MFD Recruiting & Employment 

Missoula Fire Department Firefighter Eligibility Qualifications

The Missoula Fire Department (MFD) is a full-time career department. We accept applicants on an annual basis and hire based on vacancy and budget allowances. We determine candidates based on qualifications which include experience, EMT requirements, certifications, and successful completion of both a written and physical test.

To be considered for employment, according to Montana Code 7-33-4107 applicants must:

• (1) must be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States;
• (2) must be at least 18 years of age;
• (3) must be a high school graduate or have been issued a high school equivalency diploma by the superintendent of public instruction or by an appropriate issuing agency of another state or of the federal government;
• (4) must possess or be eligible for a valid Montana driver's license;
• (5) shall pass a physical examination by a qualified physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse, who is not the applicant's personal physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse, appointed by the employing authority to determine if the applicant is free from any mental or physical condition that might adversely affect the applicant's performance of the duties of a firefighter, including requirements described in 7-33-1902;
• (6) must be fingerprinted and a search must be made of the local, state, and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record; and
• (7) may not have been convicted of a crime for which the applicant could have been imprisoned in a federal or state penitentiary.

Additionally, MFD requires that applicants be certified as an EMT-Basic with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT-B) or as a Montana EMT Basic.

Firefighter Application Process CURRENTLY CLOSED

MFD's current application period for Probationary Firefighter Trainees is CLOSED.  A typical application process will include: 

• Completion of a City of Missoula online application and MFD Station 1 Apparatus and Crew submittal of all required documents and certifications to the City of Missoula Human Resources Department.
• Register with Public Safety Testing (PST) to complete your required physical and written exams at Public Safety Testing (PST).  For questions about the written exam or CPAT testing, please contact PST at contact@publicsafetytesting.com. 
• Interviews for the Missoula Fire Department hiring pool will be conducted annually. To be considered for employment, potential hires must have completed and passed both the written and physical portions of the PST tests. 
• Missoula Fire Department will post dates for our next application period as soon as they are available.

MFD is strongly recommending that you take your written and physical tests as soon as possible after dates are posted. Sign up at the PST website for available options. 

MFD makes its best effort to send letters of acceptance or denial throughout our process to all of our interested candidates. 

Montana Firefighter Testing Consortium

The Missoula Fire Department is a member of the Montana Firefighter Testing Consortium along with other Montana state fire departments including Belgrade, Big Sky, Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Havre, Helena, Miles City, Lockwood Fire District, Kalispell, Frenchtown Rural Fire, and the Missoula Rural Fire District. 

The Montana Firefighter Testing Consortium has contracted with Public Service Testing (PST) to complete its testing criteria. PST will be offering and hosting both the physical and written portions in multiple formats and locations. 

Applicants who successfully complete the testing may submit applications with any of the participating departments (application deadlines and requirements may vary for each department). 

Additional Testing Information

Each participating consortium department conducts additional selection processes in conjunction with the testing process.

Testing Information

• A fee is required. 
• Please check the PST website for additional information.

 The City of Missoula and the Missoula Fire Department is an equal employment/affirmative action employer.