How to Become a Firefighter in Sacramento
Sacramento is home to both Sacramento City Fire and the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District. This guide explains requirements, CPAT prep, academy training, and starting salaries so you can prepare for a career in either department.Excerpt
How to Become a Firefighter in Sacramento – 2025 Guide
Sacramento is home to both Sacramento City Fire and the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District (Sac Metro). Together, they protect the capital region with dozens of stations, hundreds of firefighters, and a mix of urban, suburban, and wildland challenges. If you’re preparing to join their ranks, here’s what you need to know.
Minimum Requirements
Both City and Metro require candidates to meet basic standards:
- Age: 18+
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Medical: Meet NFPA 1582 standards, vision and hearing included
- Background: Clean record, valid driver’s license
- Certification: EMT is required; Paramedic highly preferred
- Other: Sacramento City requires candidates to be tobacco-free for at least one year prior to appointment
Testing Process
The Sacramento hiring process includes:
- Written Exam: Administered through FCTC, covering reading comprehension, math, and mechanical reasoning.
- CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test): Offered locally at FCTC Sacramento. Candidates face 8 events including the stair climb and dummy drag. Need help preparing? See our 6-Week CPAT Prep Workbook.
- Oral Interview: Conducted by a panel of officers. Expect situational questions, background review, and scenario-based answers. For structured prep, check out the Probation Survival Guide.
Captain Dave’s Pro Tip: Most rookies fail CPAT because they go too fast on the stairs. Firefighting is about controlled urgency. Train to find a sustainable pace.
Fire Academy
Successful candidates attend the Sacramento Regional Fire Academy. Training lasts 16–20 weeks, with daily PT, drills, and classroom instruction. Recruits graduate with Firefighter I/II certification and EMT/Paramedic integration.
Salary & Benefits
Salaries are competitive:
- Sacramento City Fire: Starting ~$71,000/year
- Sac Metro Fire: Starting ~$74,000/year
Both offer overtime, pensions, healthcare, and strong union representation. Check current pay tables on the official careers pages for updates.
Pathways In
- Explorers & Cadets: Sac Metro offers Explorer programs for high school students. Great tie-in with From High School to Firefighter.
- Volunteers & Reserves: Smaller regional departments can be stepping stones to City or Metro.
- Veterans: Military service is highly respected. See Military to Firefighter for a focused guide.
Challenges & What Chiefs Look For
Both departments are highly competitive. Hundreds apply for a handful of openings. Chiefs want:
- Strong CPAT performance
- Integrity and humility
- Teamwork skills
- Consistency during probation
For insight into what probation feels like, read the Probation Survival Guide.
Resources
- Sacramento City Fire Careers
- Sacramento Metro Fire Careers
- FCTC Online (Written/CPAT)
- Sacramento Regional Fire Academy
Sacramento City vs. Sac Metro
| Category | Sacramento City Fire | Sacramento Metro Fire |
|---|---|---|
| Stations | 20+ | 40+ |
| Service Area | Urban core, downtown Sacramento | Suburban & unincorporated county areas |
| Starting Pay | ~$71,000 | ~$74,000 |
| Academy | Sacramento Regional Fire Academy | Sacramento Regional Fire Academy |
Conclusion
Becoming a firefighter in Sacramento is competitive, but with preparation and persistence, it’s possible. Start with the basics — fitness, EMT certification, and CPAT training. Then sharpen your application and interview skills. Along the way, use trusted resources like Become a Firefighter and our CPAT Prep Workbook. And when you’re ready for real mentorship, join our Live Mentoring Sessions.
Captain Dave’s Pro Tip: You’re not just preparing for a test — you’re preparing for a career. Treat every workout, every class, and every application step like it matters, because it does.
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About the Author
Captain Dave is a retired Fire Captain, former paramedic, and author dedicated to mentoring the next generation of firefighters. With more than two decades of fire service experience, he has led crews through high-pressure incidents, trained probationary firefighters, and prepared candidates for every stage of the hiring and promotion process.
He is the author of multiple career guides including Become a Firefighter – National Updated Edition, Pass Firefighter Probation, Veteran to Firefighter, High School to Firefighter, and Promote to Engineer. Captain Dave also creates online courses and interactive safety books for children, blending real-world experience with a passion for public safety education.
When he’s not writing or teaching, Captain Dave shares insights through his Firefighter Mentor platform, helping aspiring and advancing firefighters build the skills, mindset, and confidence needed to thrive in the fire service.
Learn more at www.firefightermentor.com.
Blog posts
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How to Become a Firefighter in Sacramento
Excerpt
Sacramento is home to both Sacramento City Fire and the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District. This guide explains requirements, CPAT prep, academy training, and starting salaries so you can prepare for a career in either department.
-
The Essentials for a Future Firefighter
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Firefighter Hiring Standards and Diversity Initiatives for 2025
As we approach 2025, the firefighting profession is undergoing significant changes in hiring standards and diversity initiatives. Departments nationwide are implementing more rigorous physical assessments, comprehensive medical evaluations, and updated educational prerequisites to ensure candidates are well-prepared for the demands of the job. Additionally, targeted recruitment programs and inclusive training environments are being established to promote diversity within the fire service. Aspiring firefighters must stay informed about these developments to navigate the recruitment process successfully.
