Are you looking for a career that is physically challenging, as well as professionally rewarding? Are you looking for a position that offers great benefits and a flexible work schedule? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then a career in the fire service may be for you!

The Stockton Fire Department is an advanced, diverse, and progressive fire department situated in the San Joaquin Valley.  The department offers exceptional career opportunities for men and women seeking professional and personal satisfaction.

Our goal is to maintain Stockton's heritage of excellence by recruiting candidates that reflect the rich make-up of our diverse population.  We appreciate your interest and have provided information which will guide you through the steps required to become a member of our elite firefighting team.

What is the job of a firefighter really like?

Firefighting involves vigorous and skilled physical work and continuous training, as well as handling emergency and life-or-death situations. In addition to fighting fires and rescuing citizens from burning buildings, firefighters also:

• Work with citizens to promote fire prevention.
• Provide emergency medical care - both first responder and paramedic.
• Extinguish fires and perform post-fire salvage and cleanup.
• Perform water rescue.
• Protect the environment from hazardous material incidents.
• Perform heavy rescue operations from cars and collapsed buildings.
• Conduct and participate in a variety of training programs to learn the latest firefighting technology and methods.

Career Opportunities

You are invited to explore a challenging career opportunity in one of the most progressive fire departments in California. The following opportunities can be accomplished as a firefighter with the Stockton Fire Department.

Paramedic Program: As a Firefighter, become part of an ever-growing, advanced Emergency Medical System provided to our community.

Hazardous Materials Team: As a Firefighter, become a Haz-Mat Technician or Specialist providing Hazardous Materials mitigation and awareness for our community.

Water Rescue Team: As a Firefighter, become Swift Water Rescue or Dive Rescue Certified and provide water safety on the waterways surrounding our community.

Technical Rescue: As a Firefighter, become trained in the disciplines of Confined Space, Trench, and High and Low Angle Rescue. The Technical Rescue Team provides a great level of preparedness should a major disaster strike.

Fire Prevention Division: As a Firefighter, become trained in fire-safety inspections, fire code compliance, and public education for personal fire safety. Enter the Fire Prevention Division as a Deputy Fire Marshal.

Fire Training Division: As a Firefighter, advance your education and promotional goals through technical schools, State Fire Academy, and "hands on" on-the-job training. Advance to the position of Deputy Training Director.

What are the minimum qualifications to become a firefighter?

• Be 18 years of age or older.

• Be a high school graduate or possess a G.E.D.

• Successfully pass a physical health examination.

• Vision requirements are 20/30 for visual acuity, either corrected or uncorrected. (Note: if corrected, no worse than 20/100 uncorrected in each eye separately.) For laser surgery, one (1) year minimum elapsed time between surgery and qualifying examination. Complete color blindness will be a cause for rejection.

• Hearing in both ears must be within normal range - 5/5.

• Strength and stamina sufficient to lift and carry equipment and patients weighing up to 165 pounds and be able to wear self-contained breathing apparatus.

• Pass the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT).

• Possess a valid California Class "C" Drivers License. Must obtain a Class "B" Restricted Driver's Licence within one year of appointment.

• Possess or be able to acquire within one year of employment, current certification as an Emergency Medical Technician- Basic.

• Be legally authorized to work in the United States.

• Pass a comprehensive background investigation and psychological assessment, to include a polygraph test.

What type of tests do you take?

Written Test: Measures reading comprehension, mechanical and spatial aptitude, mathematics, and the ability to comprehend and learn firefighting material from written instructions.

Oral Panel Interview: Measures interpersonal relations, oral communication skills, judgment and analytical ability, and your motivation to be a firefighter.

Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT): Stockton Fire Department’s physical ability test, or Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT), is a timed pass/fail test consisting of eight physical tasks representative of actions typically performed by firefighters. These include:

Applicants must be in excellent physical condition to be competitive.

Some applicants may find the CPAT very difficult. We recommend you fully prepare with physical conditioning. All applicants take the same physical test.

Applicants must successfully complete the CPAT to continue in the testing process.

For more information, please call the City of Stockton Human Resources Department at (209) 937-7584.

Eligibility List

Those applicants who successfully pass the examinations will have their name placed on an eligibility list and may be called for a final job interview.

The City of Stockton Fire Department has its own 16-week Fire Academy. During this time, you will participate in classroom instruction and learn the mechanics of fire suppression.

Suggested Courses and Activities

• Community College courses in fire science, English grammar and reading comprehension, basic math, public speaking, building trades, and auto mechanics.
• First Aid courses such as EMT-B Certification, CPR, and Advanced First Aid.
• Community Involvement - volunteer service organizations.

If you are interested in becoming a firefighter, visit the City of Stockton Jobs web site or call (209) 937-8523 to find out if the City of Stockton is currently accepting applications for Fire Department related positions.