Hiring Process
Know what to expect during the firefighter hiring process so that you can focus on what's important... getting hired!
Firefighter Hiring Process
Step 1: Meet the Minimum Qualifications and Sign up for PST Tests
To become a firefighter with the City of Spokane, you must possess a high school diploma or equivalent and a valid driver’s license. Before applying, sign up to take the Public Safety Written and the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) on the Public Safety Testing website. Be sure to select Spokane Fire Department as the location to send your results.
Written test scores must be less than 12 months old when you submit your application with the City of Spokane. The CPAT must be less than 12 months old at the time of the interview. Per PST rules, you must take the CPAT within 180 days of the written test.
EMT certification is not required before applying; applicants will receive their EMT training during the academy. Candidates that already have an EMT or Paramedic certification are still required to complete the entire 12-week program.
Step 2: Apply with the City of Spokane
If the recruitment for firefighter is open and you have passed the written and physical tests, you can apply for the position with the City of Spokane. Make sure you’ve filled out your Personal History Packet through PST. It is required in order for you to be placed on the eligible list.
You may apply with the City of Spokane once every 365 days. Visit our City Career Center to submit your application.
Step 3: Get on the Eligible List
A Civil Service Analyst will review your application and test score to confirm you qualify for the position. Veteran’s preference points will be applied to test scores when applicable. Then, all eligible applicants will be placed on a list in ranking order. You will receive an email from Civil Service informing you of your placement and ranking on the eligible list.
Eligible list ranking may change as more applicants apply, especially if the recruitment remains open for an extended period. Your rank may improve as applicants are hired or removed from the list. The list remains valid for one year, or until exhausted, whichever comes first.
Step 4: In-Person Panel Interview
Applicants will be considered based on their eligibility ranking and are typically interviewed in the same manner. A representative from the Spokane Fire Department will contact you to schedule an in-person panel interview. The panel includes representatives from labor and management (firefighters, officers, and chief officers).
After your interview, you will receive an email from the Fire Department regarding your status in the selection process. If hiring managers do not select you, you will remain on the eligible list until you have been passed over three times. A pass over is when someone below you on the list is hired.
Step 5: Medical Evaluation/History, Psychological Evaluation, & Drug Test
If hiring managers wish to move you forward in the selection process, they will schedule a medical evaluation, a psychological evaluation, and a drug test. These evaluations are critical for determining your fitness to be a firefighter.
Please note that the drug test will include screening for cannabis. If you test positive for THC, you will not advance in the selection process.
Step 6: Conditional Offer of Employment
Congrats! You are now a Spokane Firefighter! New hires will undergo a one-year probationary period, must pass the Fire Academy and EMT training, and must obtain various certificates to achieve permanent hiring status.
Step 7: Academy
The Fire Academy is a 21-week program where you will learn how to be a firefighter for the City of Spokane. It’s broken into two parts: Fire Training Operations (16 weeks) and Emergency Medical Technician Training (5 weeks). Throughout the program, you will engage in both hands-on drills and classroom activities to learn modern firefighting theory, tactics, and techniques.
You will be continuously evaluated on your ability to work as part of a team and in high-stress scenarios. By the end of the program, you will earn the following IFSAC certifications:
– Firefighter 1
– Firefighter 2
– Hazmat Operations
Step 8: Probationary Period
You will undergo a one-year probationary period following your initial hire. After graduating from recruit school, you will rotate through various fire stations throughout the City. During this time, your performance will be assessed through drill sheets and daily evaluations.
As a probationary firefighter, you will also need to complete a series of tests at the 6, 9 , 10, and 11 month marks:
- 6 months: Standard Operating Procedures
- 9 months: Streets
- 10 months: Practical Fireground Skills
- 11 months: Gold Room and extensive evaluations by the Chiefs
For more information about applying with the City of Spokane for entry-level firefighter, make sure to view the apply page.