What are the responsibilities and job description for the 2026 Entry-Level Firefighter Written Examination Application position at Unified Fire Authority?
STEP 1: REGISTRATION
Our primary means of contacting you throughout the examination process is email. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email address is correct and any change to your email is updated with the Human Resources Division.
STEP 2: WRITTEN EXAMINATION
The first part of the testing process is the written exam. Only registered and qualified applicants will be allowed to take the exam. The written exam is designed to assess critical cognitive skills and abilities (e.g. reading comprehension, mathematical reasoning, map reading), mechanical aptitude and personal characteristics related to success as a Firefighter.
If interested, applicants can order the practice National Fire Select Test (NFST) Candidate Orientation Guide by clicking this link (https://www.fpsi.com/product/nfst/)
Once the written exam is administered, a cut-off score will be determined. At least the top seventy scoring applicants, plus any applicants tied at the same score, will automatically move on to the Firefighter Physical Agility Test. Applicants who have preference points and meet the minimum cut-off score will be added to the Firefighter Physical Agility Test.
Preference Point Information
Unified Fire Authority offers preference points to eligible veterans or spouses of veterans in accordance with state and federal legislation. Also, applicants who have been employed by Unified Fire Authority may receive preference points if eligible. Please refer to the Preference Eligibility Form for more information. Preference points are added to the applicant's final written examination score. Applicants claiming preference, as identified above, must submit a Preference Eligibility Form along with all required documentation. This form is available on our website or by emailing the Human Resources Division at preferencepoints@unifiedfireut.gov. Please review the form for the specific eligibility requirements and the necessary documentation.
STEP 3: FIREFIGHTER PHYSICAL AGILITY TEST
Applicants who pass the written exam outlined in STEP 2 will be eligible to participate in the Firefighter Physical Agility Test. Applicants advancing will be notified by email of their date and time. This will be held at the UFA Fire Training Tower located at 3950 South 8000 West, Magna, UT 84044.
The Firefighter Physical Agility Test is based on general firefighting duties. This exam includes lifting, carrying, pulling, and climbing components.
The test is designed as an obstacle to closely simulate the endurance a firefighter employee must possess at the scene of a fire. For information on each event related to the test, please click below.
View the Firefighter Physical Agility Video
Applicants must pass the Firefighter Physical Agility Test with a cut-off time of at least 13:00 minutes to be scheduled for an oral board interview.
Firefighter Physical Agility Test (FPAT) Policy
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT YOU SHOULD BE IN GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FIREFIGHTER PHYSICAL AGILITY TEST AND TO PREVENT INJURY OR AGGRAVATION OF ANY EXISTING CONDITION THAT YOU MAY HAVE. ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO SIGN A RELEASE OF LIABILITY.
STEP 4: ORAL BOARD INTERVIEW
Those applicants who pass the Firefighter Physical Agility Test as outlined in Step 3 will be eligible to participate in the oral board interview. The oral board interviews will be held at UFA's Emergency Communication Center located at 3380 South 900 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84119.
The oral board interview will consist of structured, behaviorally based questions. Fire officers and other firefighters or firefighter specialists will evaluate your responses.
Banding Process
At the conclusion of the oral board interview, the hiring committee evaluates each applicant placing them into "Hiring Bands" based on the likelihood of success during recruit camp and in a career as a Firefighter. To make these determinations, the group considers a variety of information about the applicants, including their performance in all examination components, the information shared during their oral board interviews, their expressed level of interest or commitment, and their past work history.
STEP 5: REFERENCE AND BACKGROUND CHECK
STEP 6: NEW-HIRE MEDICAL PHYSICAL AND DRUG SCREENING
Applicants must meet NFPA-1582 standards.
STEP 7: RECRUIT CAMP
Recruit Camp is anticipated to begin in August 2026.
To fill vacancies within UFA, Human Resources reserves the right to assign firefighter applicants to different hiring groups. Such assignments will be made in accordance with organizational needs and applicable policies.