FDNY Firefighter

Overview

New York City hires entry-level firefighters for the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) through an open-competitive civil service exam run by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). The most recent exam is Exam No. 4044, which opened for applications in September 2024 with computer-based testing from January 2025. FDNY says these exams are usually offered about once every four years.

The exam has two parts: a competitive computer-based test (CBT), whose score sets your place on the eligible list, and a pass/fail physical ability test. The 4044 exam process is supervised by the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, and use of the exam in hiring is subject to that court's approval.

Who can apply

Age. For Exam No. 4044 you had to be at least 17 by the end of the application period and must not have reached your 29th birthday by the start of it. You must be at least 21 to be appointed. Time spent on military duty can be deducted from your age, up to seven years.

Education and experience. By the date of appointment you need a four-year high school diploma or equivalent, plus one of the following:

• 15 college semester credits from an accredited college or university

• full-time US military service with an honorable discharge, or a discharge under honorable conditions

• 6 months of full-time, satisfactory paid work experience

Education from outside the US must be evaluated for equivalence at your own cost.

Other requirements at appointment:

• US citizenship

• A valid New York State driver license

• Residence in New York City or in Nassau, Westchester, Suffolk, Orange, Rockland or Putnam County

• Ability to understand and be understood in English

• Passing medical, psychological and drug screening, and a background check

• Certified First Responder with Defibrillation (CFR-D) certification by the end of probation; FDNY offers the course during training and recovers its cost through payroll deductions

A dishonorable discharge from the armed forces bars appointment, and some felony and misdemeanor convictions can also make you ineligible.

Exam pattern

Computer-based test. No knowledge of firefighting or of the Fire Department is needed. DCAS publishes a computer-based tutorial on its website so you can see the question types beforehand. Calculators are not allowed at the test site.

CPAT. Candidates who pass the CBT are called for the CPAT as Fire Academy vacancies come up. The eight events are a stair climb, hose drag, equipment carry, ladder raise and extension, forcible entry, search, rescue, and ceiling breach and pull. You must pass both the CBT and the CPAT to stay in the process.

Marking and results

Results are sent by email. If you pass both parts and meet all requirements, you are considered for appointment when your name is reached on the eligible list.

Points can be added to a passing score:

• New York City Residency Credit: 10 points, if you prove city residency with one of the documents DCAS accepts (for example, a qualifying NYC high school transcript, NYS tax returns, or military records listing an NYC home of record). An NYC address on the application alone does not count.

• Veterans' credit: 5 points for eligible veterans, or 10 points for disabled veterans, claimed before the list is established. This credit can only be used once in New York State.

• Legacy credit: for the child or sibling of a New York City firefighter, police officer, EMT or paramedic killed in the line of duty, including deaths linked to the 11 September 2001 World Trade Center attack.

Important dates

For Exam No. 4044, applications ran from 16 September to 30 September 2024, and computer-based testing was expected to begin on 31 January 2025. Watch the DCAS exam schedule for the next firefighter exam.

Fees

For Exam No. 4044:

• Application fee: $30 (paying by card adds a 2% non-refundable service fee)

• CPAT fee: $25, paid before you take the physical test

• Fingerprint screening during investigation: $75

Veterans, people who are unemployed, and people receiving public assistance or Supplemental Security Income can have the application fee waived.

How to apply

Apply online through the DCAS Online Application System (OASys) at nyc.gov/examsforjobs during the application window. You need a unique email address, and new accounts must be verified first. You can also apply in person at the DCAS Computer-based Testing and Application Centers in each borough. Your admission notice appears on your OASys dashboard 14 days before testing begins.

After the exam

Candidates who pass go through a candidate review that covers medical and psychological exams, a background investigation and document checks. Those appointed must complete an 18-week Fire Academy course. The probationary period is 18 months. The starting salary on the 4044 notice was $54,122 a year, rising to$105,146 after five and a half years.

Preparation tips

Watch the DCAS tutorial before test day so the screen layout and question types are familiar. Since no fire service knowledge is tested, practise reading comprehension, listening, and mental arithmetic without a calculator. Begin training for the CPAT events early, because you may be called for it soon after the CBT results come out.