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.
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When does Portland Fire & Rescue open applications?
Closed Checked : No entry-level recruitment is open, and candidates for the 2026 academies have already been contacted.
Portland opens a window when it needs a new list, and the month has moved every cycle. The eligible list lasts up to 12 months. You apply on GovernmentJobs, then take NTN FireTEAM and the Public Safety Self-Assessment, and a CPAT is required.
| Posting | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Firefighter EMT | Jan 29, 2024 | Feb 12, 2024 |
| Entry Level Firefighter Paramedic | Dec 30, 2024 | Feb 10, 2025 |
| Entry Level Firefighter EMT and Paramedic | Oct 20, 2025 | Nov 17, 2025 |
Get told when it opens: Sign up for notifications (job interest card) on the City of Portland jobs portal. governmentjobs.com · Official recruitment page: portland.gov
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.
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
- 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. The firefighter oral board questions guide covers the 25 you are most likely to get.
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.