This page provides potential applicants with general information on disqualifying events for the position of Fire Cadet with the Austin Fire Department. Applicant disqualifiers for a specific hiring cycle will be posted on our website prior to the application period for that hiring cycle. Applicants will be asked a series of questions on the City of Austin online application regarding their qualifications for the position of Fire Cadet. These questions are designed to determine if an applicant meets the minimum qualifications for the position.

If you have questions about your criminal/conviction history and how it may affect you in the hiring process, you should contact your attorney or seek legal advice from a qualified professional; potential applicants may want to share the information on this page with their legal advisor. The Austin Fire Department cannot provide legal advice to applicants or answer questions of this nature.

Possible Applicant Disqualifiers
The following events may disqualify an applicant from further processing during any stage of the hiring process.
Having been terminated from the Austin Fire Department for disciplinary reasons or having resigned from the Austin Fire Department for disciplinary reasons, resigning to avoid suspension or discharge, or resigning during a disciplinary investigation without a final judgment being rendered.
Having served community supervision or probation for any misdemeanor offense.
Having received a General Discharge, Other than Honorable Discharge, or Article 15 administrative punishment from any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Having been convicted of a misdemeanor offense other than a minor traffic offense. (DWI/DUI is not considered a minor offense).

Automatic Applicant Disqualifiers
Any of the following events will automatically disqualify an applicant from further consideration during any stage of the hiring process:
Having a conviction for, or currently being under indictment for, or currently charged with any felony offense. This includes juvenile felony adjudication other than those exempted under Texas Family Code, Chapter 58.
Currently serving or having served probation or community supervision for any felony offense.
Having a conviction for any Class A or Class B misdemeanor offense, or currently being under indictment for, or currently charged with any Class A or B misdemeanor offense, within one (1) year from the date of the published exam date for a specific hiring process.
Being under indictment for, or charged with any Class A or Class B misdemeanor offense prior to one (1) year from the date of the published exam date that is still pending.
Having a conviction for driving under the influence (DWI/DUI) within three (3) years from the date of the published exam date for a specific hiring process.
Being under indictment for, or currently charged with driving under the influence (DWI/DUI) in a case that is still pending.
Use of marijuana within one year of the published exam date for a specific hiring process.
Illegal use of any controlled substance or use of any illegal drug, other than marijuana, within three (3) years from the date of the published exam date for a specific hiring process.
Having received a Dishonorable Discharge or a conviction by a military court martial from any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Being a member of or having been a member of any organization that advocates the overthrow of a U.S. governmental agency by force of violence.

For the purposes of the above automatic disqualifiers, a person is considered to be convicted of an offense when an ADJUDICATION OF GUILT is entered against said person by a court of competent jurisdiction, or a PLEA OF GUILTY is entered, including situations where:
The sentence is subsequently probated and the person is discharged from probation;
Deferred adjudication is granted; and/or
The accusation, complaint, information, or indictment against the person is dismissed and the person is released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense, and the person is pardoned for the offense, unless the pardon is expressly granted for subsequent proof of innocence.