Under immediate supervision, participates in assigned training and formal academic programs of instruction designed to qualify for certification as a Firefighter in accordance with the Texas State Statutes.
Veteran's Preference Points: If you have been (or will be) discharged from the military, you may be eligible for five (5) Veteran's preference points on this examination. To be eligible to receive the additional points, you must have:
- Served on active duty for a minimum of 180 consecutive days in the United States Armed Forces
- Received an honorable discharge
- Score seventy percent (70%) or higher on the written SAFD entrance examination
In order to receive the five (5) Veteran's preference points, you must submit one of the acceptable documents with your online application or submit the documents following the mailing guidelines below.
Documents will not be accepted at the exam.
If you fail to submit your DD214 or letter by the deadline, you will not be awarded the Veteran's preference points on this examination.
Acceptable Veteran's preference points documents:
DD214 - (For Veteran applicants)
- Must be an original or certified copy, legible and unaltered, without any sections missing
- Only the following copies will be accepted: Service #2, Member #4, State Director of Veterans Affairs #6, Service #7, or Service #8
Honorable Service Letter - (For Active-Duty applicants)
o contact information for your current commander (field grade officer or above)
o term of service
o and certify that you will receive an Honorable Discharge based on current conditions
- An honorable service letter template is available at:
https://www.sa.gov/files/assets/main/v/4/safd/documents/honorableserviceformletter.pdf (Download PDF reader)
Mailing guidelines:
If you did not submit your Veteran's preference point's document with your online application, you must:
- Use Certified mail
- Address to:
City of San Antonio - HR Department
Attention: Sarah Bilger
P.O. Box 839966
San Antonio, TX 78283
- Must be postmarked by October 16, 2026
- Graduation from high school or a General Education Development (GED) Certificate.
- Valid Class "C" Driver's License.
The following includes the minimum qualifications for taking the written examination, however applicants MUST pass other requirements for eligibility to be hired.
Applicants must possess the following qualifications at the time of application for the position of Firefighter Trainee:
- Applicants must be at least 19 years of age by the date of the written examination.
- Applicants must not have reached 34 years of age by the date of the written examination.
- Applicants must have a high school diploma or G.E.D. certificate.
- Applicants must be able to read, write, and speak in the English language.
- Applicants must not have any of the disqualifying items listed below on his/her record:
a) Conviction of a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude.
b) Any discharge from the United States Armed Forces other than Honorable. (Uncharacterized and Entry-Level discharges may be accepted and will be assessed on an individual basis.)
c) Two (2) or more traffic violation convictions within the twelve (12) months preceding the date of the written examination.
d) Conviction of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or its equivalent within the five (5) years preceding the date of the written examination.
e) Conviction of a Driving While Intoxicated, Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, or their equivalent within the five (5) years preceding the date of the written examination.
- Applicants must meet all legal requirements necessary to become eligible for future licensing by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.
- Applicants must meet the suitability requirements listed under Rule IX. H. (13) Use of Illicit Substances.
