How to Get Hired at Bakersfield Fire: The Firefighter Trainee Process
The Bakersfield Fire Department is the City of Bakersfield's fire department. It is a separate employer from Kern County Fire, which protects the county around the city, so it has its own recruitment, its own test, and its own eligibility list. The biggest practical difference is what you bring with you: the City wants your EMT, an FCTC written score and a CPAT or Biddle in hand when you file. The details below come from the 2026 Firefighter Trainee posting, which closes October 26, 2026. Confirm everything on the current posting through the City of Bakersfield careers page.
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When does Bakersfield Fire open applications?
Open now Checked : Firefighter Trainee closes October 26, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.
Bakersfield opens irregularly: 2017, 2021, 2023 and now 2026. You need an FCTC written score from within 12 months of the filing deadline, a CPAT or Biddle from within 12 months, and NREMT.
| Posting | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|
| Firefighter Trainee | Feb 27, 2017 | Mar 13, 2017 |
| Firefighter Trainee | Aug 10, 2021 | Aug 24, 2021 |
| Firefighter Trainee | Feb 14, 2023 | Mar 14, 2023 |
| Firefighter Trainee | Sep 14, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 |
Get told when it opens: Apply on the current posting, or submit an interest card on the City of Bakersfield jobs portal for the next one. governmentjobs.com
Basic requirements
- At least 18 years old
- High school diploma or GED
- A valid California Class C driver's license by the time of appointment
- A current California EMT-1 certificate or National Registry EMT (or higher)
- A passing FCTC written score issued within 12 months of the filing deadline
- A CPAT or Biddle issued within 12 months of the filing deadline
- A signed affidavit that you have not smoked in the 12 months before hire
The 2023 posting also required a Firefighter I academy or certification. The 2026 posting does not: Firefighter Trainee is a non-sworn trainee job, and hires go through the department's own recruit academy.
The selection process
- Apply during an open Firefighter Trainee recruitment on the City's job portal, with your EMT card, FCTC score and CPAT or Biddle attached.
- Written score review. The City uses the FCTC statewide list, and only the top written scores move on to the first round of oral appraisals. You can't swap in a better score after you submit.
- Oral appraisal interview (week of November 9, 2026, tentative). A rating of at least 70% puts you on the eligibility list.
- Background investigation, pass/fail (December 14, 2026 to January 11, 2027, tentative).
- Medical exam, then the recruit academy (February 22, 2027, tentative).
Knowing the process is step one. Being ready for each gate is the rest. Tailboard covers the written, the physical, and the oral board for one hiring season.
How to prepare
- Get the prerequisites in order first. EMT, an FCTC written score and a current CPAT or Biddle are the entry ticket here. If you are missing one, that is the first job. The fire academy prep guide covers what the recruit academy will expect.
- Time the CPAT or Biddle. The card has to fall inside a 12-month window measured back from the filing deadline, so plan it against the recruitment calendar. Use the CPAT training plan and read why people fail the CPAT.
- The written exam: here the FCTC score ranks you, because only the top scores go to the first oral appraisals. FCTC held a local test for this cycle on October 10, 2026. Work through the firefighter written exam guide and timed practice tests.
- The oral appraisal: this is the step that ranks you. Rehearse out loud with the firefighter oral board and have your "why" ready. The firefighter oral board questions guide covers the 25 you are most likely to get.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bakersfield Fire the same as Kern County Fire?
No. The Bakersfield Fire Department is the City of Bakersfield's department and hires through the City's own recruitment, test, and eligibility list. Kern County Fire covers the county around the city and runs a separate Firefighter Recruit process. If you want to test with both, you apply to each one separately. The Kern County Fire guide covers the county side.
Do I need a fire academy before applying to Bakersfield Fire?
Not on the 2026 posting. Firefighter Trainee is a non-sworn trainee job, and the City sends hires through its own recruit academy. The 2023 posting did require a Firefighter I academy or certification, so check each new posting before you apply.
How recent does my CPAT card need to be for Bakersfield Fire?
The 2026 posting accepts a CPAT or Biddle issued within 12 months of the filing deadline (October 26, 2025 to October 26, 2026). Because the window is tied to the deadline, test too early and the card can expire before the next recruitment opens.