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FireCareer Guide

Dallas Fire-Rescue Hiring (2026): CPAT, Year 0-1 $81,232

8 min readUpdated 2026-09-03
Fire service pathway

The short answer. Dallas Fire-Rescue's Fire-Rescue Officer Trainee page (read 2026-09-03) still links "Apply here for Fire Rescue Officer Trainee" to GovernmentJobs 4676250. That URL still hosts Fire & Rescue Officer Trainee FY25: salary $75,397.00 Annually, opened 10/01/2024, Closing Date 6/5/2025 12:00 AM Central. That clock has passed. Do not apply on 4676250. The City of Dallas careers index (read 2026-09-03) is the page with "0 jobs found" / "No jobs at this time." The interest list on the Trainee page is not an application. Two city pay documents disagree: the January 1, 2026 Uniformed Fire Rescue Salary Schedule lists Fire-Rescue Officer Year 0-1 $81,232; the recruiting-benefits page lists starting pay $75,397.00. This page carries both. Age: 18 and must not have turned 36 by the date of the civil service written exam. Academy: 28 weeks.

Dallas Fire-Rescue uses CPAT in hiring (city recruiting-cpat page). Ready to Serve is not the City of Dallas.

DFR Requirements

Read the current Fire-Rescue Officer Trainee page and the qualifications page before you apply. As of the 2026-09-03 retrieval:

  1. Age: At least 18, and must not have reached 36 on the date the civil service written examination is administered.
  2. Education or service: One of: 45 semester hours of college credit (excluding developmental courses) with an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher from a regionally accredited college; a passing TSIA score in the previous 12 months (MATH 950; ELAR 945 with essay 5–8; no exemptions); or active military service. Two city documents disagree on the military minimum. 4676250 (Fire & Rescue Officer Trainee FY25, read 2026-09-03) lists 36 months active service with an honorable or uncharacterized discharge, and allows 10 calendar days short of 36 months. The qualifications page (read 2026-09-03) lists a minimum of 48 months active service with an honorable discharge (DD214 Member 4). Those two documents disagree. Act on 48 months: it is the only figure that satisfies both.
  3. Certifications at hire: The trainee academy includes the EMT block required for TCFP. Do not treat a pre-hire TCFP Basic card or a pre-hire DSHS EMT-Basic card as a stated DFR floor unless the current posting says so.
  4. CPAT: Dallas Fire-Rescue uses the Candidate Physical Ability Test in hiring. Confirm the current card window on the recruiting-cpat page; this guide does not print a 12-month rule.
  5. Driver's license: Qualified to drive a motor vehicle in Texas, with demonstrated safe driving habits.
  6. Background: No felony convictions. Other misdemeanor, DWI, and warrant rules are on the qualifications page.

Salary and Benefits

Two City of Dallas documents disagree on starting pay. This page carries both. Do not treat them as one number.

  • Uniformed Fire Rescue Salary Schedule, effective January 1, 2026 (read 2026-09-03): Fire-Rescue Officer Year 0-1 $81,232 (monthly $6,769). The same schedule lists a Meet & Confer market-survey start of $78,924 and Year 9 $102,304. Footnote: the City Manager may place start-step Officers (year 0-1) at step 1 for FY 2025-2026. Driver-Engineer Year 0-1 $104,862.
  • Recruiting-benefits page (read 2026-09-03): starting pay $75,397.00. Rank bands on that page: Fire Rescue Officer $75,397.00–$98,377.00; Driver Engineer $100,836.00–$107,471.00; Lieutenant $110,158.00–$118,628.00; Captain $121,594.00–$130,944.00; Battalion/Section Chief $134,218.00–$144,537.00. Bachelor's incentive $300/month; extra college hours $12 per 3 hours up to $240/month; service pay $4/month per year, max $100/month at 25 years.

Benefits named on the recruiting-benefits page: paid academy; life, health, dental, and vision; pension plus optional 401K and 457; "Work approximately 10 days per month (shift)"; holidays, sick, and vacation leave. That page does not print a 24/48 clock.

