How to get hired at Tampa Fire Rescue

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

Tampa Fire Rescue hires firefighters as vacancies occur, following City Civil Service and Employment Services rules. Applicants must already hold a Florida Firefighter Certificate of Compliance and an EMT or paramedic certification. There are no lateral transfers, so every new hire starts as a recruit.

Apply / get notifiedOfficial recruitment page

Minimum requirements

• Minimum age 18 src
• High school diploma or GED src
• Valid Florida driver's license and current driving record src
• State of Florida Firefighter Certificate of Compliance (Firefighter I and II) src
• Florida or National Registry EMT-Basic or Paramedic certification src
• Current CPR and/or ACLS card src
• CPAT or FireTEAM certification src
• No tobacco use for at least one year before applying, and none during employment (sworn affidavit) src
• Must earn Florida paramedic certification within three years of hire; must enroll in a paramedic program within 24 months src
• No lateral entry; out-of-state firefighters must complete the Florida Firefighter Equivalency Process before applying src

Certifications

• EMT: required at application
• Firefighter I/II: required

Source: official page

Tests

• CPAT or FireTEAM certification (physical): Certificate submitted with documents; not given by the city src
• Oral interview board (oral) src
• Polygraph (other) src

Hiring process

1. Apply online and submit documents
2. Application review
3. Oral interview board
4. Background investigation
5. Polygraph
6. Conditional offer
7. Psychological evaluation, medical exam and drug screen

Source: official page

Starting pay

Firefighter range $62,275.20 to $121,680.00 per year, not counting incentive or holiday pay 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 Florida.