Fire Prevention Recruitment

2025 Hiring Process Timeline

Arlington Fire Department is no longer accepting applications for the Fire Prevention Trainee position

Lieutenant Sonny Warren
Office: 817-459-6022
Fax: 817-457-4663
firehire@arlingtontx.gov

Hours of Operation
Monday to Friday
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed Saturday, Sunday and Major Holidays

What to Expect

You may be disqualified from employment if you do not meet the requirements listed below or if you intentionally provide false information or leave out requested information. All of these requirements must be completed, although they may be completed in a different order depending on the situation.

1. Civil Service Application
2. Entrance Exam
3. Physical Assessment to include 1.5 Mile Run (Must Be Completed Under 13.57 Minutes)
4. Oral Interview Panel
5. Fire Chief Interview Panel
6. Background Investigation
7. Polygraph
8. Conditional Offer of Employment Contingent upon passing a drug screen and alcohol test, medical and psychological evaluation

TLGC 143.026 Procedure for Filling Beginning Position

See Texas Local Government Code § 143.026.

The hiring process begins after you successfully pass the Civil Service entrance exam given by the Director.

During the hiring process, you must attend all scheduled appointments, turn in all required paperwork by the deadlines, and follow the instructions from the Arlington Fire Department and the City of Arlington Human Resources staff. If you do not, you may be disqualified from employment.

You may also be disqualified if information found during the hiring process shows that you do not meet the requirements for the job. If you are disqualified, the Fire Department or its designee will provide the Director with a written explanation of the reason.

A. Eligibility List and Request for Certified List

1. After applicants pass the entrance exam, the Director creates an Eligibility List. This list includes the names and test scores of everyone who passed. Applicants are ranked from highest to lowest score. Veterans who were honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces may receive extra points. If two applicants have the same score, the tie is handled according to the Civil Service Rules. The list stays active until there are not enough qualified applicants left or until it expires.
2. The City Council decides how many Fire Department positions are approved. The Fire Department decides how many of those positions need to be filled based on current vacancies. The Fire Chief decides when to hire entry-level firefighters and how many applicants are needed. If an applicant is found to be unsuitable during the hiring process, the Fire Chief or a designee notifies the Director, who officially removes the applicant from further consideration.
3. When the Fire Chief decides to fill an open position, a request is sent to the Director for a Certified Eligibility List of the qualified applicants who are still in the hiring process.

Compensation

Fire Prevention Inspector

• Inspector Trainee: $21.82/hourly (until certification completion)
• Entry: $76,689
• 12 Months: $80,525
• 24 Months: $84,558
• 36 Months: $88,787
• 48 Months: $93,234
• 60 Months: $97,922
• 180 Months: $100,363
• 240 Months: $102,872

Fire Prevention Specialist

• Entry: $103,291
• 12 Months: $108,455

Lieutenant

• Entry: $114,487
• 12 Months: $120,211

Captain

• Entry: $127,504
• 12 Months: $133,880

Additional Pay

• Language Pay
• Bachelor Degree

Benefits

• 4/10 Work Schedule (Upon Completion of Field Training Program)
• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Paid Life Insurance
• 12 Paid Holidays
• TMRS 20 Year Retirement
• 401K with 50% Match
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Tax Saver Plan
• Generous Sick Leave Plan
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

• Causes for Temporary Disqualifications(PDF, 117KB)
• Causes for Permanent Disqualifications(PDF, 106KB)

To apply for an entry-level Fire Prevention Inspector job with the Arlington Fire Department, you must meet the following basic requirements:

• Education: You must have a high school diploma or a GED. You will need to show official school transcripts or proof that you graduated.
• Citizenship: You must be a citizen of the United States.
• Language: You must be able to read, write, and speak English easily.
• Character: You must be a person of good moral character.
• Age Limits: You must be between 21 and 45 years old. You have to turn 21 before you can start working. You cannot be older than 45 by the time you are officially hired or by the time the hiring list expires.
• Application Process: You must apply exactly how the official Notice of Examination says to, and you must submit everything to the Director before the deadline.

Extra Considerations (Bonus Qualifications)

You can get extra consideration if you already hold specific certifications or are currently training for them.

Fire Inspector Certification

It is preferred that you hold a Basic Inspector certification from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP), or be ready to get it when you are hired. By the time you take the entrance exam, you must show one of the following:

• Official proof of your TCFP certification.
• Proof that you are currently enrolled in an approved basic fire inspector academy.

Peace Officer Certification

It is preferred that you are a certified Texas Peace Officer (police officer) when you are hired. By the time you take the entrance exam, you must show one of the following:

• A Peace Officer Certification approved by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).
• Proof that you are currently enrolled in an approved Peace Officer Academy.

Other Skills

• You may get extra consideration for any other relevant job certifications you hold.
• You must have a valid Texas Class B Exempt driver’s license that is in good standing (not at risk of being suspended or taken away). If you do not have one, you must be able to get it within your first year on the job.

Legal and State Rules

• To be hired, you must meet all state legal rules so that you can hold official certifications from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection in the future.
• You must also meet all legal rules so you can be licensed by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement in the future.
• The Fire Department Head, the Director, and the Chief Executive can choose to waive (drop) certain local hiring rules if it helps the department. However, they can only drop rules that are not required by state law, and they will not lower the high standards of the city.

All employees of the Arlington Fire Department, regardless of position or assignment, are required to meet and maintain qualifications for Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) access, as specified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement’s Texas CJIS Systems Access Policy(PDF, 109KB). Please review additional information on the Texas Department of Public Safety.

To learn more about the Local and Government Rules visit the following links.

• Chapter 143 of the Local Government Code
• Civil Service Commission Local Rules (Section 26)(PDF, 924KB)