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Selection & Hiring Process

General Requirements for all Applicants

  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Be a high school graduate or have obtained a GED.
  • Possess a valid Texas driver's license without any restrictions that would prevent driving commercial vehicles.
  • Have no night vision restrictions which cannot be corrected with standard eye glasses or contact lenses; not have an eye condition that restricts peripheral vision.
  • Have minimum vision of 20/100 in both eyes, correctable to 20/40.
  • Be free from any physical condition which would interfere with the essential functions of a Firefighter/EMT and be able to pass a medical/physical examination.

 

 

Non-Certified Applicants (no fire or EMS certificates)

  • Education and Experience: 12 accredited college credit hours in any field of study with a minimum of 2.0 GPA, or military service with an honorable discharge as stipulated on a DD-214.
  • The College Station Fire Department will send you to an EMT-Basic academy and you must successfully obtain a Texas DSHS EMT-Basic certification.
  • The College Station Fire Department will then send you to a fire academy and you must successfully obtain a Texas Commission on Fire Protection Basic
  • Structure Fire Protection certificate.
  • Maintain certifications while employed.

 

 

EMT-Basic Only Applicants

  • Education and Experience: 12 accredited college credit hours in any field of study with a minimum of 2.0 GPA or military service with an honorable discharge as stipulated on a DD214.
  • The College Station Fire Department will send you to a fire academy and you must successfully obtain a Texas Commission on Fire Protection Basic Structure
  • Fire Protection Certificate.
  • Maintain certifications while employed.

 

 

Paramedic Only Applicants

  • The College Station Fire Department will send you to a fire academy and you must successfully obtain a Texas Commission on Fire Protection Basic Structure
  • Fire Protection Certificate.
  • Maintain certifications while employed.

 

 

Firefighter/EMT or Firefighter/Paramedic Applicants

  • Possess a current and valid Texas Commission of Fire Protection Basic (or higher) Structure Fire Protection certificate.
  • Possess a current and valid Texas DSHS EMT-Basic or Paramedic certification.

Disqualifiers

  • The following are employment disqualifiers:
  • Any felony offense.
  • Any Class A Misdemeanor within the last 10 years.
  • Any Class B misdemeanor or above within the last five years, other than D.W.I., unless D.W.I. was within the last three years.
  • Any Class C misdemeanor other than minor traffic violations within the last six months.
  • Have no D.W.I. convictions in the last three years as of the date of application and no more than one D.W.I. conviction on record.
  • Have no more than two moving violations within the previous 12 months.
    Out-of-state offenses will be held to the Texas equivalent.

 

 

Drug Use Criteria:

  • Applicants who have used any felony grade-controlled substance (as defined by
  • Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 481) within the last five years are not acceptable unless the drug was prescribed by a licensed physician.
  • Usage of non-felony grade substances will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
  • Misuse of any prescription medication will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
  • Involvement in the illegal delivery or furnishing of any controlled substance or drug to another with the expectation that a personal benefit would be received as a result of the actions.
  • The College Station Fire Department reserves the right to disqualify an applicant for any drug use regardless of the specific disqualifiers listed herein.

Compensation
The Fire Department offers a new Lateral Hire Program and the following incentive, certification, and education pays. For more information on the City of College Station's Firefighter compensation, view our Firefighter Pay Scale.

  • $5,000 hiring bonus for Certified Firefighter/Paramedic
  • Daily Paramedic Ambulance Pay - $150 per 24-hour shift
  • EMT-Paramedic certification - $6,000 annually
  • Dual Language - up to $720 annually
  • Hazardous Materials Technician - $600 annually
  • Longevity - $4 per month per year of service, starting after one year
  • Earn up to 51 hours of overtime annually from FLSA compensation
  • Multiple overtime opportunities - sporting events, concerts, peak ambulance, and Northgate Entertainment District staffing
  • ARFF* - $600 annually
  • Arson Investigator* - $600 annually

* Limited positions available


Certification/Education Pay
TCFP Advanced Certifications

Intermediate - $900 annually
Advanced - $1,200 annually
Master - $1,800 annually

and

Associate Degree - $300 annually
Bachelor's Degree - $600 annually
Master's Degree - $900 annually

Benefits

The City of College Station offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

  • Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage
  • Paid Holidays, Paid Vacation, Paid Sick Leave
  • TMRS-Retirement (2:1 matching), Deferred Compensation
  • Term Life AD&D, Dependent Life, Flex Benefits
  • Employee Health Clinic

For a comprehensive overview of all of the City's Benefit offerings, including health insurance and other voluntary insurance, view our Benefits Summary.

How do I become a firefighter?

