Fire Department Employment

Hiring Process

Chapter 143, Texas Local Government Code, (Civil Service law) establishes the general guidelines for hiring firefighters in the Texarkana Fire Department. Applicants must first take the written entrance exam. Those applicants are placed on an eligibility list in order of their score. Those that pass the written entrance exam are then eligible to take the physical ability test. When an opening occurs, the candidate with the highest score is considered first. Each candidate must successfully pass a physical ability test. Then, the candidate’s background is checked by various means, including a polygraph exam. Following an oral review board, the successful candidate is given a conditional offer of employment. Following this, the candidate undergoes a physical examination and assessment which includes a drug screen. The last step is an interview with the Fire Chief. If these phases are passed successfully, the candidate may receive an offer of employment.

Qualifications

A firefighter candidate must be at least 18 years of age at the time of the written test, and must not have reached his / her 36th birthday at the time of hiring. Certifications by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection as a structural firefighter and by the Texas Department of State Health Services as an EMT-basic or higher are preferred, but not required at time of employment. Candidates are expected to have demonstrated personal maturity as evidenced by a drug-free lifestyle, a clean driving record, and no criminal history. Candidates must also be sufficiently physically fit to pass a physical ability test, a physical exam, and a physical assessment.