Firefighters Recruitment

Is there something I can do to prepare myself for the written exam?

Yes!  The Arlington Fire Department uses IO Solutions as the exam vendor.  A link to their official study guide is here:
CWH NGFF Study Guide - Online | IO Solutions

I am not certified; can I still apply?

Yes!  The Arlington Fire Department does not require certifications to apply, or to be hired.  If you are hired, we will send you to school to obtain the necessary EMT-A certification.  We also offer our own in-house Fire Academy.

Will I be paid during training?

Yes!  As a city employee you will receive pay and benefits during your time in training.

•  Trainee Pay is currently $21.82 an hour.
• Lateral Pay is a possibility.

If you qualify for lateral pay, you will receive the lateral pay rate during training.

If I am certified, will I have to go back through a Fire Academy?

Yes!  All our candidates will go through our in-house Fire Academy.
For non-certified candidates the Fire Academy is approximately 16 weeks.Certified and Lateral candidates attend an Arlington Fire Department “Fast Track” Fire Academy which last approximately 12 weeks.If you are certified as a Firefighter, while you would be required to pass our Fire Academy, you would not need to take the TCFP State Exam.

What if I am certified as a Firefighter/EMT-B, will I have to go back through EMT and Fire Academy training?

Yes.  If you do not meet the full requirements to be considered Certified.  You will start and finish with other non-certified candidates.  This will require you to go back through EMT-B school.  However, the Arlington Fire Department has a partnership with TCC in which our candidates receive EMT-B and EMT-A within 1 semester (16 weeks).

If you are certified as an EMT-B, while you would be required to pass the course, you would not take the National Registry for EMT-B again.

If you are certified as a Firefighter, while you would be required to pass our Fire Academy, you would not need to take the TCFP State Exam.

How long is the training for non-certified candidates?

The training for non-certified candidates lasts approximately 8-9 months, depending on TCC breaks.  This includes EMT-A and the Fire Academy.

What if I am certified as an EMT-A or Paramedic, but not a firefighter.  Will I have to go through the entire process with other non-certified candidates?

Yes.  Unfortunately, this would mean you do not meet the requirements to be considered Certified.

It is complicated, but based on entry exam rankings, hire dates, timelines, etc.…  You would most likely have to start at the same time as the other non-certified candidates.  This would require you to go back through EMT-B and EMT-A school.  However, while you would be required to pass the course, you would not be required to take the National Registry for EMT-B or EMT-A.

What qualifies a candidate as a Certified and/or Lateral hire?

Arlington Fire Department considers a candidate to be certified if they hold a current TCFP Basic Structural Firefighter certification and either TDSHS EMT-A or Paramedic certification.

Lateral candidates must meet the Certified requirements and have a minimum of 2 years paid experience.  If there is a break in service, the employment must have been within the last 180 days.

Lateral candidates having at-least 2 years of paid service will start at the 2^nd step on the fire pay plan. 

Lateral candidates with 3 or more years paid experience will start at the 3^rd step on the fire pay plan.

• Lateral pay is received during training as well.
• The fire pay plan can be found here:
  2080 Fire Step Plan Salary Structure FY2025.xlsx
• The 2080 Fire Step Plan is for 8-hour assignments, to include time in Training.
  2912 Fire Step Plan Salary Structure FY2025.xlsx
• The 2912 Fire Step Plan is for on shift 24/48 personnel.

I am Active-Duty Military, can I take the Entrance Exam at a different location or at a different time?

No, there are no accommodations made for anyone who cannot attend the Entrance Exam on the schedule date, time, and location.
What if I am out of town, have a vacation planned, get sick, have a family emergency, etc.…

                See the above response.

If you still have questions or concerns, please reach out to our Recruiting Lieutenant:

Lieutenant Sonny Warren
Office: 817-459-6022
Fax: 817-457-4663
Email the Recruitment Officer

Lieutenant Sonny Warren
Office: 817-459-6022
Fax: 817-457-4663
Email the Recruitment Officer

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

Compensation

Firefighter

• Trainee (Academy): $19.99/Hourly
• Entry: $76,689
• 12 Month: $80,525
• 24 Month: $84,558
• 36 Month: $88,787
• 48 Month: $93,234
• 60 Month: $97,922
• 180 Month: $100,363
• 240 Month: $102,872

Apparatus Operator

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

Lieutenant

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

Captain

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

Battalion Chief

• Entry: $145,929
• 12 Month: $156,234

Division Chief

• Entry: $161,163
• 12 Month: $168,834

Additional Pay

• Hazardous Material Technician
• Technical Rescue Team
• Dive/Swift Water Rescue
• Gas Well
• ARFF (Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting)
• Paramedic
• Community Paramedic Program
• Language Pay
• Bachelor Degree

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Paid Life Insurance
• 7 ½ Shifts Paid Vacation
• 12 Paid Holidays
• TMRS 20 Year Retirement
• 401K with 50% Match
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Tax Saver Plan
• Generous Sick Leave Plan
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

What to Expect

Applicants will be deemed disqualified for employment if the following items are not met and/or if the applicant has deliberately falsified or failed to provide any of the requested information. These items are all required, but their order may be varied to suit the circumstances

1. Civil Service Application
2. Entrance Exam
   • Date: to be determined
   • Time: to be determined
   • Location: to be determined
3. 1.5 Mile Run (must be completed under 13:57 minutes)
4. Candidate Physical Ability Test video
5. Oral Interview
6. Fire Chief’s Panel Interview
7. Background Investigation
8. Polygraph
9. Certified Eligibility List Created
10. Conditional Offer of Employment
11. 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 following process begins with the successful completion of the Civil Service entrance examination that is administered by the Director.

