How to Become a Firefighter in El Paso, Texas

The short answer. El Paso is not currently accepting Firefighter Trainee applications (Employment Opportunities, read 2026-09-03). The next door is the job interest form for Fire & EMS, not an application. The city's job board listed 40 jobs on 2026-09-03; a search for Firefighter Trainee returned Police Trainee, not a fire trainee seat. Age on the Firefighter Trainee class specification (class 73270, revised January 20, 2026) is a minimum of eighteen (18) with no maximum. You do not need TCFP or EMT to apply on the uncertified Firefighter Trainee path; both are due by academy graduation. The spec's printed trainee range is $38,908.69 to $56,806.68 a year. That is a Temporary class-spec band, not a certified firefighter start. Ready to Serve is not the City of El Paso.

An earlier version printed an entry band that is on no page opened for this revision; it is gone. It also printed an age cap of 35, TCFP and EMT at apply, a 12–16 week El Paso Community College academy, and 32+ stations. None of those lines are on the employment page or the class spec opened 2026-09-03.

Minimum requirements

From the Firefighter Trainee class specification, class code 73270 GS 049, revised January 20, 2026 (read 2026-09-03). Meet education, licenses, and special requirements by academy entry unless the spec names a later clock.

1. Age. Minimum of eighteen (18) years of age. The spec does not print a maximum. The employment landing prints no age line. This page does not copy Texas Local Government Code 143.023 onto El Paso.
2. Education and experience. High school diploma, GED or higher, and two years of general work experience or twelve post-secondary semester credit hours in any field with a minimum 2.0 GPA.
3. Driver license now. Texas Class C, or the equivalent from another state.
4. By academy entry. Texas Class B driver license permit (or equivalent from another state). American Heart Association Health Care Provider CPR.
5. By academy graduation. DSHS Basic Emergency Medical Technician or higher, and TCFP Basic Structural Firefighter.
6. Pre-appointment. Rigid background investigation and a comprehensive medical examination with drug screening.

The employment page lists three entry titles: Certified Firefighter Trainee, Certified Paramedic-Fire Trainee, and Firefighter Trainee. The uncertified Firefighter Trainee path is the one that does not require TCFP or EMT at hire. The other two titles are separate class specs; this page does not mix their pay bands with 73270.

Hiring process

The application door is closed. Employment Opportunities tells you to fill the interest form "when the next application period opens." Select Fire & EMS. That form is not an application.

A closed Firefighter Trainee posting (job 5445394 / 73270-0826) still loads if you have the old URL. It names Opening Date 08/13/2026 and Closing Date 8/28/2026 7:00 AM Mountain. It is not on the live 40-job index. Do not treat it as open.

The Recruitment Process PDF (city file; dated layout) is the sequence the employment page still links:

1. Written examination. Multiple-choice, video-based. The PDF names teamwork, public relations, mechanical aptitude, and reading. Score 70% or better to continue. Bring photo ID and the email notice.
2. Physical test. Pass/fail. The employment page heading is Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT). The same PDF says Candidate Physical Agility Test. Both names print here.
3. Background investigation.
4. Fire Department Interview Board.
5. Conditional job offer, then a city-physician physical to NFPA 1582 and drug and alcohol testing.
6. Appointed trainees "undertake a training course at the Fire Training Academy." Upon graduation they begin a one-year probationary period as a Firefighter.

The closed 5445394 posting also said the city may apply up to 12 additional points for military service if a DD214 Member 4 is attached at application, that the test date would be announced, and that a résumé does not replace a completed application.

Police Trainee - 145th Academy Class is a different department and a different door.

Physical assessment (CPAT)

El Paso names CPAT. The employment page links a CPAT Candidate Preparation Guide. That guide's opening line: the test "consists of eight critical physical tasks that simulate actual job duties on the fireground." It does not print a 10:20 cap or a 50-pound vest on the pages opened 2026-09-03. This page does not paste those numbers from a generic CPAT description. Train from the city's own guide.

El Paso Fire Academy

The employment page and the recruitment PDF do not print a week count. Do not treat El Paso Community College as the EPFD academy. The city's training address on the department homepage is Professional Development, 6800 Delta. Important Information – Firefighter Trainee academy: outside employment is not permitted while attending training.

Salary and compensation

Two City of El Paso documents sit on this page. They are not the same row.

• Firefighter Trainee class specification, class 73270, revised January 20, 2026: $18.71–$27.31 hourly, $38,908.69–$56,806.68 annually. Job type on the closed 5445394 posting was Temporary.
• Fire Pay Schedule PDF linked from city HR. That posted file is still headed Draft Fire Payscale FY26. Ready to Serve does not publish a certified El Paso firefighter start from a draft table. The Texas salary table leaves El Paso's certified start empty for that reason.

