Description/Duties
The application period will close after 500 eligible applications have been received (or Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 4:00 p.m. Arizona time, whichever comes first)
An application is considered eligible if it meets the following criteria:
- Applicant is 18 years old or older and has a High School Diploma or GED by February 2, 2026;
- Applicant currently has, or will have, a valid Class D Arizona Driver’s License by hire or promotion date;
- Applicant has a valid CPAT, detailed IN FULL on the supplemental questions, including Agency, CPAT number, and a completion date between August 2, 2025 and the date the application is submitted
- CPAT testing through NTN can take 1-3 days for them to process and provide you with a number. Do not delay. The number must be on your application as indicated above. If you obtained your CPAT with a Community College, numbers will not be provided by the College. Please list the issuing agency again. ** Firefighter-Recruit is the entry class, as Mesa Fire and Medical Department does not accept lateral transfers of Firefighters from other Departments. While enrolled in the Mesa Firefighter-Recruit Training Academy, employees are assigned to work 8-hour or 10-hour shifts and 40-hour work weeks. Upon successful completion of the academy, Firefighter-Recruits are promoted to the Firefighter classification and begin serving the regular probation period as a City of Mesa Firefighter. Incumbents are then required to work 12-hour or 24-hour shift schedules, although they may be assigned to work 8-hour or 10-hour shifts and 40-hour workweeks while assisting on special projects.
Pay
Firefighter Pre-Recruit Pay $34,958 Annually
Firefighter - Recruit Pay $57,593 Annually
Mesa Firefighter Pay (After Promotion from Firefighter Recruit Academy) $60,562 Annually
Estimated Timeline Of Testing/Hiring Process For August 2026 Academy
All applicants will be notified of their status via email by Wednesday, February 18, 2026, by 6:00 p.m. Arizona time. If you have not received an email with your status after that time, please contact City of Mesa Human Resources at (480) 644-2758 for assistance (Monday-Thursday, 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Arizona time; closed Friday - Sunday).
Firefighter Recruit is a trainee class used to prepare incumbents for performing public safety work involving the protection of life and property and the delivery of Mesa Fire and Medical Department (MFMD) programs. Preparation involves training in fire suppression, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and emergency and nonemergency incident response. A Firefighter Recruit must demonstrate the ability to use fire suppression and emergency medical services skills in accordance with MFMD standards, as well as engage in fire code enforcement, public education, and station and equipment maintenance activities prior to academy graduation. This class is also responsible for performing related duties as required.
Firefighter Recruits learn to perform emergency medical treatment and to ventilate burning buildings by opening windows and holes in roofs and floors, position and climb ladders to gain access to the upper levels of buildings, assist in advancing hose lines and making connections to hydrants, direct streams of water on fires, and perform search and rescue operations inside burning buildings, while wearing personal protective equipment weighing approximately 70 pounds that significantly impairs body cooling, in high humidity (up to 100 percent) situations, relying on self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for ventilation, and in environments with extreme temperature fluctuations (400+ degrees Fahrenheit).
Firefighter - Recruits receive close supervision from a Fire Captain assigned as the Fire Training Officer who reviews and evaluates work in progress and upon completion to ensure conformance to standard operating procedures. New Firefighters receive close supervision from a Fire Captain who reviews and evaluates their work in progress. This class is FLSA nonexempt and has been designated as a non-classified, non-merit system, at-will position.
Important Information When Completing Your Application
- Please make sure that the name listed on your application matches the name on your official, government-issued photo ID.
- Please make sure that your contact information is accurate, including your email. All communication regarding the testing process will be sent via email to the email address listed on your application.
Applicants are encouraged to view the Firefighter Recruitment page, Firefighter Recruit FAQ, and How to Submit a Successful Application video links to learn more about what to expect in the recruitment process, helpful tips for preparation, and for tips when completing the application. **Please note that the How to Submit a Successful Application video is only viewable on a desktop computer.
Applicants wishing to utilize Preference Points will be able to do so at the Written Exam step. More information regarding requirements and the submission process will be emailed to applications eligible for the Written Exam by Wednesday, February 18. 2026 by 6:00 p.m.