An applicant who at any point in this process fails to meet any scheduled appointment, fails to provide any required paperwork by the specified deadline, or otherwise fails to perform as required by the Arlington Fire Department or City of Arlington Human Resources staff, may be disqualified from employment.

Applicant may also be disqualified for employment based on any relevant factual information obtained during the hiring process. When an applicant is disqualified for employment, the Department Head or his/her designee will notify the Director of the reason(s) for the determination in writing.

A. Eligibility List and Request for Certified List

1. The Director provides the Department Head with an Eligibility List (the List) of Applicants. The List is comprised of the names and scores of the applicants who successfully complete the entrance examination. The List is ordered by the exam scores plus any points available for being honorably discharged from the armed services of the United States, from highest to lowest. Tied scores are addressed according to these Rules. The List expires when it no longer contains the required number of applicants to form a Certified Eligibility List or when its expiration date arrives.
2. The City Council determines the number of positions allocated to the Fire Department in the Classification Ordinance, as amended. The Fire Department determines the number of positions to be filled based on vacancies in approved positions. The Department Head determines if and when entry-level positions will be filled, as well as the number of applicants required. The Department Head informs the Director of the cause for any candidates being deemed unsuitable during the hiring process. The Director is responsible for officially disqualifying candidates deemed unsuitable from further consideration.
3. Once the Department Head, or his/her designee, determines that a vacancy is to be filled, he/she must send a memo to the Director requesting a Certified Eligibility List comprised of the suitable applicants who remain in the process.

Test Procedures

The CPAT includes eight sequential events as follows:

1. Stair Climb
2. Hose Drag
3. Equipment Carry
4. Ladder Raise and Extension
5. Forcible Entry
6. Search
7. Rescue
8. Ceiling Breach and Pull

This is a pass/fail test based on a maximum total time of 10 minutes and 20 seconds

CPAT Manual

• Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) - IAFF(PDF, 16MB)

• Causes for Temporary Disqualifications(PDF, 156KB)
• Causes for Permanent Disqualifications(PDF, 109KB)

An applicant for Firefighter or Fire Prevention Inspector entry classifications shall meet the following qualifications to be considered for an entry-level position:

1. Be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an equivalency certificate. Applicants shall be required to furnish official transcripts or other competent evidence of completion of the aforementioned academic requirements.
2. Applicants shall be a citizen of the United States.
3. Applicants shall be able to read, write and fluently speak English.
4. Be of good moral character.
5. A person is not eligible to take an entrance examination for a beginning position in the Fire Department unless the person is at least eighteen (18) years of age but not forty-six (46) years of age or older as of date of test. The hiring age range for an Arlington Fire Department Suppression position is 18 to 45 years old. The hiring age range for an Arlington Fire Department Prevention position is 21 to 45 years old. Applicant must obtain the age of eighteen (18) years before they are eligible for employment in an Arlington Fire Department Suppression position and twenty-one (21) years before they are eligible for employment in an Arlington Fire Department Prevention position. Applicant must have not exceeded the maximum age limit prior to appointment or the expiration of the eligibility list, whichever occurs first.
6. Makes application in the manner prescribed in the Notice of Examination, and files the application with the Director within the time limits prescribed in the notice of examination.
7. Additional consideration may be given for candidates with existing certifications: Preferably possess certification as a basic Firefighter, or become certifiable at time of appointment, as established by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (i.e., the AISD Fire Academy Program). At or before the time of entrance examination, applicant shall provide either
   1. evidence of certification issued by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection, or
   2. evidence of current enrollment in a basic recruit fire training academy approved by the Texas Commission of Fire Protection.
8. Additional consideration may be given for candidates with existing certifications: Preferably possess certification as a (1) Paramedic (more preferable) or (2) an Advanced EMT or EMT-I by the Texas Department of State Health Services at time of appointment. At or before the time of the entrance examination, applicant shall provide either
   1. a Paramedic or Advanced EMT or EMT-I Certificate issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services, or
   2. evidence of current enrollment in a Paramedic (more preferable) or Advanced EMT or EMT-I course approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
9. Additional consideration may be given for candidates with any other relevant existing certifications.
10. Possess a valid Texas Class B Exempt driver’s license that is not in jeopardy of suspension or revocation or be able to obtain one within one (1) year of employment.
11. An Applicant may not be certified as eligible for a beginning position with a Fire Department unless the applicant meets all legal requirements necessary to become eligible for future certification by the Commission on Fire Protection Personnel Standards and Education.
12. An applicant may not be certified as eligible for a beginning position with Fire Prevention unless the applicant meets all legal requirements necessary to become eligible for future licensing by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
13. To the extent the employment standards for beginning Firefighters or Fire Prevention Inspectors as provided in these Rules exceed the requirements of Chapter 143 and other applicable state laws, any of such entry-level employment requirements not prescribed by state laws may be waived by the Department Head with the concurrence of the Director and consent of the Chief Executive when such waiver would be in the best interest of the Fire Department and provided further that such waiver of requirements shall not substantially lower the high standards sought by the City.

For Lateral Applicants

Candidates must have TCFP/DSHS certifications prior to the start date.

Candidates must have two years of continuous service with a qualifying agency as a full time FF/AEMT or FF/paramedic and must have been employed within the last 180 days prior to test date.

Candidates must have converted any out of state certifications to TCFP and DSHS prior to test date.

Required immunization if selected to attend Advanced Emergency Medical Technician training

• Immunization Form(PDF, 222KB)

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, 1MB)