How to Get Hired at Portland Fire & Rescue: The Entry-Level Process
Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) is Oregon's largest fire department — roughly 700 sworn members across about 30 stations. Entry-level hiring runs through the National Testing Network with a defined CPAT window and an Oregon EMT requirement before offer. Here is the path and how to prepare. Confirm the latest on the official site, portland.gov/fire/join.
Basic requirements
- 18 or older with a high school diploma or equivalent
- A valid driver's license
- NTN FireTEAM test plus Public Safety Self-Assessment completed by the posted deadline
- A valid CPAT completed within the posting's dated window
- A valid Oregon EMT license before an offer of employment (not required to apply)
The selection process
- Apply during an open Entry Level Firefighter posting on Portland's job portal — recent cycles set hard deadlines for testing components.
- NTN FireTEAM and Public Safety Self-Assessment — completed through the National Testing Network by the deadline.
- CPAT — proof of completion within the posting's roughly one-year window.
- Ranked eligible list and interviews.
- Oregon EMT verification, background, medical, and psychological evaluation, then the PF&R academy.
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How to prepare
- The FireTEAM test: the video-judgment format is unlike paper exams — build reps with practice tests and the firefighter written exam guide.
- The CPAT: watch the date window on the posting; the CPAT training plan lays out training and why people fail the CPAT covers common failure points.
- The oral interview: PF&R values community-facing answers. Rehearse the firefighter oral board and prep situational and ethical questions.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be an EMT to apply to Portland Fire and Rescue?
No — an EMT license is not required to apply, but candidates on the ranked eligible list must show a valid Oregon EMT license before an offer of employment. Out-of-state and NREMT candidates should start Oregon reciprocity early.
What tests does Portland Fire and Rescue require?
Recent postings required the NTN FireTEAM exam and Public Safety Self-Assessment completed by the posted deadline, plus proof of a CPAT completed within the recruitment's dated window — roughly the year before the deadline.
How big is Portland Fire and Rescue?
PF&R is Oregon's largest fire agency, with roughly 700 sworn firefighters operating from about 30 stations across Portland, covering structure fire, EMS, marine, and airport response.