The DFR Hiring Process

The Trainee page's "Apply here" link is GovernmentJobs 4676250 (Fire & Rescue Officer Trainee FY25). That posting still hosts the FY25 job: salary $75,397.00 Annually, opened 10/01/2024, Closing Date 6/5/2025 12:00 AM Central. The close has passed. Do not apply there. The Dallas careers index is the page with 0 jobs found. The Trainee page also offers an interest list. That is not an application. Watch the Trainee page and Talent Central for the next door.

Step 1: Application and written exam. Apply when a live posting exists. Pass the civil service exam named on the Trainee page. Age: 18 and must not have turned 36 by the date of that test.

Step 2: CPAT. Dallas Fire-Rescue uses CPAT. Confirm dates and any card window on the recruiting-cpat page.

Step 3: Oral Board Interview. A structured interview with a panel of DFR officers. Expect scenario-based questions testing your judgment, teamwork, integrity, and communication skills. Prepare specific examples from your work, volunteer, or military experience.

Step 4: Interview, background, polygraph, medical. The Trainee page (read 2026-09-03) names "Typical Interview process & Background/Fingerprints check plus a Polygraph and Medical/Physical Exam" as one step. An older copy of this article split chief's interview, background, and medical into three steps and did not name the polygraph.

Step 5: Academy. The Fire-Rescue Officer Trainee academy is 28 weeks: 468 hours of TCFP curriculum and skills, 500 hours of DFR curriculum and skills, 5 weeks EMT, 5 months paramedic school, and 6 months probation (Trainee page, read 2026-09-03). Qualifications page: employment in the Trainee program "should not exceed 18 months." The recruiting-benefits page names a paid academy.

What Makes DFR Different

DFR operates in one of the most diverse cities in America. The department values candidates who reflect the communities they serve and who can communicate effectively across cultural and language barriers. Bilingual candidates (especially Spanish-speaking) have a meaningful advantage.

DFR runs a dual fire and EMS system. Call volume varies by station and shift; this guide does not print a per-shift call count.

The department has invested heavily in specialty teams including Hazmat, Technical Rescue, Water Rescue, and the ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting) team at Dallas Love Field. These specialty assignments are available after completing your probationary period and meeting additional certification requirements.

Preparation Tips

Physical fitness: DFR's academy is physically demanding. Start CPAT-specific training before your test and keep it through the hiring process.

EMS skills: The trainee academy includes EMT. A pre-hire paramedic card is a different path; confirm the current posting rather than assuming a pay bump number.

Interview preparation: DFR's oral board is structured and scored. Practice answering behavioral interview questions using the STAR method. Prepare examples of times you demonstrated teamwork, leadership under pressure, problem-solving, and ethical decision-making.

Volunteer or part-time experience: Working as a volunteer firefighter or part-time EMT gives you talking points for the interview and demonstrates commitment to the profession. Several departments in the DFW area accept volunteers and part-time staff.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Trainee page still links to GovernmentJobs 4676250. That posting is Fire & Rescue Officer Trainee FY25; it closed 6/5/2025 12:00 AM Central. The careers index shows 0 jobs found. The Key Survey interest list is not an application. Watch the Trainee page and Talent Central.

How old do I have to be? Trainee page and qualifications page, read 2026-09-03: at least 18, and must not have reached 36 on the date the civil service written examination is administered.

What does Dallas pay a new Fire-Rescue Officer? Two documents disagree. Salary schedule effective January 1, 2026: Year 0-1 $81,232 (market-survey start $78,924). Recruiting-benefits page: starting pay $75,397.00. Confirm both before you budget.

How long is the academy? 28 weeks: 468 TCFP hours, 500 DFR hours, 5 weeks EMT, 5 months paramedic school, 6 months probation. Trainee assignment should not exceed 18 months.

Do I need EMT or TCFP before I apply? The trainee academy includes the EMT block required for TCFP. Do not treat a pre-hire TCFP Basic card or a pre-hire DSHS EMT-Basic card as a stated DFR floor unless a live posting says so.

What is the military service door? Two documents disagree. 4676250 (Fire & Rescue Officer Trainee FY25, read 2026-09-03) lists 36 months active service. The qualifications page lists 48 months. Act on 48 months: it is the only figure that satisfies both.

Next step

Read the Fire-Rescue Officer Trainee page and Talent Central. Do not apply on 4676250; that FY25 posting closed 6/5/2025 12:00 AM Central. If you meant police, stop here and read how to become a police officer in Dallas.

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