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Fire academies / Philadelphia, PA

Last verified August 29, 2026

Philadelphia Fire Academy

Philadelphia Fire Department runs this open-enrollment fire academy in Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia Fire Department publishes this program itself. As of August 29, 2026 the Texas Commission on Fire Protection's Upcoming Training List shows no Structure Firefighter row for it, so we do not print it as commission-listed. No dated cutoff on or after August 29, 2026 is on the sourced calendar. Published tuition: Paid training. The annual salary for a firefighter recruit in the Fire Academy is $64,982. After graduating the Academy as a firefighter, you receive a pay increase. Present maximum $90,253 a year..

As of August 29, 2026. Where this academy's own pages disagree, every version is below. Act on the earliest restriction.

When can you apply?

ProgramCutoffStartEndDelivery
Philadelphia Fire AcademyAugust 31, 2025Not datedNot datedFull-time
Philadelphia Fire AcademyAugust 31, 2025Not datedNot datedFull-time
  • Become-a-firefighter page (live 2026-08-29): last recruited July 8, 2025 through August 31, 2025. Next step is the city's job interest form. Window closed.
  • FAQ posted 2025-07-15 still says the department is now accepting applications July 7, 2025 through August 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m., and links governmentjobs.com/careers/phila/jobs/4992901/firefighter. That start date disagrees with the service page (July 8 vs July 7). As of 2026-08-29 the close date is past. Both are shown here.

How much does it cost?

Paid training. The annual salary for a firefighter recruit in the Fire Academy is $64,982. After graduating the Academy as a firefighter, you receive a pay increase. Present maximum $90,253 a year.

This is a hire academy, not an open-enrollment tuition program.

Medical benefits through IAFF Local 22 effective the first day a cadet starts at the Fire Academy (FAQ).

How long is the academy, and what does it award?

ProgramWeeksHoursDelivery
Firefighter cadet trainingNot printedNot printedFull-time
  • Sworn Philadelphia firefighter after academy completion, then six-month probation
  • EMS skills taught during the academy (city's statement); the city pages checked this unit do not name a specific EMT cert issued at graduation

Do you need EMT to enroll?

During the academy. The sourced page says: "cadets learn basic firefighting and emergency medical services"

What are the enrollment prerequisites?

  • Civil service firefighter examination (National Testing Network)
  • Age 18 at time of hire
  • High school graduate or GED (FAQ for the 2025 cycle: equivalent by December 31, 2025)
  • Valid Pennsylvania driver's license prior to appointment as a firefighter recruit
  • City residency established one year prior to appointment (2020 residency requirement)
  • Department interviews, criminal and background investigations, medical examination

Where is it, and who do you contact?

240 Spring Garden St., Philadelphia, PA 19123 (department headquarters; academy street not printed on the pages checked this unit)

Phones: (215) 685-3748 · (215) 686-1300. The academy prints more than one. They are not averaged.

Email: PFDrecruitment@phila.gov

Academy page

What else do the sourced pages say?

  • This is a department hire academy. A candidate cannot pay to enroll. They sit a civil service exam, then are hired as a paid cadet. GSC query 'philadelphia fire academy' is this program.
  • Academy street address is not printed on the Become a firefighter, FAQ, department homepage, or Fire Explorers pages checked this unit. Headquarters is 240 Spring Garden St. Fire Explorers 'meet at the Fire Academy' without a street.
  • FAQ: 2025 hiring list remains active for two years once established; PFD cannot give firm estimates on when new cadet classes will be formed. Named OHR staff emails on the FAQ are omitted from this public record.

Where should you go next?

Sources

Last verified August 29, 2026. Aggregators are not sources.