Fire

Join to apply for the Fire Recruit role at The City of San Diego
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Pre‑certificates must be electronically submitted at the time of application. Complete applications with required certificates attached will be processed in the order of submission.

Fire Recruits attend the Fire Academy where they perform routine physical exercises, attend classroom lectures based on Jones and Bartlett, and perform manipulative training drills throughout the day. The San Diego Fire‑Rescue Department is an accredited local academy (ALA) with the State of California. Topics covered in the academy include fire suppression, fire prevention, hazardous materials, confined space, vehicle extrication, emergency medical procedures, and state/local laws.

Upon successful completion of the academy, recruits are educated, evaluated, and certified in the California State Fire Training Firefighter 1 standards, including FF1A (structural firefighting), FF1B (hazardous materials), and FF1C (wildland firefighting). After certification, recruits are promoted to Fire Fighter I and assigned to Fire Operations.

Notes: Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10 2021 will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).

• You must be 18 years of age.
• Graduation from high school or passage of the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE) or a GED.
• You must be a United States citizen or have the current legal right to work in the United States.
• A valid Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) certification is required at the time of hire.
• You must possess the following valid certificates:
  • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certificate or a Paramedic License issued exclusively by the State of California, the National Registry (NREMT‑Basic), or an EMT/Paramedic certifying agency approved by the State of California.
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Card (Healthcare Provider/BLS Provider equivalent or higher).
• A valid California Class C Driver’s License is required at the time of hire.

High‑desirable qualifications:

• Valid Paramedic License issued by the State of California, the National Registry, or a paracemic certifying agency approved by the State of California.
• One year of experience working with the City of San Diego’s EMS transport service provider.
• California Firefighter I or Firefighter II Certificate indicating successful completion of a Fire Academy that meets the State of California Fire Service Training and Education System’s standards.
• Full‑time, paid experience as a firefighter.
• Minimum one year of documented participation in the City of San Diego Fire‑Rescue’s Cadet Program.
• Minimum one year of experience with the City of San Diego Fire‑Rescue’s Lifeguard Division at Lifeguard II or higher, or two years at Lifeguard I.
• Documented reserve or volunteer firefighting experience.
• Active‑duty military service or veteran status.

For additional information about being a City of San Diego Firefighter, go to (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

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