Kalispell Fire Department Firefighter Eligibility Qualifications

To be considered for employment, applicants must have a valid driver's license, a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent certification and be at least 18 years of age. Our department also requires a State of Montana Emergency Care Provider licensure of the level advertised in the position announcement.

Firefighter Application Process

To view vacancies and a copy of the job description please visit the City of Kalispell's employment page.

• Complete a City of Kalispell application and submit all required documents and certifications to the City of Kalispell Human Resource Department by the closing date and time indicated on the position announcement.
•  Our department is a member of the Montana Firefighter Testing Consortium. The Consortium has contracted with Public Safety Testing (PST) to conduct the required written exam and Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT).
  • Register with Public Safety Testing (PST)to complete your required written exam and CPAT.  Be sure to select the Montana Firefighter Testing Consortium.  Any questions related to the written exam or CPAT should be directed to PST contact@publicsafetytesting.com
    • Written exams are offered both in-person and online via PST’s virtual, in-home testing program. In-person written exams will be offered in Billings, MT; Bozeman, MT; Tukwila, WA; Gresham, OR; Spokane, WA; Lynwood, WA; in May and June 2023.
    • CPAT events are offered in Billings, MT and Tukwila, WA in May 2023. If you have never taken a CPAT, we highly encourage you to attend the CPAT Orientation and CPAT Practice Test first. Please note there are only two CPAT testing dates available.
    • There is a fee for the testing, see PST website for more information.
• The deadline to complete your written exam and CPAT with PST is listed on the job announcement.
•  After completion and submittal of a City of Kalispell application and passing scores on both the written and physical exams, applicants may be selected for an interview. An additional selection process is used in conjunction with the testing process.

We strongly encourage you to complete your written and physical testing as soon as possible. Visit the PST website for testing availability options.

Montana Fire Fighter Testing Consortium

The Kalispell Fire Department is a member of the Montana Firefighter Testing Consortium along with other Montana state fire departments including Big Sky, Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Central Valley Fire District, Great Falls, Havre, Helena, Miles City, Lockwood Fire District, Frenchtown Rural Fire, Missoula and the Missoula Rural Fire District.

For 2021, the Montana Firefighter Testing Consortium has contracted with Public Service Testing (PST) to complete its testing criteria. PST will be offering and hosting both the physical and written portions in multiple formats and locations. Visit the PST website for more information to find a testing site near you.

At the conclusion of each year's testing, applicants who successfully complete the testing may submit applications with any of the participating departments (application deadlines and requirements may vary for each department).