Fire Recruit

Job Description

PROOF OF REQUIRED CERTIFICATES MUST BE ELECTRONICALLY SUBMITTED AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION. COMPLETE APPLICATIONS WITH REQUIRED CERTIFICATES ATTACHED WILL BE PROCESSED IN THE ORDER OF SUBMISSION.

Fire Recruits attend the Fire Academy where they perform routine physical exercises, attend classroom lectures based on Jones and Bartlett and perform manipulative training drills throughout the day. The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department is an Accredited Local Academy (ALA) with the State of California. Topics covered in the academy include fire suppression, fire prevention, hazardous materials, confined space, vehicle extrication, emergency medical procedures and state/local laws. Upon successful completion of the fire academy recruits will be educated, evaluated, and certified in the California State Fire Training Firefighter 1 standards including FF1A (structural firefighting), FF1B (hazardous materials) and FF1C (wildland firefighting).

NOTES: Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
After successful completion of the Fire Academy, Fire Recruits are promoted to Fire Fighter I and assigned to Fire Operations.
Employees in the sworn Fire classifications of Fire Fighter I and higher may be eligible for additional compensation for specialized skills or assignments.
Bilingual pay is provided to qualified fire fighters, if bilingual skills are required for the position.
For additional information about being a City of San Diego Fire Fighter, go to www.joinsdfd.org .
You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.

AGE : You must be 18 years of age.

EDUCATION : Graduation from high school OR passage of the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE) or General Education Development (GED) examination.

CITIZENSHIP : You must be a United States citizen or have the current legal right to work in the United States.

CANDIDATE PHYSICAL ABILITY TEST (CPAT) CERTIFICATION : A valid Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) certification is required at the time of hire.

CERTIFICATE : You must have ALL of the following valid certificates: Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certificate or a Paramedic License issued ONLY by the State of California or by the National Registry (NREMT-Basic) or by an EMT or Paramedic certifying agency approved by the State of California.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Card (Healthcare Provider/BLS Provider equivalent or higher).

NOTES: If you have a National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) or National Registered Paramedics (NRP) you will need to have a valid County of San Diego Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certificate or Paramedic License issued by the State of California and certified by the County of San Diego before date of hire . Please see the County of San Diego Emergency Medical Services for details of this process.
A Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) or Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals (PEPP) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certificate is NOT qualifying.

LICENSE : A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire .

HIGHLY DESIRABLE : Valid Paramedic License issued by the State of California or the National Registry or by a Paramedic certifying agency approved by the State of California.
One year of experience working with the City of San Diego's emergency medical service (EMS) transport service provider in the City of San Diego's EMS system.
California Fire Fighter I or Fire Fighter II Certificate indicating successful completion of a Fire Academy that meets the State of California Fire Service Training and Education System's Fire Fighter I and Fire Fighter II certification standards or equivalent.
Full-time paid experience as a fire fighter.
Minimum of one year of documented participation in the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue's Cadet Program.
Minimum of one year of experience working with the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue's Lifeguard Division, at a Lifeguard II or higher, or two years at Lifeguard I.
Documented reserve or volunteer fire fighting experience.
Active duty military or a veteran

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION) : Proof of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT or NREMT-Basic) Certificate or Paramedic License.
Proof of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Card (Healthcare Provider/BLS Provider equivalent or higher).

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: (619) 533-3337; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying. The screening process will consist of the following components:

1. APPLICATION REVIEW : Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met.

2. STUDY GUIDE : The Study Guide contains material that MUST be studied and learned for the written test. Only those candidates whose applications have been approved will receive a Written Test Appointment Notice with instructions on how to secure a Study Guide link.

3. WRITTEN TEST : The written test will be based on materials found in the Study Guide and may include, but is not limited to, the following factors: Recall and Comprehension of Verbal and Visual Information, Mechanical Reasoning, Mathematical Problems, and Recall and Comprehension of Technical Information from Written Materials. No prior knowledge of firefighting is necessary to take the written test. This test will be tentatively administered in April 2026.

NOTE: Written test weight......100%

Test Date : Approved applicants will be notified regarding the specific dates, times and location. Applicants must have a Written Test Appointment Notice in order to be admitted to the test.

Candidates who pass the written test will be placed on an eligible list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next one year. For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.

Written Test Waiver : You may be eligible to waive the written test if one of the following applies to you:
Have successfully completed the written test for recruitments T11811-202401 or T11918-202501.
Have successfully completed the Firefighter Candidate Testing Center (FCTC) written test and are active on the FCTC Statewide Eligibility List (SEL) as of 02/02/2026 .
To verify your eligibility on the FCTC Statewide Eligibility List (SEL), go to https://www.fctconline.org/becoming-a-firefighter/fctc-statewide-list/
PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS : Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and al