For more information on becoming a Firefighter, please visit our Selection & Hiring Process section of the website.

What is the shift schedule?

The shift schedule consists of a 48 hours on-duty, 96 hours off-duty. Shift change occurs at 7:00am.

What can I do to prepare for the application process?

Check your criminal history and driving record to ensure it is correct and up to date.

Contact the appropriate agency now to resolve any inaccuracies.
Review the qualifications and job description on our website.

Check your credit score. If there are any issues, start working now to resolve them.

Review information about the Physical Ability Test and begin a workout schedule.

Monitor cstx.gov/fire frequently for updates.

Are there any volunteer firefighter opportunities with CSFD?

The College Station Fire Department does not offer volunteer Firefighter opportunities, but several local departments do.

Are there any state or local residency requirements to apply?

There are no residency requirements. However, applicants who are not United States-citizens must hold current immigration status and be authorized to work in the United States.

What is an “official” college transcript?

An official transcript carries the signature of the school registrar and the seal of the educational institution; it is typically kept inside a sealed envelope.

An unofficial transcript is a copy of the official transcript and has no value outside the institution. It does not carry the signature or seal of the issuing authority.

Does CSFD hire for positions other than firefighter?

Yes! When these positions become available, they will be posted on the City of College Station’s job site.

What are the age requirements for the firefighter position?

Please refer to the Requirements & Disqualifiers section of the website for the most up-to-date information.

How can I find out what medical conditions are disqualifiers?

A pre-employment physical examination is conducted at the end of the selection & hiring process for those who receive a conditional offer of employment. Applicants must meet the requirements set forth in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1582, Latest Edition, and Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments.

Do I have to be a United States Citizen to work for CSFD?

In order to work with the City of College Station, you must be authorized to work in the United States. If you have questions about your immigration status or work permit, please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

How can I be notified about the next hiring process?

All City of College Station career opportunities are located at csjobs.cstx.gov. 

Who do I contact with questions about the selection & hiring process?

Questions? Contact a CSFD Recruiter by phone (979.764.2600) or email (csfdrecruiting@cstx.gov).

Electronic applications are only submitted, and accepted, through csjobs.cstx.gov. Paper applications are not accepted. Applicants should ensure they follow directions carefully, fill out all applicable data fields, and attach all required documents. If a field does not apply, please put N/A in the field so there is no question that it may have been overlooked. Failure to attach appropriate documentation or discrepancies noted on the application, could result in rejection of the application.

The Personal History Statement (PHS) is a detailed document that provides an in-depth history of the applicant. Please disclose all relevant information. Applicants can be disqualified for discrepancies or if issues are noted, such as: not disclosing all information, falsifying records, and/or references that do not support the applicant moving forward.

The Physical Ability Test (PAT) will be conducted after the PHS has been reviewed. The PAT will be demonstrated to all applicants on the day of the test.

Physical Ability Test Instructional Guide (PDF)

The Job Match Assessment is designed to help us understand how well your skills, experience, and work style align with the requirements and culture of CSFD. It’s not a test, but more of a way to ensure a mutual fit. The assessment can also give you insights into the role and what’s expected. It can help you see how you align with what we’re looking for and if the job suits your strengths.

The applicant will be interviewed by a panel of selected employees representing different ranks in the department.

The applicant will have an opportunity to interact with the Fire Chief, provide insight on why the applicant would make a good fit within the department, and give the applicant the opportunity to learn more about the department.

Polygraph tests may be used to assist in validating applicant information on the application and personal history statement. The applicant will be provided the contact information for a department-approved facility where the polygraph will be conducted. The applicant will be responsible for scheduling and completing the polygraph within a pre-determined time frame. The department will be responsible for payment of the polygraph. Upon completion, and successful review of the polygraph, the applicant may be placed in a final eligibility pool for hire.

The eligibility pool will be established after the successful completion and gathering of all information from all previous steps. The candidate will remain in the eligibility pool until the next hiring process. The Fire Chief reserves the right to hire any applicant from the eligibility pool.

The applicant will be responsible for scheduling and completing fingerprints through an approved vendor within a pre-determined time frame.

Human Resources will be notified that the applicant has successfully completed all steps in the hiring process and is recommended to be hired. They will reach out to the selected candidates with the official offer of employment and instructions on the required next steps in the pre-employment process.

Applicants are directed to the approved physician to perform the required pre-employment Drug Screen and physical examinations based on NFPA 1582 and Safety/Security policies. If the applicant successfully passes the physical examination, the applicant is eligible to be hired.

Welcome to College Station Fire Department! The successful applicant will be provided all the information regarding start date and duration of the new-hire academy to ensure that the new employee is clear on what is expected for their first day.

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