San Marcos Firefighter Hiring 2026: Apply by Oct 9

Written exam: Monday, October 19, 2026, 8:30 a.m. Doors open 7:30 a.m. and close at 8:30. No admittance after 8:30. Site: San Marcos Activity Center, 501 E. Hopkins, San Marcos, TX 78666. Bring a valid photo ID. Candidates not in attendance for roll call will not sit.

Physical Agility Exercise: swim 1:00 p.m. October 19 after a passing written score. Remainder of the PAE: Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at Fire Station 5, 100 Carlson Circle, San Marcos, TX 78666. Eligibility list posts by 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 23, 2026. The list lasts one year from the test date or until it is exhausted, whichever occurs first.

Employment Opportunities links the online application. City Jobs 302s to governmentjobs.com/careers/sanmarcostx.

Official hub: sanmarcostx.gov/4075/Fire-Department. /167/Fire-Department 301s to Police Divisions. /4093/Fire-Marshals-Office 301s to the ISO rating page. Use /4075. Department listing: San Marcos Fire Department. Administrative Office 512-805-2660. After-Hours Non-Emergencies 512-753-2108. Emergencies 9-1-1. Fire Chief Les Stephens.

Texas order of operations: how to become a firefighter in Texas. EMT path: how to become an EMT in Texas. Nearby: Austin, San Antonio.

What You Need Before You Apply

This cycle's posting, job 09012026, lists:

• At least 18 and not over 40 on the date of the entrance examination (October 19, 2026).
• High school diploma or GED certified by the issuing agency.
• Class B Texas driver license within one year of employment. Valid driver license with an acceptable driving record now.
• EMT-Basic issued by DSHS on the date of the examination. Volunteer, military, or out-of-state firefighter certifications do not substitute for TCFP Structure Fire Protection Personnel Certification.
• Civil Service, Texas Local Government Code Chapter 143.

The city's firefighter FAQ previously said hiring had opened to non-certified candidates and that TCFP "may be an expectation" depending on the announcement. This posting requires DSHS EMT-Basic on exam day. Read the live posting, not the FAQ, for this cycle.

Lateral: Lateral Firefighter wants dual certification (TCFP firefighter and EMT-Basic or higher, National Registry or DSHS), at least one year full-time in a comparable fire/EMS agency, and no break in service of more than 180 days before a conditional offer. The live posting also describes lateral placement up to step 19.08. Laterals should still apply on 5467824; the city says see Employment Opportunities for the online application.

Does San Marcos Use CPAT?

This cycle names a department Physical Agility Exercise (PAE), not a CPAT card you bring. Swim on October 19 after the written; the rest at Station 5 on October 20. An older lateral posting (job 5259085, closed April 7, 2026) named Practice CPAT April 9, 2026 (swim only) and Mandatory CPAT April 13, 2026 (all events). That cycle is over. Train the SMFD PAE until a new notice posts a different one. Event specs for the standard eight-event CPAT: CPAT vs firefighter physical ability tests.

How Long Is the Academy?

San Marcos does not run a recruit fire academy. The FAQ: all recruits complete eight weeks of an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. probationary mini-academy, then a year-long probation from date of hire on A, B, or C shift. This posting says personnel hired without DSHS or National Registry Paramedic will be sent to paramedic school and must maintain that certification.

Stations, headcount, and retirement

Six numbered stations (directory): St1 114 E Hutchison Street; St2 205 Flint Ridge Road (La Cima); St3 2420 Hunter Road; St4 1404 Wonder World Drive; St5 100 Carlson Circle (Fire Administration); St6 5716 S Old Bastrop Highway. All San Marcos, TX 78666. Station 3 is being remodeled and is still listed. Fire Facts: 6 fire districts covering 39.9 square miles.

Headcount: Fire Facts and About both say 109 professional firefighters. History says 100+. Those two city figures disagree. Do not treat 109 and 100+ as the same number.

Shift: Fire Facts and the FAQ say 24 hours on / 48 hours off on A, B, and C shifts. About says 48 hours on / 96 hours off on the same three shifts. Both lines are live. Confirm with the department.

Pension: TMRS, not TLFFRA.

ISO: 02/2X. SFMO letter dated January 29, 2025, published June 1, 2025. Class 02 within 1,000 feet of a hydrant and 5 miles of a station; 2X farther than 1,000 feet from a hydrant but within 5 miles; Class 10 more than 5 miles from a station.

Career department. No volunteers. History: bucket brigade April 21, 1881; first career firefighters in the 1960s; volunteers and reserves through summer 2009.

Starting pay is on the live posting. This guide does not print a dollar.

What To Do This Week

Apply on job 5467824 before October 9, 2026, 11:59 PM Central. Attach required documents the same day if you want extra points (DD-214; transcripts). Hold DSHS EMT-Basic by October 19. Age 18 and not 40 on exam day. Train a department PAE, not a CPAT card you bring. Confirm the live posting before you apply. Ready to Serve is the candidate tracker for certifications, PAT fitness, and application materials.

Related

• How to become a firefighter in Texas
• What is TCFP certification
• How to become an EMT in Texas
• CPAT vs firefighter physical ability tests
• San Marcos Fire Department

Sources

• City of San Marcos (NEOGOV), *Firefighter, job 5467824 / 09012026. Opened 2026-09-01. Closes 2026-10-09 11:59 PM Central. Written 2026-10-19 8:30 a.m., San Marcos Activity Center, 501 E. Hopkins. Swim PAE 1:00 p.m. that day. PAE remainder 2026-10-20 Station 5. Eligibility list by 2026-10-23 5:00 p.m. Age 18 and not over 40 on exam date. DSHS EMT-Basic on exam date. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
• City of San Marcos (NEOGOV), careers search fire. 1 job found 2026-09-03: *Firefighter 5467824. Closes 10/09/26.
• City of San Marcos Fire, Employment Opportunities. Links the online application. Firefighter tests conducted annually. Age 18 and not over 40 on exam date. The August 29 "not accepting applications" sentence is gone. Retrieved 2026-08-29; re-read 2026-09-03.
• City of San Marcos Fire, Lateral Firefighter. Retrieved 2026-08-29; re-read 2026-09-03.
• City of San Marcos Fire, Civil Service Recruitment. Tests annually. Chapter 143. Retrieved 2026-08-29; re-read 2026-09-03.
• City of San Marcos, firefighter FAQ QID 170. Applications only online during a posted period. Mini-academy eight weeks then year probation. Career only. 24/48 on the FAQ. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
• City of San Marcos Fire, Fire hub. Canonical hub. /167 301s to Police Divisions. /4093 301s to ISO. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
• City of San Marcos Fire, Fire Stations directory. Six numbered houses. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
• City of San Marcos Fire, Fire Facts. 109 professional firefighters. 24/48. 6 districts. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
• City of San Marcos Fire, About/Contact. 109 professional firefighters. 48/96. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
• City of San Marcos Fire, Department History. April 21, 1881. 100+ full time. Career-only after summer 2009. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
• City of San Marcos, ISO rating and SFMO letter DocumentCenter 44651, January 29, 2025, published June 1, 2025. 02/2X. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
• TMRS, San Marcos city plan. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
• City of San Marcos (NEOGOV), Lateral Entry Firefighter 5259085. Opened 2026-03-09. Closed 2026-04-07 11:59 PM Central. Prior cycle, not this apply door. Retrieved 2026-08-29.