Become a Firefighter
The Tallahassee Fire Department is looking for hard-working, caring, professional individuals who desire to work in the rewarding and challenging profession of Fire/EMS.
Applications must be submitted with required valid certifications. See section titled To Apply below for more details
Job Duties Include:
Responds to fire alarms with a fire company. Rescues individuals and provides appropriate emergency medical assistance. Performs property conservation operations such as placing salvage covers, sweeping water and removing debris. Administers first response first aid to injured or afflicted persons or advanced life support if working as a FF/Paramedic. Tallahassee firefighters work a 53-hour workweek, 24 hours on, 48 hours off, with shifts starting at 7:00pm.
Entrance Requirements:
Compliance with Florida Statute 633
Residency: None required
Age: At least 18 years old at the time of application.
Education: Applicant must be a high school graduate or have a GED equivalency at the time of application.
License/Certifications: Possess a valid Florida Driver's License* and State of Florida Certificate of Compliance for Firefighter Minimum Standards at time of application. Possess a Florida EMT certification prior to any conditional offer made.
*For those with a driver's license from a state other than Florida, must possess a valid Florida class "E" State driver's license or equivalent, as determined by the City, at the time of secondary application.
If you do not currently possess the required certifications, please refer to the following links for training center locations.
Financial Resources may be available for these programs. Please contact the program’s school financial resources office for more information. Additional financial resources may be found on the following websites:
http://www.finaid.org/students/
https://www.careersourcecapitalregion.com/job-seekers/programs/wia/training-assistance
If you possess an out-of-state firefighter certificate of compliance, contact the Florida State Fire College at the above website or call 352-369-2800. If you possess an out-of-state EMT or Paramedic certification, contact the State EMS office at the Florida Department of Health website above or call 850-488-0595.
Tobacco Use: Must be a non-user of tobacco products for at least one year immediately preceding the date of application, as evidenced by a sworn affidavit completed at time of hire.
To Apply
To participate in our annual entry-level firefighter test, submit an online application on the city's website.
Your application will not be processed unless the following documents are submitted at the time of application by upload within the online application process.
- Florida Driver's License
(Please submit a copy of your current driver's license, even if it is in a state other than Florida)
- Florida EMT
If you currently possess a valid EMT certification, please submit a copy of the Florida card along with the other required documents at time of application. Please note if you are not currently certified as a Florida EMT, you may still apply but will not be considered when job offers are made from the eligibility list unless the department has a copy of your valid Florida EMT.
(Please note: EMT certifications expire 12/01 of every even year. If you are a current applicant, please ensure that you send the department a copy of the renewed certification as soon as possible upon receipt in order to be considered for any upcoming job offers.)
- Florida Firefighters Certification of Compliance
(Please note: If it has been 4 years or more since initially receiving your Florida certification and you have not been employed as a paid firefighter any time during the last 4 years, you must also submit verification from the state that your fire certification is in compliance. This verification must include your name, certificate number, and the date the compliance is good through.)
If you are claiming Veteran's Preference on your application, please also upload your DD-214 or appropriate supporting documentation within the online application process. If you progress to the interview stage, any additional documentation you wish to provide the department may be submitted at time of interview.
We accept applications on a continuous basis. Applications must be submitted with required certifications on file with the department by March 1 for our Spring testing and September 1 for our Fall testing. Our process consists of an online entry-level firefighter test, physical ability test (PAT), and a panel interview. After being interviewed, applicants are placed on the eligibility list and can remain on the list for 1 year from the date of their PAT. More detailed information about these steps is provided below. Please note that eligible applicants must also clear the preliminary driver's license check to take the online entry-level firefighter test. If you have any questions, please call 850-891-6641.
Note: The Department sends emails to applicants to acknowledge receipt of the application, to notify of ineligibility, and to provide other requested information. If you apply, please ensure you are checking your emails periodically, including your spam folder, so as not to miss any important emails sent by the Department. If you change any of your contact information after submitting an application, please send an email.
Please review the Tallahassee Fire Department Grooming Policy prior to accepting any offer.
The City of Tallahassee is an equal opportunity employer and invites applications without regard to race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation during the selection process.
TFD Firefighter Testing
FACT Online Test - The online test is provided by Fire & Police Selection, Inc. (FPSI) and contains 110 questions from the Fire Aptitude & Character Test, FACT, where the questions focus on a number of skills and traits deemed relevant to superior job performance. This will include Reading Ability (15), Mathematical Reasoning (15), Map Reading (10), Writing ability (10), Personal Characteristics (60) i.e. interpersonal skills such as teamwork, commitment, honest, and emotional stability.
The “Firefighter Aptitude and Character Test (FACT) Candidate Orientation Guide” practice is available for order online.
The FACT Candidate Orientation is a helpful tool to prepare for the exam and can be downloaded as a PDF file and saved or printed. Please read through the disclaimer on the order page in order to have a successful download. Payments will be submitted through PayPal via an account or credit/debit card. Once payment is submitted, PayPal automatically redirects you back to the FPSI site where access to the download link will be located on the Order Details-Checkout Status page. Applicants must pay close attention to ALL instructions on both FPSI and PayPal’s websites in order to access the instant download successfully.
Physical Ability Test (PAT) - After the written tests have been scored, those applicants that have a raw score of 70 or above will move forward to the department's physical ability test (PAT) and will be notified by email regarding scheduling for the PAT. The department will send the email to the email address listed on the application, so an applicant should check that account regularly as to not miss any deadlines for scheduling. The department's PAT consists of 10 events that represent activities that a Tallahassee firefighter would be expected to perform. To familiarize yourself with our PAT, please click on the links below.
Applicants will be required to submit a completed Waiver of Liability and Hold Harmless Agreement and a Physician Statement in order to participate in the PAT. These forms may be obtained by clicking the links below.
If an applicant does not pass the online entry-level firefighter test or PAT, they must reapply with required documents to be included in the next testing process.
TFD Firefighter Interviews
All applicants who pass the PAT will be invited to interview with the department. Those that interview will be placed on the eligibility list for upcoming conditional offers.
If You Receive a Conditional Offer of Employment...
Background Investigation: A thorough background investigation is conducted. This includes driver's license history, credit check, employment reference checks, and a nationwide criminal check.
Testing/Evaluations: A polygraph will be conducted, along with written and oral psychological evaluations. Finally, a job-related medical exam and drug testing will be given.
Final Offer of Employment
A final offer will be extended by the Fire Chief after determining all conditional offer steps have been successfully passed.
If you are not hired within one year of passing the PAT, you must reapply with required documents to be included in the next testing process.