So you want to join the hottest team in town? Great! Read on to learn more about the 2023 hiring process. It has been designed to comply with all applicable laws, is managed by several different City offices {both inside and outside of the Austin Fire Department (AFD)}, and is intended to hire candidates who are qualified and excited to join Austin Fire. 

Don’t sweat it, you've got this!

The hiring process (Candidate Interest Card through Final Employment Offer) is comprised of two phases: The first phase consists of the application period, written exam, and Structured Oral Assessment Process (SOP); the second phase begins with the Pre-hire Assessments (candidates who receive conditional offers of employment must successfully complete all of the Pass/Fail pre-hire assessments; otherwise, candidates are disqualified).

Candidates who complete both the written exam and the oral interview will receive a composite score. Applicable veteran preference points will then be applied. That total will determine a candidate’s place on the Ranked Eligibility List. 

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

Details on each of the items within these phases is outlined below. 

Candidate Interest Card

Filling out a Candidate Interest Card is not a required step in the hiring process, but you don't want to miss any recruiting events, tips on preparing for the hiring process, or just general "good to know" stuff about us; fill this out so your name can be added to our  e-mail list!

Complete your Candidate Interest Card.

Candidate Preparation

Eligibility Requirements

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

The following are the minimum requirements for a Fire Cadet. Applicants must meet all requirements as of May 18, 2023:

• 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). If you are not a United States' citizen, your immigration status must be current and must permit you to work a full-time job in this country. Applicants must have a valid Social Security card. If you have questions about your immigration status or work permit, please contact United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
• LANGUAGE: Must be able to read, write, and speak English.
• DRIVER LICENSE: Must possess a current valid driver license issued from your 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. If you have questions about the requirements, please contact NFPA or a medical professional. 
• ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE CERTIFICATIONS: Meet all legal requirements necessary to become certified by:
  • Texas Commission on Fire Protection 
  • Texas Department of State Health Services 

If you have questions about your ability to become certified, please contact the appropriate agency directly. 

Application

The 2023 Fire Cadet Application will be live from 9 a.m. CDT on Wednesday, March 15 until 4 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, March 29. No applications will be accepted after that time.

Written Exam

A general aptitude test designed to test your abilities in areas including, but not limited to, verbal comprehension, deductive reasoning, and mechanical aptitude. No prior knowledge about the fire service required. A free applicant preparation guide is available to download: 2023 AFD Written Exam Study Guide

Qualified Applicants will be invited to participate in the Written Exam. The exam will be administered May 16 through May 18, 2023. The testing dates are subject to change based on Qualified Applicant pool. From April 10 - 20, Qualified Applicants will receive an e-mail with a link to signup for the Written Exam.

• Test Dates: May 16 and 17, 2023. The number of testing dates are determined by the total qualified applicants. We are holding May 18 as a possible third testing date should we not be able to accommodate all applicants on the first two days. 
• Location: Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road, Austin, Texas 
• What to Bring: Confirmation Number and valid current United States' driver license.

Exams will take approximately four hours. YOU MUST BE IN LINE, AT THE TESTING SITE, BY THE TIME/DATE OF YOUR SCHEDULED EXAM IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE. DOORS LOCK PROMPTLY ON THE HOUR.

Questions? Contact FireEmployment@austintexas.gov.

Structured Oral Assessment Process (SOP)

This is a professional job interview and should be treated as such. During this event, applicants are placed in a room where they are recorded while providing answers in response 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. 

Applicants who successfully complete and pass the written exam will be invited to participate in the Structured Oral Assessment Process (SOP) via an e-mail with a link to sign up for their SOP.

• Test Dates: June 6 - 8, 2023. The number of testing dates are determined by the total applicants successfully completing the written exam. We are holding June 5 and 9 as possible additional testing dates should we not be able to accommodate all applicants on the first three days.
• Location: TBD (Austin, Texas)
• What to Bring: Confirmation number and valid current United States' driver license.

Further information about the SOP will be posted on the Hiring Process Updates website no later than June 1, 2023.

Scoring/Ranking/Veteran Preference Points

Candidates who complete both the written exam and the oral interview will receive a composite score. Applicable veteran preference points will then be applied. That total will determine a candidate’s place on the Initial Ranked Eligibility List. Top-ranked applicants will be invited to move forward into the second phase of our hiring process, the Pre-hire Assessments. For those applicants who did not make it into the top-ranked group, we thank you for participating and encourage you to apply in one of our future hiring processes.

The Austin Fire Department provides Military Veteran Preference Points to qualified applicants; awarding of veteran preference points requires an online submission of a DD214 demonstrating both 1) at least 180 days of Active Duty Status and 2) an Honorable Discharge. No other discharge status will be accepted.

AFD will begin accepting DD214 form documents online between May 1 - 31, 2023. In order to be considered for the additional points, the applicant’s DD214 must display boxes 23 through 30, and applicants must meet three (3) criteria to be eligible:

• Electronic submission of a legible copy of the DD214 form, uploaded to AFD's online portal in electronic format (PDF, TIFF, Word doc, JPEG, etc.). AFD will not accept paper copies received via mail or hand delivery, or electronic copies provided outside of the AFD online portal (e.g., e-mail). 
• Have an Honorable Discharge; no other discharge status will be accepted. 
• Have a minimum of 180 days of continuous active duty service in any branch/component of the U.S. military.

The deadline for submission is May 31, 2023; forms received after this date will not be accepted.

See more details on the veteran preference points.

Conditional Offer of Employment

The offer is conditional and requires the successful completion of the following Pass/Fail pre-hire assessments (otherwise candidates are disqualified).

Pre-hire Assessments/Disqualification

Candidates may move forward to this stage in "batches" based on the Ranked Eligibility List and on the needs of the Department. Additionally, not all candidates who complete and pass pre-hire assessments will be seated in an Academy; space must exist in an Academy class to accommodate a successful candidate.  

• Background Check: Includes a criminal background investigation with 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 AFD.
• Treadmill Fitness Evaluation
• Psychological Assessment
• Medical Assessment

Disqualification criteria includes, but is not limited to: alcohol and drug testing; criminal arrests and convictions; and/or certain tattoos and tunnels. Learn more about disqualification criteria.

Fitness Expectations

Cadets in the Austin Fire Department must meet the fitness expectations on the first day of the Academy. Those include:

1.5 Mile Run

• Minimum:    Under 12 minutes
• Competitive:    Under 10:40

Metronome Pushups

• Minimum:    36 push-ups at 80 beats/minute onto 5 inch tall prop
• Competitive:    43 push-ups at 80 beats/minute onto 5 inch tall prop

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

Ranked Eligibility List

In accordance with applicable law, all Fire Cadets will be hired from this eligibility list in rank order for the duration of the life of the list, which will be 24 months. 

Final Employment Offer

You’re in! You’re officially a part of the hottest team in town and will begin your designated Fire Academy with the rest of your cadet class. CONGRATULATIONS!