Next Steps after the Application Period: The Written Exam
Applicants who meet the requirements to test will be invited to the Written Exam. The Written Exam will be used to establish the Eligible List of applicants qualified to move forward in the recruitment and selection process for MFMD. The City of Mesa’s Written Exam will be offered through National Testing Network (NTN) during the testing window of Thursday, February 19, 2026, through Monday, March 9, 2026.
You have the option of taking the test at one of NTN’s nationwide testing centers as well as a virtual option to take the test at your own private location. Candidates who tested previously with NTN and have current valid FireTEAM and/or Public Safety Self-Assessment(PSSA) Part 1 test scores (PSSA Part 2 is not required for Mesa's testing process) are eligible to submit their existing scores for the Mesa’s Firefighter Recruit testing process without having to test again. NTN test scores are valid for up to one year.
MFMD will cover the full cost of the testing or transfer of valid scores for all applicants invited to test during Mesa’s recruitment process. NTN Written Exam registration will be invitation-only and the detailed information and instructions to register will be sent only to the qualified applicants by Wednesday, February 18, 2026, by 6:00 p.m. Arizona time.
If you may require reasonable accommodation due to a disability to participate in the Written Exam, we encourage you to download and complete the Reasonable Accommodation Request form Public_Safety_Accommodation_Request.pdf as soon as you are able to, in an effort to avoid any delays in scheduling a written exam. Follow the instructions indicated on the form to submit it to NTN for consideration by Monday, February 23, 2026, 8:00 a.m. Arizona time. More information about Reasonable Accommodation Requests can be found in NTN’s FAQ #16 here.
Please refer to the links below for the full job descriptions for Fire Pre-Recruit, Firefighter Recruit and Firefighter, which include additional information regarding preferred qualifications and essential functions.
Qualifications & Requirements
Employee Values: All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City's shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity.
Minimum Qualifications Required.
- Must be at least 18 years of age by Monday, February 2, 2026.
- Graduation from high school or GED by Monday, February 2, 2026.
- Possession of a valid Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) with a licensed CPAT agency is required to apply. For the August 2026 Academy, a valid CPAT must be dated between August 2, 2025, and the date your application is submitted. You must include the agency, CPAT number, and date in your response to the supplemental questions. Applications that do not include the Agency, CPAT Number, and Date completed in full on supplemental questions 5, 6, and 7 will be deemed ineligible.
- State of Arizona EMT or Paramedic certification is not required to apply or test, but will be required before the start date of the Academy and must be kept current thereafter.
- Successful Firefighter Recruit candidates who are unable to obtain their EMT certification by the start date of the Academy may be offered a Fire Pre-Recruit position where they must complete an MFMD-sponsored EMT course (if they are not already enrolled in their own outside EMT course) as soon as possible upon hire and have up to three (3) opportunities following completion of the course to pass the EMT certification test. Due to pre-requirements by the college offering the EMT course, selected Pre-Recruit candidates must show proof of a 3.0 high school GPA (or higher) or have an associate’s degree or higher. The EMT certification must be obtained no later than one week prior to the start of the Academy immediately following completion of the EMT course. Upon successful performance as a Pre-Recruit and passing the EMT certification within the specified time period, Pre-Recruits will promote to the Firefighter Recruit position in the following MFMD Firefighter Recruit Academy.
- For State of Arizona EMT or Paramedic certification information, see the Arizona Department of Health Services website at http://www.azdhs.gov/bems/certification/index.htm.
*MFMD will not reimburse candidates for the cost of attending their own outside EMT school and/or EMT certification testing.
Special Requirements. Must possess a valid Arizona Class D Driver's License by hire or promotion date and must have an acceptable driving record. Must pass a pre-employment physical. Must meet and maintain National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Mesa Fire and Medical Department physical standards. Must meet the qualifications to wear a tight-fitting respirator by passing a medical evaluation in accordance with Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.134 by hire date and must maintain certification. Because of the confidential, sensitive nature of information handled, successful completion of a psychological examination is required. Must not be on the Office of Inspector General (OIG) list of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE).
Substance Abuse Testing. Due to the safety and/or security sensitive nature of this classification, individuals shall be subject to pre-employment or pre-placement alcohol, drug and/or controlled substance testing as outlined in City policy and procedures.
