NYC FireWire
Becoming a New York City firefighter starts with one thing: the open-competitive Firefighter Exam. It’s typically offered about every four years through the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) — and when filing opens, tens of thousands of candidates apply.
How the process works
- File for the exam — applications are submitted online through DCAS when a filing period is announced.
- Computer-based test (CBT) — the written portion of the exam.
- Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) — the physical portion, administered after the written list is established.
- The list — candidates are ranked on an eligible list; the FDNY hires academy classes from it over the life of the list.
- Investigation, medical & academy — background review, medical/psych screening, then roughly 18 weeks at the Fire Academy on Randall’s Island.
The most recent open-competitive exam list (Exam No. 4044) was established in January 2026, with more than 20,000 candidates — physical ability testing began that spring. If you missed it, use the time before the next filing to prepare: many hires also enter through the FDNY EMS-to-firefighter promotional path.
Where to get official information
- JoinFDNY.com — the FDNY’s official recruitment site (requirements, prep events, key dates).
- Follow @JoinFDNY on social media for filing announcements.
- NYC DCAS — official exam notices, schedules and applications.
Curious what the job actually looks like day to day? Browse our FDNY Operations guide, decode the radio with the 10-Codes, and see what the busiest companies did last year in the 2025 Run Statistics.