Fire Department · Career
Albuquerque Fire Rescue
Albuquerque, NM · Bernalillo County
largest city in New Mexico
Albuquerque Fire Rescue (AFR) has served New Mexico's largest city since 1900. Today it staffs 23 fire stations with more than 777 uniformed firefighters and roughly 40 civilian personnel, covering over 189 square miles and a city population near 558,000 (about 910,000 across the metro area).
AFR is a high-volume, all-hazards department: crews handled 97,404 responses in 2023, ranging from EMS and fire suppression to arson investigation. The department carries an ISO Class 1 rating, the highest possible.
Beyond frontline engine and EMS work, AFR runs several specialized units, including a Hazardous Materials Task Force, a multi-station Wildland Task Force, a Technical Rescue Task Force handling vehicle extrication and confined-space rescue, and a community paramedicine program.
Missionprotect the lives and property of Albuquerque residents and visitors with proactive fire inspections and public education programs
AFR hires firefighters through periodic open-enrollment windows announced on its recruitment site. Candidates create a profile at abqfire.com to receive notifications, then apply online through governmentjobs.com/careers/cabq when enrollment opens. Testing includes a written entrance exam, a structured oral interview, and psychological evaluation, followed by a physical exam, drug screen, and background investigation for selected candidates.
An EMT license and a valid CPAT card are not required to apply, but you must hold a valid CPAT before testing, and current EMTs receive hiring preference. New hires without an EMT license complete an 8-week expedited EMT-Basic course before entering the 18-week cadet academy. Applicants living 100+ miles away can test during a dedicated Out-of-Town Applicant Examination Week.
Requirements
- At least 18 years old by the end of the open enrollment period
- High school diploma or equivalent
- U.S. citizen, legal resident, or otherwise legally eligible to work in the United States
- Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record (no revocation in last 3 years, no pending DUI/reckless charges)
- Males under 25 must be registered for Selective Service
- No DUI conviction within the last 5 years and no multiple DWIs in the last 10 years
- No illegal drug use within the last 3 years
- Veterans must have an Honorable or General (under Honorable Conditions) discharge
- Valid CPAT card required before testing (not required to apply)
- Out-of-state hires must obtain a New Mexico driver's license within 30 days of hire
Hiring process
- Written entrance examination (100 multiple-choice questions)
- Structured oral interview
- Written psychological exam and psychological assessment
- Physical examination, drug screening, and background investigation for selected candidates
Benefits
AFR describes offering one of the most robust, comprehensive pay, benefits, and retirement packages in the fire service, backed by union support. Specific figures are not published on the recruitment page.
18-week cadet academy; applicants without an EMT license first complete an 8-week expedited EMT-Basic course before the academy.
Do I need an EMT license to apply?
No. An EMT license is not required to apply, though current State or National Registry EMTs receive hiring preference. Hires without one complete an 8-week expedited EMT-Basic course before the 18-week cadet academy.
Is a CPAT card required?
You do not need a valid CPAT to apply, but you must possess and submit a valid CPAT (completed within 6 months of the written exam) before testing. Schedule through nmcpat.com.
How do I apply?
Create a profile at abqfire.com to get notifications, then apply online at governmentjobs.com/careers/cabq during an open enrollment window.
What are the basic requirements?
You must be at least 18 by the end of open enrollment, have a high school diploma or equivalent, be legally eligible to work in the U.S., and hold a valid driver's license with an acceptable record.
Can I test if I live out of state or far from Albuquerque?
Yes. Applicants living 100+ miles from Albuquerque can participate in a dedicated Out-of-Town Applicant Examination Week. Out-of-state hires must get a New Mexico driver's license within 30 days of being hired.
What does the hiring process involve?
A written entrance exam of 100 questions, a structured oral interview, written psychological exam and assessment, and — for selected candidates — a physical exam, drug screen, and background investigation.