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.

Applications for the 2023 hiring process are now closed. 

Candidate Preparation/Eligibility Requirements

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

Applications for the 2023 Fire Cadet Hiring Process are now closed.

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

***The written examination scheduled for May 17, 2023, will be rescheduled to a future date as a result of the business needs of the Department. All persons who have completed the online application will continue to be eligible to take the written examination when it is rescheduled, and you do not need to take any further action at this time. You will be notified of the date of the rescheduled examination as soon as it is determined. We currently expect the examination will be conducted at a date later this summer.

We will send an email with the new date and time as soon as possible.

Any questions about this delay can be directed to FireEmployment@austintexas.gov***

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.

The Austin Fire Department (AFD) is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. AFD is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, e-mail: FireEmployment@austintexas.gov.

Applicants will receive a number of e-mails from this address. Please make sure they get through to your inbox and are not flagged as spam or junk.

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: August 1, 2023. The number of testing dates are determined by the total applicants successfully completing the written exam. 
• 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 July 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 July 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.
• Psychological Assessment
• Medical Assessment
• Medical Treadmill Fitness Test: Fitness test based on MET score of 12 or above. The warm-up stage lasts three minutes. Stages I through VI last one minute. Stage VII lasts one minute and 59 seconds. The test will terminate at 11 minutes. 

STAGE	TIME  (minutes)	SPEED (mph)	INCLINE (% grade)
Warm up	0:00 – 2:59	3.0	0
I	3:00 – 3:59	4.5	0
II	4:00 – 4:59	4.5	2
III	5:00 – 5:59	5.0	2
IV	6:00 – 6:59	5.0	4
V	7:00 – 7:59	5.5	4
VI	8:00 – 8:59	5.5	6
VII*	9:00 – 10:59	6.0	6

 

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!