What are the minimum requirements to be a firefighter?
Fire Recruits minimum requirements are:
- 18 years old
- United States citizenship or a legal right to work in the United States
- High school diploma or GED equivalency
- Emergency Medical Technician Certificate issued by the State of California or National Registry Certificate
- Basic Life Support CPR certificate
- California Class C driver license
- 20/20 corrected or uncorrected vision and acceptable level of color vision
Where can I obtain an application?
- City of San Diego Community Service Centers
5 convenient locations throughout the City of San Diego,
call for the location nearest you (619) 235-5202.
- Employment Information Center
Civic Center Plaza Building
1200 Third Avenue
San Diego
- By mail send a 9" by 12" self-addressed stamped envelope to:
City of San Diego Jobs
1200 Third Avenue Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92101
- Call Employment Information Center for more details (619) 236-6467
How often are applications accepted?
Approximately every 1 to 2 years the department will establish a 2 to 3 week period in which to accept
applications.
Can applicants obtain the status of their application?
If you are approved, you will be notified by mail and given a date to take the City’s Civil Service Exam.
If your application is not approved, you will receive a Notice of Application Review. The notice states
that you have five working days to contact the Testing Section of the Personnel Department. You may have
your application re-evaluated by providing additional information you did not include on your application.
To learn the status on an application you submitted, please call the Testing Section of the Personnel
Department at (619) 236-6358 between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
What types of questions are in the written entry exam?
There are 5 sections in the written entry exam:
- Mathematics
- Audio retention
- Reading comprehension
- Visual retention
- Mechanical reasoning
Will a four year degree give me an advantage?
A four year degree is not a requirement, but it may help during the interview phase of the hiring process.
How long is the San Diego Fire-Rescue Academy?
The Fire-Rescue Academy is 14 weeks long.
Are there any height or weight requirements?
The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department has no height or weight requirements.
How physically demanding is the San Diego Fire-Rescue Academy?
The San Diego Fire-Rescue Academy is very physically demanding and many of the drills are designed to
simulate tasks utilized during emergency operations
What happens when I graduate from the San Diego Fire-Rescue Academy?
Successful graduates of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Academy will be placed on probation for 1 year.
During that first year the Probationary Firefighter will be assigned to a training station. The training
stations are designed to continue academy training and help with the transition from academy drills to
emergency fire ground operations.
What is the salary range for Firefighters?
Firefighter base salary is $3106 - $5026 Monthly
Additional compensation for specialized skills or assignments
- Paramedic Certificate $3.63/hour
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Detail 10% of salary
- Hazardous Material Detail 10% of salary
- Heavy Rescue 10% of salary
- Bilingual Pay 3.5% of salary
- Annual Uniform Allowance $900
- Emergency Medical Technician 8.5% of salary
- Field Trainer 5% of salary
Will I be paid while attending the San Diego Fire-Rescue Academy?
Most recruits attending the San Diego Fire-Rescue Academy are City of San Diego employees and will be paid $2900. monthly.
During some academies, Miramar College is allowed to select a limited number of students to participate in the
San Diego Fire-Rescue Academy. Miramar College participants are students and do not receive any compensation
from the City of San Diego.
How are Miramar College students selected to participate in a San Diego Fire-Rescue Academy?
All students are selected through a random drawing. In order to qualify for the random drawing you must
meet the following requirements:
- Currently be enrolled in Miramar College’s Fire Technology Program
- Successfully completed at least 3 Fire Technology curriculum courses
- Hold a current EMT certificate
- Passed the San Diego Fire-Rescue written entry exam
I’ve passed the EMT exam given by the State of California or the National Registry. Now what do I do?
Assuming you are at least 18 years old, a high school graduate and have the legal right to work in the US,
you are eligible to apply for the position of Fire Recruit with the City of San Diego. You must wait for
an open application period. We currently have an open application period every one to two years, based
on staffing needs. The City’s Employment Information Center will be able to give you the most accurate
idea of when the next open application period will most likely be. You can contact the City’s Employment
Information Center at (619) 236-6467.
I’m certified as an EMT in another California county or another state. Will my EMT Certificate transfer
to the City of San Diego?
Contact the County of San Diego Office of Emergency Medical Services at (619) 285-6429. If you
have an EMT certificate from another California county, they will need a copy of your current EMT card and
CPR card. If you have an EMT certificate from another State, they will also conduct a background check and
Live Scan (fingerprints).
I’m certified as a Paramedic in another California county or another state. Will my Paramedic License
transfer to the City of San Diego?
Contact the State of California Office of Emergency Medical Services at (916) 322-4336.
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