Fire Cadet Requirements and Academy Pay in Five Texas Cities

30-second answer. San Antonio and Austin ask for a high school diploma or GED, Houston and Dallas ask for college hours or an alternative such as military service, and El Paso's application tips refer to 12 college credit hours. Houston lists Firefighter Trainee pay of $37,388 a year in its HFD Compensation table beginning July 1, 2026, San Antonio lists $3,853.70 a month during training in its Written Examination for Firefighter Trainee announcement of June 15, 2026, and Austin lists a cadet hourly rate on two undated pages.

Dallas lists a paid academy without a trainee pay figure. Age limits differ: not yet 34 in San Antonio, not over 35 in Austin, and not yet 36 in Dallas. Houston's requirements and careers FAQ differ on whether age 36 is permitted at the oath.

What each department asks for

Age limits

Driving. Austin requires a current valid driver license from your state of residence (Hiring Process), and El Paso's application asks for your license number, issuing state and expiration date (Firefighter Trainee application tips). Houston allows 2 or fewer moving violations in the last 36 months (HFD Requirements).

Tests. All five give a written exam and a physical test, run a background investigation and require a medical or physical exam. Houston, San Antonio and Dallas also list a polygraph. The steps are in the Houston Applicant Roadmap, the San Antonio Applicant Phase and Candidate Phase pages, the Dallas Fire & Rescue Officer Trainee page, the Austin Hiring Process page and the El Paso Recruitment Process.

What cadets and new firefighters are paid

The Dallas figure is a salary schedule line for a Fire-Rescue Officer, not trainee pay.

El Paso's posted pay schedule is headed Draft and is described in the El Paso section.

Houston Fire Department

Houston runs two tracks (HFD Requirements). The non-certified track takes people with no firefighter or EMT background. The certified track asks for a Texas Commission on Fire Protection certification, a Texas Department of State Health Services EMT certification, or both, Basic or higher. Certified cadets train for approximately 10 weeks with both, 3 months with fire only or 6 months with EMT only. Apply under Firefighter Trainee if non-certified or Certified Firefighter Trainee if certified.

The Civil Service Exam is offered every 6 months, subject to change (HFD Hiring Process Applicant Roadmap). Houston's own Physical Ability Test has five job-simulation events with a shared limit of 6 minutes 40 seconds. A 1.5-mile run in 15 minutes or less follows (Firefighter Physical Ability Test Candidate Orientation Guide, May 2015). The roadmap also calls for CPR certification from the American Heart Association. Probation is 12 months from the date of hire (HFD FAQs). The compensation page projects the next Civil Service Exam for January 2027. It projects a non-certified academy for April 12, 2027. These projected dates are subject to change.

San Antonio Fire Department

San Antonio tests once a year. Its entrance exam has 230 questions, a three-hour limit and a minimum passing score of 70% (Firefighter Trainee Examination). Veterans and active-duty applicants who pass can receive five additional points. The Applicant Phase page allows no exceptions to the age limit, including for prior military service.

After the exam come the CPAT, a polygraph, a background investigation, a Behavioral Personal Assessment, and a medical and psychological evaluation. The City Manager makes the final selection (Applicant to Candidate Phase).

Applications were accepted June 23 through August 23, 2026 (Written Examination for Firefighter Trainee). The written exam was set for October 23, 2026.

Dallas Fire-Rescue

Dallas applicants apply for the Fire Rescue Officer Trainee position. Its Dallas Fire & Rescue Officer Trainee page lists five steps: apply, pass the Civil Service Exam, pass the Candidate Physical Agility Test (CPAT), complete an interview process with a background and fingerprint check, polygraph and medical exam, then attend the academy. A ten-week mentorship program prepares applicants for the CPAT, and the Recruiting CPAT page accepts a passing CPAT card from an IAFF/IAFC licensed facility instead. The trainee page also lists a 6-month probationary period.

The salary schedule footnotes its starting line. For FY 2025-2026 only, the City Manager may, at their discretion, place starting officers at step 1. A September 11, 2026 city memo, Responses to Questions Regarding the City Manager's Recommended Biennial Budget, recommends $83,822 as starting pay for FY 2026-27. The Benefits & Salary page, which is undated, lists $75,397.00 as starting pay.

Austin Fire Department

Austin scores candidates on a written general aptitude exam and a structured oral process (Hiring Process). Candidates who complete both with a score of 70 or higher receive a composite score. Applicants at the top of the list receive a conditional offer and must then pass each assessment, including a psychological assessment. Austin accepts only a CPAT certificate it issues itself. Passing does not guarantee a seat, because space must exist in a class.

Source: City of Austin, Fire Recruiting, Hiring Process.

Whether Austin Fire is accepting applications is stated on the city's Hiring Process page. Read it before you plan around a date.

El Paso Fire Department

El Paso's written exam is video-based and takes a grade of 70% or better. Applications are then reviewed for minimum qualifications, the Candidate Physical Agility Test is pass/fail, and an interview board follows the background investigation (Firefighter Trainee Recruitment Process). A one-year probationary period follows graduation. The application tips say the city may add up to 12 points for military service.

The Fire Pay Schedule the city posts is headed Draft Fire Payscale FY26 and dated the first pay period following September 1, 2025. Its Fire Fighter and Fire Medic row begins at Step Two with $50,640.56 a year. Ask El Paso Human Resources about trainee pay.

