HIRING TIMELINE
Upcoming Hiring Timeline
Below is a detailed timeline of the WA Fire Careers upcoming hiring plan. Please review this timeline to ensure you’re able to accommodate these dates into your schedule, should you be selected for an interview.
Registration Continuously Open
WA Fire Careers will be running a continuous recruitment process for entry-level firefighters in anticipation of upcoming recruit academies.
The recruitment will remain open, and WA Fire Careers will be pulling scores on March 26, 2025, in anticipation of the August 2025 academy.
March 26 | Scores Pulled in Anticipation of the August 2025 Academy
Candidates are required to complete the following to be considered:
NTN FireTeam written exam:
• Candidates must have a valid written test on the date scores are pulled on March 26, 2025.
CPAT Physical Exam from an accredited agency:
• Candidates must have a valid CPAT test on the date scores are pulled on March 26, 2025.
Public Safety Self-Assessment (PSSA accessed through candidate account)
Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ accessed through candidate account)
April 4 | Invitation to Oral Boards
Candidates selected to move forward in the hiring process will receive an invitation via email to self-schedule their oral board interview from each interested agency. They will also receive a link to complete their Agency Preference List form.
April 18 - 25 | Oral Boards
During oral boards, candidates will participate in an in-person panel interview at the South King County Training Consortium. Be sure that you have completed your Personal History Questionnaire through National Testing Network prior to your oral board interview.
May 1 | Invitation to Fire Chief Interviews
Candidates who successfully complete their preference list and are selected to move forward from the oral boards will receive an invitation to self-schedule their Fire Chief interviews from each interested agency.
May 12 - 16| Fire Chief Interviews
Candidates will participate in Fire Chief interviews for each agency.
May 16 | Final Deadline for Agency Preference List
As candidates learn more about our agencies, their preference on which agency they would most like to work for may change. Candidates have until this date to update their Agency Preference List. The last preference list form submission the candidate makes will be considered their final preference list.
May 19 | Conditional Job Offers
Finalist candidates will be extended a conditional offer from the agency that presented the best fit. Each eligible candidate will only receive one conditional job offer.
May 26 - August 4 | Background Process
Candidates who accept the conditional offers will move forward with the background check process. This includes a comprehensive background check, a medical exam, and a psychological exam, scheduled and funded by the agency performing the background process.
Early August| Final Offer Confirmed
Once background, medical, and psych evaluations are concluded, without issue, finalist candidates will receive their final offer/confirmation of employment. CONGRATULATIONS!
August 25, 2025 | Fire Academy Begins
Recruits will report to fire academy at the South King County Training Consortium. Fire academy is a 20-week, intensive fire and life safety training course. For more information on the WA Fire Careers fire academy, visit our Academy section.