Waco Firefighter Hiring 2026: TCFP + EMT

The civil service window is closed. Keyword fire on governmentjobs.com/careers/wacotx returned 0 jobs found on 2026-08-21 and again on 2026-08-22. A preliminary application has to be on file before the next posted exam. No exceptions. Point apply at wacotx, not governmentjobs.com/careers/waco. That slug 302s to the generic NEOGOV home.

Department listing: Waco Fire Department. Official hub: Fire Department. Admin: 1006 N. 25th St., 76707, (254) 750-1740. Same-city police hiring: How to Become a Police Officer in Waco. Texas order of operations: how to become a firefighter in Texas. TCFP explained: what is TCFP certification. EMT path: how to become an EMT in Texas.

What You Need Before You Apply

From Fire Employment:

• U.S. citizen.
• 18-35 years of age (cannot have reached 36th birthday at time of written exam).
• High school diploma or GED with 12 semester hours from an accredited college or university. HS/GED alone is not enough.
• TCFP Basic and Texas EMT at apply. This is not a paid cadet door.
• Valid Texas driver license at apply. Obtain a Texas Class B while in training.
• Good driving record. No felony convictions. Background and reference check.
• Vision at least 20/100 in each eye, correctable to 20/20 binocular, plus normal hearing.
• Pass the written exam and the department physical ability test.

Veterans get 5 points on a passing exam with a DD-214 showing honorable discharge. Local civil service rules also require at least one year of service.

The written exam is 100 multiple-choice items in two hours. The eligibility list lasts one year. Then PAT, background plus polygraph, a six-member oral board, Chief interview, and a city medical. Chapter 143 civil service.

McLennan Community College Fire Technology is a pre-hire school. It is not the department's academy.

Does Waco Use CPAT?

No. After the written exam you sit a department Physical Ability Test, pass/fail, 4 minutes 12 seconds (252 seconds). The department supplies a 50 lb vest. Events in the PAT study guide:

• Uncharged 5" hose drag 50'
• Hotel-pack stair climb to the 5th floor (about 35 lb)
• 19 lb hoist
• 48 lb exhaust fan carry 80'
• 154 lb dummy drag 75'
• Charged 1¾" line 100'

Not a CPAT card. Specs for the standard eight-event CPAT: CPAT vs firefighter physical ability tests.

How Long Is the Academy?

Waco hires people who already hold TCFP and EMT. Post-hire "initial training of new firefighters" exists in the budget book. That is not an uncertified cadet academy. The city has not published a recruit-academy week count for this certified door.

Stations, headcount, and retirement

The Fire Stations page numbers houses 1-12, 14, and 15. That is 14. There is no Station 13. Do not count Admin as a 15th station. Admin and Station 6 share 1006 N. 25th St. Station 15 opened 2024. Station 4 (1002 Speight) is being relocated. Station 8 (4720 Cobbs Dr) is still in service while a replacement house is in pre-construction.

Headcount: TCFP appointed strength is 219 (FDID 2190, rank 26) on departments by size. The hub says "238 men and women of the Waco Fire Department and the Waco/McLennan County Office of Emergency Management." That 238 includes OEM. Those two counts differ.

Calls: the hub says "well over 23,000" a year. The ClearGov Fire Services book says "nearly 22,000" from 14 stations. Both lines are live. They disagree.

ISO is Class 1, February 2020. Chief is R.M. "Robby" Bergerson. Bargaining agent is Waco Professional Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 478. The current CBA runs October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2026.

Pension for City of Waco employees is TMRS, not a local fire relief fund. Employee 7 percent, city match 2 to 1, vest 5 years, retire at 5 years / age 60 or 20 years any age (Public Pension).

Starting pay is not on Fire Employment, HR Careers, the union site, or the public budget pages. This guide does not print a dollar.

What To Do While the Window Is Closed

Keep a preliminary application on file at governmentjobs.com/careers/wacotx. Hold TCFP Basic and a Texas EMT card. Train the department PAT to 4:12 in a 50 lb vest, not a CPAT card. Watch Fire Employment and the wacotx portal for the next exam date. Call Admin at 254-750-1740 with process questions.

Confirm the live employment page and the wacotx header 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
• CPAT vs firefighter physical ability tests
• How to become an EMT in Texas
• How to Become a Police Officer in Waco

Sources

• City of Waco, Fire Employment. TCFP Basic plus Texas EMT at apply. Age 18-35, not yet 36 on exam day. HS/GED plus 12 college hours. Texas DL at apply, Class B in training. Veteran 5 points, honorable discharge, at least one year. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
• City of Waco, Waco Fire Physical Ability Study Guide. Department PAT, 4:12, 50 lb vest, six timed events. Not CPAT. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
• City of Waco, governmentjobs.com/careers/wacotx?keywords=fire. 0 jobs found 2026-08-21; reconfirmed 0 jobs found 2026-08-22.
• City of Waco, Fire Department hub. 238 including OEM. Well over 23,000 calls. ISO Class 1 February 2020. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
• City of Waco, Fire Stations. Houses 1-12, 14, 15. No 13. Admin 1006 N. 25th. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
• City of Waco, Fire Administration. Chief R.M. "Robby" Bergerson. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
• City of Waco, Public Pension. TMRS 7 percent, match 2 to 1, vest 5 years, 5/60 or 20 any age. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
• City of Waco, ClearGov Fire Services. Nearly 22,000 calls. 14 stations. Post-hire initial training. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
• Texas Commission on Fire Protection, Departments by size. Waco Fire Department, FDID 2190, 219 appointed. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
• City of Waco, Fire Lieutenant source list, 2024-04-08. IAFF Local 478 CBA October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2026. Retrieved 2026-08-21.