Madison Fire Department Announces Timeline for Next Firefighter/EMT Hiring Process

The Madison Fire Department is thrilled to announce it will be accepting applications this spring for the next class of Firefighter/EMT recruits! 

Applications will be accepted starting Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The application period will close on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

The department seeks individuals who are interested in serving the community as part of a dynamic team, where job duties range from fire prevention and firefighting to emergency medical care and special rescue response. 

To be qualified for this position, applicants must be 18 years of age at the time of application (there is no maximum age limit), possess a high school diploma or equivalent, have a valid driver's license, and be of sound mental and physical health. 

Learn more about the career opportunity, and what we look for, on our Join MFD page.

Anticipated Hiring Timeline

Throughout the application period, which ends on May 26, qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the first phase of our hiring process: the written test. Applications are reviewed weekly, and invitations to take the online written test are sent to all qualified applicants. 

Candidates who advance beyond the written test will be placed into one of two year-based groups: the 2026 Group or the 2027 Group. Both groups will follow the same steps in the hiring process. Candidates in the 2026 Group will advance to the next phases of hiring in 2026, while candidates in the 2027 Group will advance to the next phases of hiring in 2027.

Timeline for '2026 Group' Candidates

Applicants in the 2026 Group can expect panel interviews to occur the week of July 6-10, 2026.

Candidates who advance to the next phase will be invited to participate in practice sessions ahead of the Physical Ability Test (PAT) during the week of July 22-29, 2026.

The Physical Ability Test (PAT) will take place during the week of August 3-7, 2026.

Candidates who successfully complete all previous phases will advance to Chief Interviews, scheduled to occur between August 31-September 11, 2026.

This timeline is provided for general planning purposes. The City of Madison Human Resources Department and/or Madison Fire Department will communicate directly with applicants throughout the process to provide specific dates, times, and additional details. 

Open Houses and More

The Madison Fire Department wants all applicants to feel informed, excited, and ready to apply to join our team! Our Recruitment Committee will be hosting open houses at our fire stations, tabling at career fairs, and visiting local schools and colleges to answer questions and help you get to know our department. 

Subscribe to the Join MFD email list to be alerted about these upcoming opportunities, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X to stay up to date on all that's happening at MFD.