Frequently Asked Questions

Unfortunately, due to manpower and budget constraints, the Boulder City Fire Department does not have an Explorer program at this time.

Typically the Explorer program is designed for those individuals aged 14-18 who are interested in a future career in the fire service.

The City of Boulder City conducts an annual recruitment to establish an eligibility list for the position of Firefighter/Paramedic. This is the entry-level position for Boulder City Fire Department (BCFD). This recruitment can be either open - meaning any qualified individual can submit an application - or, in-house - meaning that only those qualified persons in the department’s Fire Reserve Program are eligible to apply.

Once an application is accepted, based on the recruitment and position guidelines, candidates will be required to pass a written examination, oral examination, and physical agility test. Those candidates who pass all examinations will be placed on a hiring list which is then certified by the City’s Civil Service Commission. Once the list is established, all open positions during the next 12 month period (or longer if the list is extended) for the Firefighter / Paramedic position are filled from this list. If selected to fill a vacant position, candidates must also complete a selection interview and, post-job offer, a medical examination and background investigation.

For more information on this program, please visit our

Reserve Firefighters must possess or be able to obtain Nevada medical and firefighter certifications. Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate or EMT-Paramedic, and Firefighter I certifications are required to be considered for the BCFD Reserve program.

Dependant upon the recruitment, all full-time career Firefighters must also either possess or be able to obtain their paramedic certification within the time frame specified by the Fire Chief.

An EMT-Paramedic, the highest certification level, must complete an approved course consisting of approximately 670 didactic and laboratory hours and 300 clinical hours training. Upon completion of the didactic / clinical training, including the final written and practical examinations, the student then must pass the written ALS Licensure examination which then allows the student to enter the field internship portion of the Paramedic training program.

The internship consists of completing a minimum of 360 hours (12 hours shifts) on a Paramedic ambulance and the student is evaluated daily by a Paramedic Preceptor / EMS Instructor with major performance evaluations completed regularly which indicates the intern consistently performs procedures in a competent manner according to established standards and has made the established minimum number of patient contacts.

Upon successful completion of the internship, the intern must successfully pass the National Registry practical examination within 24 months of course completion to earn the EMT-Paramedic certification.