FDNY Hiring 2026: Application Process, Salary, and Requirements

The Fire Department of the City of New York hires firefighters from a civil service list built from an exam that the city offers about every four years. This page repeats what JoinFDNY, the city's Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) and the city's fire pension statements print, read 2026-10-14. The longer New York guide is How to Become a Firefighter in New York.

Current hiring status

The DCAS open competitive exam list read 2026-10-14 has no Firefighter title. JoinFDNY says firefighter exams are "typically offered about every four years," and its FAQ says the application period "typically opens every 4-5 years. However, this timeline is subject to change." Candidates on a list are called "based on the list number and need, which can take up to multiple years," and candidates on the Promotion to Firefighter list are called before candidates on the Open Competitive list.

The same DCAS list shows Emergency Medical Specialist - EMT (7131) and Emergency Medical Specialist Trainee (7032) with filing from 10/7/2026 to 11/18/2026. Those are the EMS exams, not the firefighter exam.

Eligibility

From the JoinFDNY firefighter careers page and eligibility page, read 2026-10-14.

Age. You can start as early as 17 1/2. The JoinFDNY FAQ says you must be at least 17 1/2 by the end of the application period and must not have reached your 29th birthday by the beginning of the application period. The city's notice of examination for Firefighter exam 4044 (fourth amended June 4, 2025) says at least 17 years of age by the end of the application period, with the same 29th-birthday limit, so the two documents give different minimums. You must be 21 at appointment. FDNY cannot waive the age requirement. Military duty can be subtracted from your age under Section 243 of the New York State Military Law, up to a maximum of 7 years: subdivision 10-a of that section, the notice for exam 4044 and the careers page say 7, and the eligibility page says 6. Candidates on the Special Military list cannot turn 36 by the beginning of the application period.

Citizenship. U.S. citizenship is required at the time of appointment.

Residency. At appointment you must live in one of the five boroughs (Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island) or in Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk or Westchester County. It does not matter where you live when you file for or take the exam. Applicants living in New York City receive extra points: the FAQ describes a 10-point residency credit for the 2024 exam and asks for proof once your list number is reached.

Education. By appointment, a four-year high school diploma or its equivalent, plus one of: at least 15 college semester credits from an accredited college or university (any course of study); full-time military service with an honorable discharge; or six months of full-time, satisfactory, paid work experience.

Driver's license. A valid New York State motor vehicle driver's license at appointment, kept for the duration of employment. Moving violations, license suspensions or an accident record may disqualify you.

Everything else. Prove your identity and the right to work in the United States, pass medical and psychological tests and a drug screening, show proof of good character and pass a background investigation, and be able to understand and be understood in English.

CFR-D. A Certified First Responder with Defibrillation certificate is not required at appointment. You need it by the end of probation. FDNY provides the course during probationary training and deducts a set amount per pay period until the cost is covered: JoinFDNY says $30 and the notice for exam 4044 says $25. Holding a CFR-D or EMT certificate earns no extra exam points.

The hiring process

1. Apply to take the written exam. JoinFDNY sends applicants to the DCAS website for the application.
2. Written exam. A computer-based test of reading, listening, problem solving and basic arithmetic that also assesses how candidates approach work, interact with others and concentrate on details. It does not require special knowledge of firefighting or the Fire Department. FDNY hosts free prep sessions, and the FAQ links the DCAS computer-based test tutorial for exam year 2024-2025. The careers page also says that once you pass the written test you must do an in-person interview with FDNY officers.
3. Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT). Scored pass/fail, eight events: stair climb, hose drag, equipment carry, ladder raise and extension, forcible entry, search, rescue, and ceiling breach and pull. JoinFDNY's Fire Resources page says the test is pass/fail based on a validated maximum total time of 10 minutes and 20 seconds. The CPAT Orientation Guide that page links says you wear a 50-pound vest, with an additional 25 pounds on your shoulders for the stair climb, that the stair climb runs at 60 steps per minute for 3 minutes, and that the rescue event uses a 165-pound mannequin. The notice for exam 4044 says a more detailed description is distributed before you are scheduled. FDNY offers workout sessions to prepare.
4. Candidate review. Medical and psychological exams, a drug screening, the character and background investigation, and a check of your eligibility requirements.
5. Fire Academy. An 18-week classroom and physical fitness program that includes fire service training.

Pay and benefits

JoinFDNY's firefighter page prints a starting salary of $54,122 and this table, with the note "Overtime, Fringe and Holiday Pay not included":

The same page also says that after five years a firefighter can make more than $105,146 "including overtime and holiday pay." The city's notice for exam 4044 gives the same figure as salary: increments reaching $105,146 per annum at the completion of five and one half years of employment, with holiday, night shift and overtime pay in addition, and all rates subject to change.

Promotional maximums on that page: Lieutenant $130,260, Captain $149,518, Battalion Chief $194,689.

JoinFDNY lists lifelong medical coverage for you and your family, flexible work schedules, growth opportunities, up to four weeks paid vacation per year, and a generous pension. The New York City Fire Pension Funds' FY2025 financial statements, page 20, say members hired on and after July 1, 2009 are covered under Tier 3 (Tier 3 Modified, with limits, for those hired on and after April 1, 2012), with a normal service retirement payable after 22 years of uniformed service and an early service retirement payable after 20 years or at age 62 for Tier 3, or after 20 years for Tier 3 Modified.

How to prepare

Use the free FDNY prep sessions and the DCAS tutorial (exam year 2024-2025) for the written exam, and the FDNY workout sessions for the CPAT. JoinFDNY's FAQ says FDNY gives no extra exam credit for fire science, police science or emergency medicine courses, for firefighting experience in other municipalities or countries, or for holding a CFR-D or EMT certificate, and that you cannot transfer from another fire service without taking the exam.

EMS hiring (EMT and EMS Trainee)

From the JoinFDNY EMS careers page and the city's exam notices for EMT (7131) and EMS Trainee (7032), read 2026-10-14. EMS has two entry titles. EMT requires a valid New York State Department of Health EMT-Basic or EMT-Paramedic certification and a four-year high school diploma or its equivalent. EMS Trainee is for people who do not hold a current EMT certificate in any state. It has two routes: a four-year high school diploma or its equivalent plus one of six months of full-time satisfactory employment demonstrating reliable work habits, full-time United States military service with an honorable discharge, or 15 college semester credits from an accredited college or university; or graduation after FDNY-approved EMS coursework at a New York City high school or vocational training center.

Candidates must be 17 by the end of the application period. JoinFDNY's EMS FAQs say FDNY EMS candidates are not required to have college credits, and that an EMT is not required to live in New York and does not need to be a United States citizen but must have a Social Security number. The EMT notice (7131) says city residency is not required for that position. The EMS Trainee notice (7032) carries a residency advisory instead: under New York City Administrative Code Section 12-120 you might need to be a resident of the city within 90 days of appointment, and the notice says to consult the appointing agency's personnel office at the time of the appointment interview. Both titles attend an approximately 17-week EMS Academy. The EMS exam is offered about once a year and is scored on education and experience.

JoinFDNY's EMS page lists EMT pay at $43,932 to $49,816 to start and $68,700 to $76,028 after five years. The EMT notice (7131) prints a current minimum salary of $39,386 per annum and says the rate is subject to change, so the two documents give different EMT starting figures. EMS Trainee pay is $36,330 for the first three months on JoinFDNY's page, and the Trainee notice (7032) prints the same current minimum. Paramedic is a promotional opportunity available only to FDNY EMS members.