process elements as outlined below (Lateral applicants will complete knowledge exam during Final Phase in Austin, TX). Please visit our Hiring Process page for more details about each required step.
NEW - We are now offering CritiCall practice sessions virtually! Contact EMS Recruiting to register for an upcoming practice session. Cadet - Communications candidates who take a CritiCall practice test and pass it may use their passing score as part of their application for a current hiring process.
Application period: June 6 - July 31 (12pm CST closing), 2023
CritiCall Practice Sessions (virtual) - Communications applicants only:
- Session 1: Date, August 8th
- Session 2: Date, August 10th
CritiCall Testing (virtual) - Communications applicants only: Date, August 17th
Structured Oral Interviews (to be held virtually):
- Week 1: August 21-23
- Week 2: August 28-30
Background Phase: September 4-29
Final Phase: October 9-26 (in Austin, TX)
10-week Academy begins: January 16, 2024
For details about what is required for each phase, visit the Hiring Process page.
Future Hiring Processes and Academy Start Dates
Our 2024 Hiring Process and Academy class schedule is as follows:
Cadet Class 0124 (Applications open! Apply using the links above.)
Position: Cadet – Field & Communications, and Lateral Clinical Specialist – Field (Paramedic only)
Posting Opens: June 6, 2023
Posting Closes: 12pm CST on July 31, 2023
10-week Academy starts: January 16, 2024
Cadet Class 0424
Position: Cadet Field & Communications
Posting Opens: August 1, 2023
Posting Closes: 12pm CST on October 16, 2023
10-week Academy starts: April 8, 2024
Cadet Class 0724
Position: Cadet – Field & Communications, and Lateral Clinical Specialist – Field (Paramedic only)
Posting Opens: October 17, 2023
Posting Closes: 12pm CST on January 29, 2024
10-week Academy starts: July 15, 2024
Cadet Class 1024
Position: Cadet Field & Communications
Posting Opens: January 30, 2024
Posting Closes: 12pm CST on April 1, 2024
10-week Academy starts: October 7, 2024
Be sure to connect with us to be reminded via email once job listings for each 2023 Academy class go live!
ACADEMY AND FIELD TRAINING
All EMS cadets- both Field and Communications– must attend and graduate from the EMS Academy prior to entering the Field Training Program. Cadets are required to participate in classroom instruction, skills labs, and physical fitness training while attending the Academy.
Graduates will be placed into a Field Training Program in order to be credentialed by the Medical Director to practice independently. To learn more about the Academy and how best to prepare, visit the Academy page.
HIRING PROCESS
Our department hosts several Academy classes per year, and we hire in cycles per Academy class. If multiple hiring processes are open simultaneously, please apply for the Academy you wish to attend. Applications and required documents must be submitted by the deadline listed for each Academy class in order to be considered--once the posting has closed, additional applications will not be accepted for that class.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to Connect with us to receive email updates on upcoming hiring process dates. For more information about the entire process, visit the Hiring Process page.
PAY AND BENEFITS
Austin-Travis County EMS Department offers a competitive salary, health benefits, a 24/72 hour schedule, and other incentives such as paid time off and department-issued uniforms and equipment.
Read about all of our benefits.
CAREER PATHS
After graduating from the Academy and clearing to independent duty, the opportunity for career advancement is possible.
We offer assignments in over 20 specialized teams as well as opportunities to promote up the chain of command. To read about career opportunities and to learn more about the rank structure, visit our Career Paths page.