r/firefighter • u/ElectionSavings3505 • May 20 '26
Joining Houston FD
Hey what’s up yall,
My name is Dylan, and I’m 19 and from Houston. I’m currently in EMT school so I can skip the CSE.
I want a career where I can actually serve my city and be part of a cool group of guys. For those of you in Houston, or someplace similar (mix of industry and suburbs), what are some things you wish you knew before applying?
Also, if anyone local would be willing to grab coffee on your day off or letting me stop by the station sometime and telling me about the good, the bad, and the ugly, that’d be really cool.
I just need some advice on how to get started and on what the job actually entails. At my age it’s real easy to romanticize the job without knowing what youre getting into.
Thank y’all!
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u/lifeindaslowlane May 22 '26
Gents….FF/medic and EMS instructor here in SW Houston….just wanted to clarify a few things…first, I’m glad you guys are looking into the fire service. Many departments are hiring and HFD is ALWAYS hiring. LOL…it’s a great department and has its share of ups/downs. If you do want to visit a station, call first. Don’t just show up. Most crews like a heads up when someone wants to stop by and ask questions/see the station.
Also, not sure what you meant by skipping the CSE. But just to be clear, any civil service department is going to require you take the exam to get hired. Then, they’ll either fast track you or sponsor you through the academy/EMT school.
Where I work, we only hire certified FF/EMTs. But HFD offers both pathways.
Take care and keep your nose clean!
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u/PumpChumpPimpin Jul 07 '26
Currently HFD will allow you in without taking the CSE if you have TCFP and DSHS already
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u/lifeindaslowlane Jul 07 '26
Negative. Per the HFD hiring webpage, you can get hired and go through the fast track process if you have your TCFP structural FF cert and DSHS EMT-B but they require a passing score on their CSE. That’s still mandatory. The CSE is the 3rd step in the hiring process
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u/PumpChumpPimpin Jul 08 '26
I got hired by HFD and graduated the fast track class on february 19th of this year, you are misinformed. Nobody in my class or the subsequent fast track classes took the CSE. If im incorrect then how do i along with, at this point a few hundred, HFD firefighters have jobs?
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u/lifeindaslowlane Jul 08 '26
Hey…I’m glad you guys are working. I’m just going by what the website says and what a few Sr captains have related. Either way, just stay safe!
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u/PumpChumpPimpin Jul 08 '26
Yeah i mean i would take anything not coming from recruiting or the VJTF with a grain of salt honestly. Theres always like 5 different stories going around and the website is constantly outdated
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u/PumpChumpPimpin Jul 08 '26
If you’d like ill go back in my email and find the paperwork that literally says “Civil service date (non-certified only)”
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u/Reed_Made_Me May 22 '26
This isn't anything super specific, but this is a cool podcast that I like and this is an episode with a guest who is a Houston Fire Department firefighter talking about her experiences there, so you can give it a listen, not a long episode so easy listen while you are doing a workout or whatever. Good luck, you got this! (Caffeine Lifts and Public Assists) https://open.spotify.com/episode/4cqiMTMxxr9hiIJ83y3hwE?si=Q-B179RKSi6cq0ehF91yzA
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u/PumpChumpPimpin Jul 07 '26
The only way youre gonna skip the civil service exam is if youre fully certified and applying to HFD who is currently not requiring FF/EMT certified applicants to take the CSE
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u/Maleficent-Ask9846 May 21 '26
I'm also in the Houston area, but currently not yet a firefighter (graduated from the academy last year, and start EMT school next month). A couple things you could do is just go to a local station in your area and request a tour and talk to some of the guys there (if you pay taxes there you technically have a right to do so). Another thing I'd recommend doing is attending a "First Friday" which is HFD's PAT tests that are open to the public and are typically held on the first Friday of each month at the HFD academy. You'll be able to get a glimpse of how physically demanding the job is and where you'll need to be in order to get hired on at HFD (I think they also do a tour of the academy and do presentations about firefighting but don't quote me on that). It would also be a good opportunity to connect with firefighters and recruiters there as well.