How to Become a Firefighter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The short answer. The City of Philadelphia (read 2026-09-03) last recruited firefighters between July 8, 2025, and August 31, 2025. That window is closed. No next apply-by date is posted. The city links a job interest form for notice when the next period opens. Age 18 at the time of hire. One year of city residency before appointment. A valid Pennsylvania driver's license before appointment as a firefighter recruit. High school diploma or GED. Civil service exam, then interviews, investigations, and a medical exam, then a nine-month academy at recruit pay $64,982, then six months of probation. Present maximum $90,253.

Ready to Serve is not a City of Philadelphia partner and does not hire firefighters.

Older copies of this page printed an average salary, a rank pay table, a minimum-age line, a Pennsylvania EMT card as a graduation requirement, and a CPAT-style PAT event list. The city's page does not print those lines.

Is Philadelphia hiring firefighters right now?

No. Exact span on the city page this retrieval: "The Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD) last recruited firefighters between July 8, 2025, and August, 31, 2025." The city prints a comma after August. That window is past. The same page: "If you want to be notified when the next application period opens, fill out a job interest form." This article does not invent a next apply-by date.

How old do I have to be?

"Applicants must be 18 years of age at the time of hire." The measuring point is hire, not exam day. The page does not print a maximum. Older copies of this page said "at least 18" without saying when.

Do I have to live in Philadelphia?

Yes, and the clock starts before appointment. "Due to a residency requirement enacted in 2020, you must have established residence in the City one year prior to appointment." Non-residents "will not be eligible for job opportunities and will not be contacted as job opportunities arise until one year from the date that they establish residency." The city points residency questions to the Office of Human Resources at hrhelpdesk@phila.gov. Older copies added a 13-to-14-month planning cushion. The city prints one year.

What license and education do I need?

"All candidates must possess a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license prior to appointment as a firefighter recruit." A suspended or revoked license "will not pass the background investigation." Outstanding City of Philadelphia traffic fees: payment arrangements with the Municipal Court’s Traffic Division. Education: "High School graduate or GED." Older copies added "throughout employment" on the license line. The city measures the license at recruit appointment.

What does a Philadelphia firefighter recruit earn?

"After graduating the Academy as a firefighter, you receive a pay increase." Scheduled increases run "to the present maximum of $90,253 a year." Firefighters are paid biweekly. Named without dollars: uniform allowance, holiday time, other types of pay. Overtime is time and a half. The city also: "As your career progresses, there are opportunities for promotion, which include a raise in salary." Benefits the same page names: healthcare coverage, retirement pension, deferred compensation (457b plan), tuition reimbursement, paid vacation, paid training, career advancement.

Older copies printed an average salary and a recruit pay band that the city does not publish. Neither cell is on the city's page.

What is the hiring process?

The city: "There are several steps to becoming a firefighter. At each step of the process, some people are removed from consideration."

1. A civil service examination. "High scorers on the exam will be invited to the next phase."
2. Department interviews, criminal investigations, background investigations, and a medical examination.
3. A nine-month academic, practical, and physical training program at the Philadelphia Fire Academy. Cadets "learn basic firefighting and emergency medical services."

Physical and medical line on the same page: "Ability to physically perform the duties and work in the environmental conditions required of the position." The page does not name CPAT, a timed PAT, or an event list. Older copies printed hose advancement, ladder operations, equipment carry, search, and victim drag. Those events are not on this page.

The page does not print a Pennsylvania EMT card as a hire or graduation requirement. Older copies said you must obtain that card upon academy completion, and that Pennsylvania EMT-Basic is 150 or more hours. The city page this retrieval does not print those lines. Cadets learn emergency medical services at the academy. That is not the same as a printed EMT card.

How long is the Philadelphia Fire Academy?

The city prints "a nine-month academic, practical, and physical training program at the Philadelphia Fire Academy." After training, recruits are sworn in and assigned to an engine or ladder company. "Each new firefighter must complete a six-month probationary period." Older copies said "approximately nine months." The city prints nine-month, not an approximation.

What this page does not claim

Headcount, engine and ladder counts, Pennsylvania or city wage-tax rates, a rank table, an average salary, a Pennsylvania EMT card as a graduation requirement, CPAT or a timed PAT event list, and a next apply-by date are not on the city's Become a firefighter page this retrieval. Older copies printed several of those. They are cut.

Next step

Open the city's Become a firefighter page. Confirm the last-recruited dates and the interest form are still what this article prints. Fill the job interest form if you want notice of the next period. Establish the one-year city residency before you expect to be appointed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old do I have to be to become a Philadelphia firefighter?

"Applicants must be 18 years of age at the time of hire." The page does not print a maximum. Measuring point is hire, not exam day.

What does a Philadelphia firefighter recruit earn?

The city prints "The annual salary for a firefighter recruit in the Fire Academy is $64,982." After graduating, "you receive a pay increase." Scheduled increases run "to the present maximum of $90,253 a year." Overtime is time and a half. Uniform allowance and holiday time are named without dollar amounts. An older recruit pay band and an average-salary figure are not on the city's page.

Do I have to live in Philadelphia?

Yes, and the clock starts before appointment. "Due to a residency requirement enacted in 2020, you must have established residence in the City one year prior to appointment." Non-residents "will not be eligible for job opportunities and will not be contacted as job opportunities arise until one year from the date that they establish residency."

What license do I need?

"All candidates must possess a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license prior to appointment as a firefighter recruit." A suspended or revoked license fails the background investigation. High school diploma or GED is the education line.

How long is the Philadelphia Fire Academy?

The city prints "a nine-month academic, practical, and physical training program at the Philadelphia Fire Academy." Cadets learn basic firefighting and emergency medical services. After training they are sworn in and "must complete a six-month probationary period."