Fire Cadet Hiring Process

The District's Fire Cadet Academy consists of instruction and competent cadet completion in firefighting tactics, emergency medical training, physical fitness, and safe practices.  Specific information and practices of Travis County ESD 2 will also be taught.  The ideal candidate is an individual who is highly interested in serving the community as a firefighter/EMT who has not completed the State of Texas required training and certification.

If accepted into the academy, the anticipated start date will be August 8, 2022 October 3, 2022. After successfully completing the academy, Cadets will be eligible for probationary regular full-time employment.  

Success completion includes:

• Obtain the Basic Structural Firefighter Certification from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and the EMT-Basic certification from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.
• Successful completion of the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)  and meeting the requirements set forth in NFPA 1582, Standard on Medical Requirements for Firefighters.
• Satisfactory periodic evaluations that meet the District performance requirements.

Fire Cadets undergo approximately six months of extensive academic and physical training, usually Monday - Friday 7 am -4 pm.

Cadets will receive full benefits and training pay is $17.58/hour.   Upon successful completion of the cadet academy and hiring as a Probationary Firefighter, compensation will be approximately $52,500/annually.

The following are the minimum requirements for a Fire Cadet.  Applicant must meet all requirements at the time of application:

• AGE: Applicants must be at least 18 years of age
• EDUCATION: Must possess a U.S. high school diploma or equivalent, or G.E.D. or equivalent from a U.S. institution
• CITIZENSHIP: U.S. (birth or naturalized). If you are not a United States' citizen, your immigration status must be current (green card, work visa, etc.) and must permit you to work legally in the United States of America.   Travis County ESD No. 2 does not sponsor work visas or green cards.  Applicants must have a valid Social Security card.
• LANGUAGE: Must be able to read, write, and speak English.
• DRIVER LICENSE: Must possess a current valid driver license issued from your state of residence.  Once hired, Firefighters are required to obtain and maintain a Texas Class "B", in accordance with District procedures, as a condition of employment.
• SOCIAL SECURITY: Must have a valid Social Security card.
• MEDICAL: Cleared by a Pre-NFPA Physical
• PROOF OF A FULL COVID-19 VACCINATION
• ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE CERTIFICATIONS: Meet all legal requirements necessary to become certified by:
  • Texas Commission on Fire Protection
  • Texas Department of State Health Services

If you have any questions about your ability to become certified, please contact the appropriate agency above directly.

Required documents must be uploaded at the time you submit your online application. 

• Copy of your valid Driver’s License
• High School Diploma or G.E.D. certificate
• College Degree or transcript(s) (If Applicable)
• Copy of COVID-19 Vaccination Record
• Copy of any EMT of Fire certification(s) (If Applicable)

The District Fire Cadet Applications: CLOSED

The District will be accepting Fire Cadet applications from February 28, 2022, through May 27. 202 July 22, 2022.  The deadline to submit applications is May 27. 202 July 22, 2022.

A general aptitude test designed to test your abilities in areas including, but not limited to, reading comprehension, math, and listening comprehension. No prior knowledge about the fire service is required.

Qualified applicants will receive an e-mail invitation with the assigned exam date, time and location.  All applicants must attend and pass the written exam to be eligible to move forward in the hiring process.

Test Date: June 11, 2022 August 6, 2022

Location: TBD

Must Bring: Valid government-issued photo identification document

Online NFST-EMS Study Guide (Please be sure to select the Online NFST-EMS Study Guide.)

The written exams will take up to two hours.  You must be in line, at the testing site, by the time/date of your scheduled exam in order to participate.  Doors Will Lock Promptly On The Hour.

Questions? Contact Human Resources

This should be treated as a professional job interview.  Applicants will be invited to assigned date, time, and location to attend their panel interview.  During the interview, applicants are invited into a room where they will be asked structured questions asked by a panel of District officers and/or chiefs.  Each question will be allocated a limited time for the applicant to make his/her response.  Applicant responses will be scored by panel after the interview has concluded.

Interview Start Date: August 29, 2023

All applicants must attend and pass the Physical Fitness Assessment to be eligible to move forward in the hiring process.

Pushups

Minimum:
7 pushups at 80bpm

Standard:
From a full plank position (only feet and hands touching the floor), participants will lower him/herself down to a 5” prop, and press all the way up. This must be done in a cadence of 80 beats per minute. Participants will stop when no longer able to perform pushups or no longer able to maintain cadence.

Video:
Pushup demo

Side Plank

Minimum:
60 seconds on each side

Standard:
Participants will position their elbow directly under their shoulder and have their forearm flat on the ground. The participants' feet will be stacked on top of eachother. The hand of the upper arm will rest on the hip in a bent elbow position. Participant will raise his/her hips off the ground to become a straight line from shoulder to ankles. Participants will hold this position until he/she comes down or is told by a proctor proper form is no longer being held.

Video:
Side Plank demo

1.5 mile run

Minimum:
estimated 8 METS

Standard:
The estimated METS is based on biological sex, weight, and 1.5 mile run time.

Your weight will be taken at time of testing.
METS will be calculated on this calculator here. This calculator is best used on a computer, not a phone.

Video:
MET calculator video

Assessment Start Date: August 15, 2022 August 8, 2022

Location: TBD

Must Bring: Valid government-issued photo identification document

The offer of employment is contingent and requires the successful completion of the required Pass/Fail pre-hire assessments (otherwise candidates will be disqualified).

Final consideration for acceptance into the Fire Cadet Academy will include:

• Criminal Background Check (findings may or may not disqualify a candidate depending on the offense, date of the incident, and severity.  It is recommended to include a detailed explanation of entries on a criminal history).

• Driving Record Check (findings may or may not disqualify a candidate depending on the offense, date of the incident, and severity.  It is recommended to include a detailed explanation of entries on a driving record).
• Medical Fitness Documentation

Disqualification criteria may include, but not limited to:

• Evidence of alcohol and drug abuse;
• Criminal arrests and convictions; and/or
• Certain tattoos and Tunnels (large diameter ear piercings) in accordance with District policy.

Hooray... you've made it!   You've been selected to begin the District's Fire Cadet Academy with the rest of your cadet class.  You will be notified and expected to report for training and complete additional pre-employment tasks.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Anticipated Start Date: August 8, 2022 October 3, 2022