How to get hired at Albuquerque Fire Department

Written by a career firefighter · Updated 2026-11-04

Hiring statusNot currently hiring

2026 open enrollment (107th Cadet Class) ran June 12 to Sept 4, 2026; that class is now in screening, with the academy starting March 2027. Register at abqfire.com for notice of the next enrollment. src

LocationAlbuquerque, NM

Career firefighters673

Stations23

Albuquerque Fire Rescue hires firefighter cadets once a year through an open enrollment period on governmentjobs.com. Applicants submit a valid CPAT certificate, take a 100-question written exam and a structured oral interview, and then go through Fire Chief's selection and pre-hire screening. An EMT license is not required: cadets without one take an 8-week EMT-Basic course before the 18-week academy.

Apply / get notified Official recruitment page

Minimum requirements

At least 18 by the end of open enrollment src
High school graduate or equivalent src
Legally eligible to work in the US src
Valid driver's license and a driving record that meets City Operator Permit standards src
Males under 25 registered with Selective Service src
Valid CPAT certificate submitted before testing (dated within 6 months of the document deadline) src
EMT license not required; licensed EMTs may get hiring preference src
Pass physical exam, drug screen, background check and psychological evaluation src

Certifications

EMT: not required
Firefighter I/II: not required (academy provided)

Source: official page

Tests

CPAT (physical): Certificate submitted with documents; scheduled through nmcpat.com src
AFR written entrance exam (written): 100 multiple-choice questions; practice exam available src
Structured oral interview (oral) src
Written psychological exam and assessment (other) src

Hiring process

Apply during open enrollment and submit documents, including CPAT
Written exam
Structured oral interview
Fire Chief's selection
Psych evaluation, physical, drug screen and background
Cadet orientation
8-week EMT-Basic or academy prep
18-week cadet academy

Source: official page

Starting pay

Cadet FF 3/C $20.78/hr; first-year total about $39,211 (no EMT) to $46,535 (paramedic); FF 1/C $21.38/hr (FY2025-2027 table) src

Academy

18-week cadet academy, preceded by 8 weeks of EMT-Basic or academy prep src

Checked 2026-11-05 against the department's official pages (linked). Hiring windows open and close quickly; always confirm on the official site before you apply. See every academy, EMT program and test site in New Mexico.