2026 106th Cadet Class Hiring Schedule
The testing and selection process is designed to evaluate all applicants for the position of firefighter in the Albuquerque Fire Rescue. All requirements and steps in the process are mandatory.
As part of our commitment to the community, candidates selected by the Fire Chief’s Selection Committee must pass a physical examination, drug screening, back ground investigation, written psychological exam, and psychological assessment prior to beginning the cadet class.
| Application Process | January 1, 2026 – March 31, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Document Submission Deadline for ALL Applicants (includes CPAT certificate)
Visit nmcpat.com to schedule CPAT. |
April 3, 2026 |
| Written Examination | April 6 – April 10, 2026
(Training Academy) |
| Out-of-Town Testing Process (Written Exam) | April 13, 2026
(Training Academy) |
| Structured Oral Interviews | April 14 – April 17, 2026
(ABQ Convention Center) |
| Fire Chief’s Selection | April 27 – May 1, 2026 |
City Approval Process
|
May 11 – March 29, 2026 |
| Cadet Orientation | June 12, 2026 |
| 106th Cadet Class EMT-Basic/*Academy Prep Program | July 13, 2026 – September 4, 2026 (8-week Curriculum) |
| 106th Cadet Class Academy | September 8, 2026 – January 8, 2027 (18-week Curriculum) |
| Field Staffing for 106th Cadet Class | January 9, 2027 |
*Candidates hired with an EMS license (Basic, Advanced, Paramedic) will not be required to repeat the EMT-Basic course. They will instead participate in the 8-week academy prep period.
Out-of-Town Applicants
An applicant that lives 100 miles or greater from the City of Albuquerque may participate in the Out-of-Town Applicant hiring process. To reduce travel time and expense, applicants will be scheduled for consecutive days (see above) to take the Written Examination and Structured Oral Interview. Each applicant must pass each element of the hiring process before proceeding to the next portion of the hiring process. Failure of any one element will result in removal from the hiring process.
Out-of-Town applicants must have all documents, including a valid CPAT certificate that indicates successful completion of the Candidate Physical Ability Test, submitted by April 3, 2026. Failure to submit documents and obtain a valid CPAT certificate by the deadline will result in removal from the hiring process.
CPAT
All applicants must complete the CPAT or have a valid CPAT Completion Certificate dated within six (6) months prior to the document submission deadline (April 3, 2026). If you choose to obtain your CPAT certificate in New Mexico, you may contact: www.nmcpat.com
Notice
All dates are subject to change without notice.
