SE Thurston Fire Authority - Lateral Firefighter
Last updated on July 17, 2025
PST Partner Agency since March 08, 2022
Vacancies: 2
Testing Deadline: August 15, 2025.
Important Information
NO WRITTEN REQUIRED FOR LATERAL FIREFIGHTERS
SE Thurston Fire Authority (SETFA) has begun the testing process for establishing a career Lateral Firefighter/EMT hiring list. We anticipate hiring 2 positions during the 4th Quarter of 2025, and will use this process to establish an eligibility list.
Important Dates (subject to change)
Announcement: July 15, 2025
Applications Due: August 15, 2025
Oral Board / Assessment Lab: August 26th and 27th , 2025
Tentative Start Date: October 1, 2025
Minimum Qualifications:
Visit SETFA Career Employment to view the minimum qualifications.
PROCESS
Please read the following instructions carefully. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
To submit an application:
Visit SETFA Career Employment to download a PDF version of the application and Background Waiver.
Complete the application in full and ensure it is signed.
Complete all information on the Background Waiver and have it notarized before submission.
Submit the following documents with your application:
Copy of your CPAT from PST or NTN taken within 12 months of the application deadline (August 15, 2024 – August 15, 2025)
Copy of your High School Diploma or equivalent
Copy of your EMT or NREMT Certification (Out-of-state applicants must include state or NREMT documentation)
Copy of your Firefighter I Certification
Copy of your HazMat Ops Certification
Proof of completion of a Fire Academy
Current 5-year driving abstract
DD214 (for Veterans’ Preference, if applicable)
Other certifications listed under Desired Qualifications in the job description
The deadline for applying is August 15, 2025. Postmarks will not be accepted.
Successful applicants should expect further evaluations, including but not limited to:
Interview
Assessment center
Background Investigation
Medical/Physical Exam
Psychological Exam
Drug Screening
Important Notes:
Employment offers are contingent on successful completion of all testing and verification processes.
Applicants requesting Veterans’ Preference under RCW 41.04.010 must provide DD214 or official military documentation indicating honorable discharge before the application deadline.
Questions? No phone calls. Please email: hiring@setfa.org
Community Information
Department Information
Job Description
Area Information
Hiring Status
Salary Information
Benefit Information
SE Thurston Fire Authority - Lateral Firefighter Requirements
| Category | Requirement | Required at time of... | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test | Hire | ||
| Written Examination |
No, not required |
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| Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) |
Yes, required as described below CPAT Requirement for Lateral Applicants A valid Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) is required at time of application submission. The CPAT must be issued by a recognized testing agency (Public Safety Testing, National Testing Network, or equivalent) and dated within 12 months of the application deadline (i.e., between August 15, 2024 – August 15, 2025). Applicants must upload a copy of their CPAT certificate with their completed application packet. |
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| Minimum Age | 18 | ||
| Citizenship |
US Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident or have the ability to legally work in the U.S. by the time of application. |
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| High School Grad/ GED | Yes | ||
| Driver's License Required |
Valid U.S. driver’s license (by hire date). Active duty military may use out-of-state licenses. |
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| Felony Conviction(s) as an Adult | None. | ||
| Felony Conviction(s) as a Juvenile | Will be carefully reviewed on a case by case basis | ||
| Ability to Read, Speak & Write the English Language | Yes | ||
| Vision Requirements | Correctable to 20/20 | ||
| College Requirement | No | ||
| Prior Experience Requirement |
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| EMT Certification |
Minimum of 2 (two) years of experience as a Washington State EMT or NREMT and in good standing. NOTICE: Be prepared to submit your supporting credential number and or certification to verify your credentails. |
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| Firefighter 1 Certification | IFSAC/ProBoard | ||
| Firefighter 2 Certification |
Desired Qualification:
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| Prior FF Experience Required |
Minimum of three (2) years of experience as a Full-Time Professional Firefighter Twelve (12) months of consecutive employment within the last twenty-four (24) months with a municipal fire department, or fire district of similar size. Has completed an academy (Full-time career preferred) – All academies will be reviewed. |
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| Prior EMT Experience Required |
Minimum of 2 (two) years of experience as a Washington State EMT or NREMT and in good standing. NOTICE: Be prepared to submit your supporting credential number and or certification to verify your credentials. |
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| Current Hiring Status |
2 positions 2025. SETFA anticipates hiring 2–4 (Entry/Lateral) Firefighter/EMTs in 2026 and will establish an eligibility list for any future openings. |
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| Body Decorations | Per Department policy, please contact agency for further questions. | ||
| CPAT |
Lateral candidates must have a valid CPAT from Public Safety Testing (PST) or National Testing Network (NTN), completed within 12 months of the application deadline (August 15, 2025). Accepted test dates must fall between August 15, 2024 – August 15, 2025. |
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SE Thurston Fire Authority - Lateral Firefighter Disqualifiers
The following are automatic and potential disqualifiers. Applicants should not apply to our agency if they indicate any of the automatic disqualifiers. Potential disqualifiers will be considered on a case by case basis.
| Category | Disqualifier | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driving |
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| Drug Usage |
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| Criminal Activity |
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| Employment |
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| Financial |
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Contact Information
SE Thurston Fire Authority - Lateral Firefighter
Contact a RecruiterAgency Test Requirements
Written Examination: No, not required
CPAT: Yes, required as described below
Other S.E. Thurston Regional Fire Authority positions
COVID-19 UPDATES
5/6/2020 Update:
TESTING IN WASHINGTON STATE CANCELED THROUGH MAY 31, 2020
All pre-employment tests in Washington State have been canceled until May 31, 2020 unless government restrictions are eased. With recent updates, facility closures, and government guidelines, this step is necessary and could be modified at any time. The health and safety of our customers, our staff, and their families is of the highest priority.
We will continue to evaluate developments and make changes to this policy as necessary. When we do resume testing, there will be plenty of events for everyone to test. We are in regular communication with our public safety agency partners, assessing alternatives to the traditional testing model and our testing policies. Any future updates will be posted on the PST website and our Facebook page.
4/1/2020 Update:
If you have tested with PST in the past 12 months, there may be additional positions you are now eligible to add. Several departments have temporarily changed their testing policies due to the suspension in testing that COVID-19 has caused. Please login to your PST account and navigate to the ‘New Positions’ page to see what departments you can add! We will regularly update that page in your account as departments send updates.
FUTURE TEST REGISTRATION
We know that there will be testing in the future - we just don’t know when! We want you to be prepared for when testing begins again so we have created test events on our calendar that you can register for that will place you in a queue to be first notified. These tests are not “real” test events, they are essentially a holding area. You will be able to “reschedule” out of that event to any other event date/location at no cost. Registering now will also give you time to work on your Personal History Statement (PHS) so that your data will be ready and up-to-date to send to your departments once testing resumes.
To sign up for this placeholder event, select the June 15, 2020 test date in your category (police, fire, 911 dispatch, corrections, etc.).
You may also click on the test event of interest below to sign up:
Law Enforcement & Corrections Written and Physical Ability Test
Please check back here frequently and ‘Like’ our Facebook page to stay updated.
PST staff are working remotely and are available by email at contact@publicsafetytesting.com. We anticipate a high email volume and will respond as quickly as possible.
