Application Process:

Applications must be submitted exclusively through the City of Austin Jobs webpage (www.AustinCityJobs.org). Candidates meeting the minimum qualifications will subsequently receive invitations for the Written Exam.

Application Period:

  • OPENS: 9 a.m. (CST) on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 and will remain open for a minimum of seven days.

To access the official Austin Fire Department Cadet application, visit AustinCityJobs.org.

Instructions for locating the position on Austin City Jobs:

  1. Create an account.

  2. Search for Jobs.

  3. Use the keyword: fire cadet.

  4. Complete the application.

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

Written Exam and Structured Oral Process (SOP): 

As part of our selection process, candidates will undergo two evaluations: the Written Exam and the Structured Oral Assessment.

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 is required. Before the 2024 AFD Written Exam, a complimentary applicant preparation/study guide will be accessible for download.

Structured Oral Assessment - 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.

Qualified candidates will receive invitations to take part in the Written Exam and Structured Oral Process via email. 

Attendance and obtaining passing scores in both the written exam and the structured oral process are prerequisites for advancing further in the hiring process.

Scoring/Ranking/Veteran Preference Points: 

Candidates who successfully complete both the written exam and the Structured Oral Process will be scored. Veteran preference points, if applicable, will then be added to determine the candidate's position on the Initial Ranked Eligibility List. Top-ranked applicants will be invited to proceed to the second phase of our hiring process, involving pre-hire assessments. For those who did not make it to the top-ranked group, we appreciate your participation and encourage you to apply in our future hiring processes.

The Austin Fire Department offers Military Veteran Preference Points to eligible applicants. To qualify for veteran preference points, applicants must submit a DD Form 214, which should reflect both a minimum of 180 days of continuous Active Duty Status and an Honorable Discharge. No other discharge status will be accepted.

AFD will start accepting DD214 documents online from May 1-31, 2024. To qualify for additional points, the applicant's DD214 must include information from boxes 23 through 30. Additionally, applicants must meet three specific 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.
  • Passing written exam score. 

 

See more details on veteran preference points.

Ranked Hiring List: 

Combined overall scores will be posted online by Confirmation Number.  Top Applicants will receive a Conditional Offer of Employment to move forward through the Pre-Hire Assessments scheduled for August thru November 2024.

All pre-hire assessments are Pass/Fail and encompass a medical assessment, including chest X-rays and lab work, a psychological assessment, background check (including fingerprinting), and the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT).

The Final Ranked Eligibility List will consist of applicants who successfully complete ALL pre-hire assessments. According to relevant regulations, all Fire Cadets will be selected from this eligibility list in sequential order throughout the entire 24-month duration of the list's validity. It's important to note that while candidates may be disqualified based on Pass/Fail criteria during pre-hire screenings, the rank order of the eligibility list will remain unchanged.

Combined overall scores will be posted online by Confirmation Number.  Top Applicants will receive a Conditional Offer of Employment to move forward through the Pre-Hire Assessments scheduled for August thru November 2024.

All pre-hire assessments are Pass/Fail and encompass a medical assessment, including chest X-rays and lab work, a psychological assessment, background check (including fingerprinting), and the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT).

The Final Ranked Eligibility List will consist of applicants who successfully complete ALL pre-hire assessments. According to relevant regulations, all Fire Cadets will be selected from this eligibility list in sequential order throughout the entire 24-month duration of the list's validity. It's important to note that while candidates may be disqualified based on Pass/Fail criteria during pre-hire screenings, the rank order of the eligibility list will remain unchanged.

Combined overall scores will be posted online by Confirmation Number.  Top Applicants will receive a Conditional Offer of Employment to move forward through the Pre-Hire Assessments scheduled for August thru November 2024.

All pre-hire assessments are Pass/Fail and encompass a medical assessment, including chest X-rays and lab work, a psychological assessment, background check (including fingerprinting), and the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT).

The Final Ranked Eligibility List will consist of applicants who successfully complete ALL pre-hire assessments. According to relevant regulations, all Fire Cadets will be selected from this eligibility list in sequential order throughout the entire 24-month duration of the list's validity. It's important to note that while candidates may be disqualified based on Pass/Fail criteria during pre-hire screenings, the rank order of the eligibility list will remain unchanged.

Fire Cadet Academies are slated for 2025, with sessions scheduled in January and October. Please be aware that the scheduling of Cadet Academies is contingent upon the operational needs of the department. It's important to note that successful completion of pre-hire assessments does not guarantee placement in an academy class, as availability is subject to the presence of open slots in the respective class. 

Questions?

All questions should be sent to FireEmployment@austintexas.gov.

Applicants will receive a number of e-mails from this e-mail address. Please take the correct measures to ensure they get through to your inbox, and are not flagged as spam or junk. The Austin Fire Department is not responsible for e-mail messages that are sent, but do not reach you.

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.