Firefighter pay after training

Before the academy

Houston requests documents after the application. Its roadmap includes psychological assessments, American Heart Association CPR certification and a conditional offer followed by medical, physical and drug testing. Probation runs twelve months from hire.

Source: Houston Fire Department, Applicant Roadmap.

San Antonio requires English proficiency. Candidates take the exam before the candidate assessments and City Manager selection. The CPAT limit is ten minutes twenty seconds. Complete the Hepatitis B vaccine series before entering the academy. Weekday training runs from 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM.

Sources: SAFD Applicant Phase, Candidate Phase and Cadet Phase.

Dallas applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The TSIA passing scores are shown below.

Source: Dallas Fire-Rescue, Qualifications FROT.

Austin applicants need citizenship or immigration status permitting full-time work, English proficiency, a valid driver license and a valid Social Security card. They must meet NFPA 1582 medical requirements and be eligible for future Texas fire and EMS certification. Apply through the City of Austin jobs site. The CPAT time limit is ten minutes twenty seconds.

Sources: Austin Fire Hiring Process, Cadet Disqualifications and Cadet Fitness Preparation.

El Paso applicants should list high school or GED information. Partial college credits and volunteer hours may count toward some work experience. Applicants transferring out-of-state fire or EMT certification should contact the Texas Commission on Fire Protection or Texas Department of State Health Services.

Source: El Paso Fire Department, Firefighter Trainee application tips.

El Paso's conditional offer is followed by a physical examination and drug and alcohol testing. Military preference requires a DD214 Member 4 form. Outside employment is prohibited during academy training. Graduation requires a mile-and-a-half run in under twelve minutes. The continuous physical events must be completed in less than 5:37.

Sources: El Paso Fire Department, Recruitment Process, Academy information and Graduation benchmarks.

Pension deductions and eligibility

See Firefighter pensions in five Texas cities for each fund's documents, refund rules and formulas.

How to use this comparison

• Match the track to what you hold. With a Texas fire or EMT certification, look at Houston's certified track, which shortens training, and El Paso's two certified trainee titles.
• Get on each notification list. Houston, Dallas and El Paso keep an interest form or list, San Antonio has a Job Interest Card and Austin a Candidate Interest Card.

For application windows across the state, see the Texas fire, EMS and peace officer postings.

Common questions

Which of these Texas fire departments pay cadets during the academy?

Houston, San Antonio and Austin each list a cadet or trainee pay rate, and Dallas lists a paid academy without a trainee pay figure. Houston's HFD Compensation table beginning July 1, 2026 lists a Firefighter Trainee at $37,388 a year. San Antonio's June 15, 2026 examination announcement lists $3,853.70 a month during training. Austin's Fire Cadet Employment Overview page lists $22.55 an hour and its Fire Recruiting About page lists $24.00 an hour, and neither page is dated.

How long is the fire academy at each department?

About six months in San Antonio, Austin and El Paso, 28 weeks in Dallas, and approximately 9 months for non-certified cadets in Houston, although other Houston pages say 7-9 months or 8 to 10 months. Dallas trainees also complete 5 weeks of EMT training and 5 months of paramedic school. Houston's certified cadets train for approximately 10 weeks to 6 months, depending on the certifications they hold.

Do you need a fire or EMT certification before you apply?

Houston's non-certified track and Austin say in writing that you do not, San Antonio and Dallas describe certification training inside their academies, and El Paso lists a Firefighter Trainee title beside two certified trainee titles. Houston's requirements page says non-certified cadets complete Fire (basic) and EMT (Basic) certification with the department. Austin's cadet disqualifications page says applicants do not need to be certified during the application process but must be eligible for future certification. San Antonio's 2026 examination announcement asks for eligibility for future licensing by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.

Do you need college credit to apply?

College credit is not always required: Houston accepts a military service alternative, Dallas accepts a qualifying test score or military service, and San Antonio and Austin ask for a high school diploma or GED. Houston's non-certified trainee exam requires 15 accredited college hours, or two years of full-time active military service with an honorable discharge, or service in imminent danger. Dallas accepts 45 semester hours of college credit, excluding developmental courses, with a grade point average of 2.0 or higher from a regionally accredited school. Dallas also accepts a passing Texas Success Initiative Assessment score from the previous 12 months, or at least 48 months of active service in the U.S. Armed Forces with an Honorable discharge. El Paso's application tips refer to a 12 college credit hour requirement for applicants who qualify by college credit.

What is the age limit to apply?

San Antonio sets the limit at not yet 34 and Dallas at not yet 36, and Austin permits age 35. Houston's requirements page excludes age 36 at the oath, while its careers FAQ permits it. Ask Houston recruiting which rule applies. San Antonio's 2026 announcement sets a minimum age of 19 and measures both limits on the date of the written exam, and the department makes no exceptions. Dallas and Austin set a minimum of 18 and also measure on the written exam date. Houston asks for 18 when applying and measures its upper limit before the oath of office.

Which physical test does each department use?

Houston gives its own Physical Ability Test, San Antonio, Dallas and Austin use the CPAT, and El Paso's process lists a pass/fail Candidate Physical Agility Test. Houston's test has five job-simulation events with a shared limit of 6 minutes 40 seconds. A 1.5-mile run in 15 minutes or less follows. Dallas accepts a passing CPAT card from an IAFF/IAFC licensed facility, and Austin accepts only a CPAT certificate it issues itself.