Interested in Joining Our Team?
Join the Palo Alto Fire Department as we launch an innovative single-role EMS program focused on delivering exceptional emergency medical care to our community. This is a non-firefighter position.
We're seeking dedicated EMTs and Paramedics who are passionate about patient care, teamwork, and public service.
Why Palo Alto
Palo Alto is more than a city-it’s a community known for innovation, public service excellence, and forward-thinking leadership. Our culture values Respect, Innovation, Service and Empowerment and we take pride in being one of the best cities to work for.
Why Palo Alto Fire Department
As a member of the Palo Alto Fire Department, you will work alongside dedicated professionals in a fire department recognized for excellence and continuous improvement. You will serve a diverse and dynamic community that includes residents, businesses, visitors, and the Stanford University area. As we continue to evolve to meet the community's needs, you'll have the opportunity to be part of an innovative EMS delivery model designed to support high-quality patient care and exceptional service. We are committed to investing in our people through ongoing training, professional development, and opportunities for growth.
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About the Positions
The Palo Alto Fire Department is launching Palo Alto Fire Medic One, a new single-function EMS provider role focused on delivering high-paced, high-quality emergency medical service to the Palo Alto community.
The Fire Medic One ambulance will operate seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00p.m. Full-time staff will work 12-hour shifts, and part-time (limited hourly) staff will provide coverage as needed.
*If you are interested in both the full-time and limited hourly position, you must fill out both applications*
Selected candidates will advance through a competitive recruitment process and, if successful, will attend the Palo Alto Fire Medic One EMS Academy, which is anticipated to begin in January.
Please review the Supplemental Information section below for application requirements. Applications must include a valid driver's license, a current EMT or Paramedic certification (as applicable), and National Testing Network (NTN) scores by the job announcement closing date.
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
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Maintains medical and communication equipment and vehicles;
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Staffs and drives an ambulance to provide initial emergency medical care in a pre-hospital setting;
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Completes accurate and thorough documentation of patient care
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Protects the privacy of patients treated by PAFD, safeguards patient information and uses and discloses patient information in accordance with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the privacy practices of PAFD;
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Coordinate work with other emergency medical team members or police or fire department personnel.
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May perform duties of either driving ambulances, EMT attendant and other related duties as assigned.
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Participates in training and physical fitness programs as required.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
The primary responsibility of the EMT position is to provide administer first aid treatment or life support care to sick or injured persons in prehospital settings.
This is a non-firefighter and non-sworn position. This class is distinguished from Paramedic in that the latter class is fully qualified to provide medical care at the advanced life support level in addition to the basic life support level.
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Paramedic:
The Paramedic position is distinguished from the EMT position as the former is fully qualified to provide medical care at the advanced life support level in addition to the basic life support level.
This is a non-firefighter position and non-sworn position.
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Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through:
Preferred Qualifications:
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Age: 21 years or older
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Ability to pass medical examination
EMT:
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Possession of a current and valid CA Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification issued by the State of CA, and the ability to accredit with the local EMS Authority
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Possession of a current and valid California Drivers License
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Ambulance endorsement on CADL
Paramedic:
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Possession and maintenance of a valid CA Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic (Paramedic) license issued by the State of CA and the ability to accredit with local EMS Agency
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Possession of a current and valid California Drivers License
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Ambulance endorsement on CADL
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
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Ability to function with minimum supervision; to self-start and complete assignments in a timely organized manner.
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Knowledge of principles of emergency ambulance and transportation procedures including first aid, resuscitator, and gurney operations, including safe emergency work practices.
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Knowledge of Emergency radio communication procedures.
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Ability to maintain current knowledge of City streets.
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Ability to maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities which may include walking, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time, crouching or crawling, climbing stairs/ladders and operating assigned equipment and vehicles.
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Ability to effectively deal with personal danger which may include exposure to fire encompassed surroundings, dangerous persons, dangerous animals; hazards of emergency driving; hazards associated with traffic control and working in and near traffic; and natural and man-made disasters.
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Ability to communicate with others and to assimilate and understand information, in a manner consistent with the essential job functions.
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Ability to operate assigned equipment.
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Ability to make sound decisions in a manner consistent with the essential job functions.
Application Requirements:
Please be sure to consider and/or include the following with your application (if the following is missing from your application, your application may be determined to be incomplete):
1.EMT-B and EMT-P:
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Please submit a valid EMT-B Certification or EMT-P license to your application as an attachment.
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If you are not a current EMT-B or EMT-P in the state of California, you must have the ability to become CA State licensed and accredit in Santa Clara County within 90 days.
2. California Driver's License:
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Please submit a valid California Driver's license to your application as an attachment if you currently possess one. Possession of a valid California Driver's license will be required by time of appointment.
3. National Testing Network (NTN) Firefighter Express Written Test: We are not accepting scores from the Firefighter Testing System (FireTEAM) Exam.
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Please submit your NTN (Firefighter Express) test scores to Palo Alto Fire Department via the NTN website by job announcement closing date: Aug. 24th, 2026
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Register to take the NTN exam on the NTN website for the Palo Alto Fire Department or apply to transfer their score to the Palo Alto Fire Department. NTN scores from other departments can be transferred for a small fee (see NTN website for details). Please contact HR with questions.
For more information regarding NTN testing, please visit their website.
Screening/Selection Process
Dates below are tentative and subject to change.
Application Deadline: Aug. 24th, 2026
NTN Test Submitted: by Aug. 24th, 2026
Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ) Submissions: Tentative Aug. 28th
PHQ Submission review: Tentative Sep. 2nd
HireView Panel Interviews (Virtual interviews): Tentative Sept. 9th- Sept. 14th
EMS Skills Assessment & EMS physical agility (in-person): Tentative Sep. 28th- Oct. 2nd
Fire Chief Interviews (in-person): Tentative Week of Oct. 5th
Please note, job offers presented by Palo Alto Fire Department are conditional upon completion of a full background investigation/potential polygraph, psychological evaluation, and medical examination for ALL candidates.
For questions on the application and selection process, please contact the Recruitment Team at [email protected]
Working Conditions/Physical Requirements
Works evenings, nights, weekends and holidays; shift to be determined by operational requirements. Exposure to running, walking, crawling, climbing, stooping, lifting, and inspecting in confined spaces; work in inclement weather conditions.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