An earlier version printed start and top bands that are on no page opened for this revision; they are gone.

Size of the department

From the department homepage and the 2024 Annual Report (both read 2026-09-03):

• Founded December 18, 1882 as a volunteer brigade. 1909 transition to a fully paid department.
• Fifth largest fire department in Texas. Population over 680,000 across 260 square miles.
• Homepage body: over 100,000 calls for service each year. Homepage meta description still says approximately 76,000. The 2024 report: over 104,000 incidents in 2024. This page carries each line.
• Over 1,100 professionals in both uniformed and civilian positions (2024 report). That is not a sworn count.
• Fire Stations: 36 named facilities, including Aircraft Rescue at 6701 Convair. The 2024 report: "operates 36 fire stations."
• ISO Class 1 and CFAI accreditation on the homepage. The report also names CPSE accreditation.
• All-paid career department. It does not use volunteer firefighters. Nearby volunteer agencies listed on the employment page are separate: Montana Vista, West Valley, Socorro, Horizon.

Headquarters: 416 N. Stanton, 2nd Floor. Main phone (915) 212-5600.

FAQ

Is El Paso hiring Firefighter Trainees right now? No. The employment page points you to an interest form for the next application period. The job board on 2026-09-03 had 40 jobs and no Firefighter Trainee, Certified Firefighter Trainee, or Certified Paramedic-Fire Trainee posting.

I found a Firefighter Trainee posting that still loads. Job 5445394 closed 8/28/2026 7:00 AM Mountain. It is off the live index. Do not apply there.

How much does an El Paso firefighter trainee make? The class spec prints $38,908.69 to $56,806.68 a year. That is a Temporary trainee range, not a certified firefighter start. The city's posted fire pay table is still a draft file, so this site does not print a certified start.

Do I need TCFP or EMT to apply? Not on the uncertified Firefighter Trainee path. The spec requires DSHS EMT-Basic or higher and TCFP Basic Structural Firefighter by academy graduation. Certified Firefighter Trainee and Certified Paramedic-Fire Trainee are separate titles.

What is the age limit? Eighteen minimum on the spec. No maximum on the spec. The employment landing is silent on age.

Does El Paso use CPAT? Yes, by that name on the employment page. The city's prep guide says eight critical physical tasks. This page does not invent a 10:20 time.

How long is the academy? The city pages opened 2026-09-03 do not print a week count. Training is at the Fire Training Academy, then one-year probation as a Firefighter.

Start here

File the Fire & EMS interest form and read the class spec and the CPAT guide. Treat $38,908.69–$56,806.68 as the trainee class-spec range, not as El Paso's certified start. Ready to Serve is the candidate tracker for credentials, fitness, and application materials.

Related

• El Paso Fire Department hiring 2026
• Texas firefighter salary 2026 by department
• How to become a firefighter in Texas
• What is TCFP certification
• How to become an EMT in Texas
• El Paso Fire Department

Sources

• City of El Paso, Employment Opportunities. Three trainee titles. Interest form for the next application period. All-paid career department. CPAT heading and resource list. Phone (915) 212-5600. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
• City of El Paso, Firefighter Trainee class specification, class 73270, revised January 20, 2026. Age 18 minimum. $18.71–$27.31 / $38,908.69–$56,806.68. TCFP and DSHS EMT by academy graduation. HS/GED plus two years or twelve hours at 2.0. Class C now; Class B permit and AHA CPR by academy entry. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
• City of El Paso Careers, job board. 40 jobs on 2026-09-03. Firefighter Trainee keyword search returned Police Trainee only. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
• City of El Paso Careers, closed Firefighter Trainee 5445394 / 73270-0826. Temporary. Opening 08/13/2026. Closing 8/28/2026 7:00 AM Mountain. Off the live index. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
• City of El Paso, Recruitment Process. Video-based written exam; 70%; then physical agility test pass/fail; background; interview; NFPA 1582; Fire Training Academy; one-year probation. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
• City of El Paso, CPAT Candidate Preparation Guide. Eight critical physical tasks. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
• City of El Paso, Important Information – Firefighter Trainee academy. No second job in academy. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
• City of El Paso, Fire Pay Schedule. Posted file headed Draft Fire Payscale FY26. Not used as a certified start. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
• City of El Paso, Fire Department. Founded December 18, 1882; paid 1909. Fifth largest in Texas. Over 680,000 residents; 260 sq mi. Body: over 100,000 calls. Meta: approximately 76,000. ISO Class 1; CFAI. Professional Development 6800 Delta. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
• City of El Paso, 2024 Annual Report. Over 104,000 incidents in 2024. Over 1,100 uniformed and civilian. 36 fire stations. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
• City of El Paso, Fire Stations. 36 named facilities including Aircraft Rescue. Retrieved 2026-09-03.