Firefighter Recruit EMT Information

Recruits must meet the following minimum requirements:

• 18 years old (at the time of written examination)
• High school diploma, GED Certificate, or California Certificate of Proficiency
• Valid CA Driver’s License (or ability to obtain one)
• Physical Ability Test (CPAT) Certificate, within six (6) months of application filing deadline and additionally, within one (1) year prior to date of hire.  The CPAT must be renewed annually to remain valid.
• Valid EMT Certificate or valid certification as a National Registered Emergency Medical Technician Basic, within one (1) year of application filing deadline (preferably at time of application). 
• Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country (please be informed that the City of San José will not sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications or transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application)

Firefighter Recruit Paramedic Information

Recruits must meet the following minimum requirements:

• 18 years old (at the time of written examination)
• High school diploma, GED Certificate, or California Certificate of Proficiency
• Valid CA Driver’s License (or ability to obtain one)
• Physical Ability Test (CPAT) Certificate, within six (6) months of application filing deadline and additionally, within one (1) year prior to date of hire.  The CPAT must be renewed annually to remain valid.
• Valid State of California Emergency Medical Services Authority Paramedic License
• Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country (please be informed that the City of San José will not sponsor, represent, or sign any documents related to visa applications or transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application)

To be considered for hire*, candidates must possess the following:

•  Valid State of California Emergency Medical Technician Certification or Certified by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, Emergency Medical Technician–Basic
• OR valid State of California Emergency Medical Services Authority Paramedic License

AND

• Valid Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) within one (1) year prior to date of hire. The CPAT must be renewed annually to remain valid.

*Candidates will be invited to proceed in the hiring process once they meet the qualifications for hire.

Desirable Education & Skills

• Possession of current and valid State of California Emergency Medical Services Authority Paramedic License.
• Possession of a Bachelors (BS or BA) degree or Associates (AS or AA) degree from an accredited college or university.
• Possession of a Fire Science/Fire Technology Certificate from an accredited college.
• Completion of 30 semester units (or equivalent) from an accredited college with at least 15 semester units (or equivalent) in Fire Science/Fire Technology.
• Possession of California State Fire Marshal Firefighter I Certification or equivalent.
• Possession of California State Fire Marshal Firefighter II Certification or equivalent.
• Bilingual (Arabic, Armenian, Assyrian, Cambodian, Cantonese, Croatian, French, German, Greek, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, or Vietnamese).

Vision

Please read the following information to ensure that you meet the minimum vision standards. San José Fire Department vision standards are based on National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). If you need more detailed information, please call City of San José Employee Health Services at 408-794-1250.

• Far Vision:
  • Far visual acuity uncorrected must be at least 20/40 binocular (using both eyes).
  • Far visual acuity must be at least 20/40 binocular (using both eyes) corrected with contact lens or spectacles (glasses) and far visual acuity uncorrected must be at least 20/100 binocular (both eyes) of contacts or spectacles (glasses) users.

• Contact lens use: 
  • Successful use of contact lens for at least 6 months.
  • Successful long term soft contact lens wears (i.e. 6 months without a problem) are not subject to the uncorrected standard.

• Color Vision: 
  • Normal color vision.
  • Monochromatic vision resulting in the inability to use thermal imaging devices may preclude the candidate.

• Peripheral Vision:
  
  • Normal peripheral vision.

• Eye conditions which may preclude the candidate:
  • Any eye condition that results in the candidate not being able to safely perform one or more of the essential job tasks.
  • Monocular vision (vision in only one eye).

• Eye Surgery:
  • 2 weeks for radial keratotomy or Lasik-type surgeries.
  • 3 months for retina detachment.
  • All post-op records must be submitted for review with written certification required from ophthalmologist stating that visions stable and that there were no significant postoperative complications.

How to Apply

When the application process is open, visit www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers to apply online and begin the hiring process. 

All candidates must be current on the Firefighter Candidates Testing Center (FCTC) at FCTConline.org  

Note: The City of San José Fire Department assumes no responsibility for the notification of test dates. Final responsibility rests on the applicant.