Preferred/Desirable Qualifications. Successful completion of Fire Science coursework from a regionally accredited college or university and previous firefighting experience (full-time, part-time, or volunteer) is preferred. Bilingual in Spanish is preferred.
Link To Job Description
https://apps.mesaaz.gov/jobdescriptions/Documents/JobDescriptions/cs3432.pdf
https://apps.mesaaz.gov/jobdescriptions/Documents/JobDescriptions/cs3919.pdf
https://apps.mesaaz.gov/jobdescriptions/Documents/JobDescriptions/cs4111.pdf
A Summary of City of Mesa Benefits is linked here.
01
Will you be 18 years of age or older by Monday, February 2, 2026? If the answer is No, your application will be ineligible. There is no maximum age for testing.
02
Will you have a High School Diploma or GED by Monday, February 2, 2026? If the answer is No, your application will be ineligible.
03
Do you have a valid Class D (standard) Arizona Driver's License, OR can you obtain one by hire or promotion? If the answer is No, your application will be ineligible. For out-of-state applicants who would be relocating if hired, according to the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division, new Arizona residents can transfer their license from another state to Arizona.
04
Do you have a valid CPAT? In order for the CPAT to be considered valid, it must have been completed between August 2, 2025, and the date you submit your application.
05
Please detail the agency where you obtained your valid CPAT. In order for the CPAT to be considered valid, it must have been completed between August 2, 2025, and the date you submit your application. If you do not have a valid CPAT, please type N/A. Please note that if your answer is N/A, your application will be ineligible.
06
Please detail the number of your valid CPAT. If you obtained your CPAT with a Community College, numbers will not be provided by the College. Please list the issuing agency again. In order for the CPAT to be considered valid, it must have been completed between August 2, 2025, and the date you submit your application. If you do not have a valid CPAT, please type N/A. Please note that if your answer is N/A, your application will be ineligible.
07
Please detail the date you completed your valid CPAT. In order for the CPAT to be considered valid, it must have been completed between August 2, 2025, and the date you submit your application. If you do not have a valid CPAT, please type N/A. Please note that if your answer is N/A, your application will be ineligible.
08
Are you eligible for Preference Points according to A.R.S. 38-492? Preference points are awarded to veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States, disabled persons, disabled veterans, a veteran's spouse or surviving spouse under certain circumstances, and veterans with service-connected disabilities. For Preference Points, a copy of your official documentation verifying eligibility for Preference Points (example: DD214, Form FL-802, etc.) will be collected later in the process. More information about the submission of documentation for Preference points will be provided via email by Wednesday, February 18, 2026, by 6:00 p.m. Arizona time to applicants who meet the requirements to test. Please do not email documentation for Preference points. For Veteran's Preference Points, the documentation must indicate both the length of service and character of service. Preference points are added only to passing scores on the Written Exam.
09
I acknowledge that the name I enter on my application must match the name on my official, government-issued, photo ID. I acknowledge that if my name does not match, I will not be eligible to test for the position of Firefighter Recruit. I also acknowledge that I must present my official, government-issued, photo ID to participate in each phase of the testing and selection process.
10
Are you currently a certified State of Arizona or National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic? EMT or Paramedic certification is not required to test. State of Arizona EMT or Paramedic will be required before confirmation of conditional offer and must be kept current thereafter. If you already have your EMT or Paramedic certification, please detail the certification information on your application.
11
If you already have your EMT or Paramedic certification, please detail your certification information here. Please include the type of certification, state and/or National Certification(s), and the expiration dates of Certifications. If you do not have your certification (which is not required to apply or test), type N/A.
12
Are you bilingual in Spanish? If yes, what is your proficiency level?
- No
- Yes, basic level - able to obtain and communicate basic information with citizens and includes such skills as using and understanding simple greetings, introductions, numbers, addresses, money, days of the week, months of the year, members of the family, interrogative words, pronouncing and using names correctly, and giving and following general directions in Spanish.
- Yes, intermediate level - able to communicate with a higher level of proficiency, which may include communication of technical language and instructions. Examples of an Intermediate Level would be in situations such as police investigations, communicating legal rights or health and safety issues, translating documents for public distribution, and making presentations or representing the City at public functions or events to communicate information in Spanish.
- Required Question
