Massachusetts Fire Lieutenant and Captain promotional exams

Each announcement says candidates are responsible for all listed texts, that only the listed chapters and sections are included, and that all technical knowledge examination questions will be based on these materials. Chapter-level inclusions and exclusions are in the official documents.

Boston and Worcester have their own 2027 Lieutenant and Captain reading lists, also dated October 9, 2026, with the same April 12, 2027 exam date. They are different exams from the statewide one, so use the list for your own department.

One chief-level promotional exam is open or upcoming on the state schedule. From the official page, published May 15, 2026 and last updated September 29, 2026:

Applications

August 17 to September 14, 2026

ECT&E claim period

October 31 to November 28, 2026

Notice to appear

November 6, 2026

Written examination

November 21, 2026

Examination fee

$150

Score release and list

TBD on the official page

• Deputy Fire Chief (1YP): 44% Technical Knowledge, 36% Situational Judgment, 20% ECT&E. Other postings add an assessment center, for example 22%, 18%, 40%, 20% for 1YP-442.
• District Fire Chief (1YP): 48% Technical Knowledge, 32% Situational Judgment, 20% ECT&E.
• The application window has closed. The page lists a reading list and an SJT preparation guide.

Open the official Deputy and District Fire Chief page

From the official 2026 page, published October 20, 2025 and last updated July 27, 2026.

Applications

January 5 to February 10, 2026

ECT&E claim period

March 17 to April 14, 2026

Notice to appear

March 23, 2026

Written examination

April 7, 2026

Score release

June 8, 2026

ECT&E last day to appeal

June 25, 2026

Eligible list established

August 1, 2026

Examination fee

$150

Use this as a guide to how a cycle runs, not as a prediction. The 2027 dates have not been published in the sources we reviewed.

• Technical Knowledge: written. The 2026 postings list nine knowledge areas: chemistry and physics of fire, fireground operations and fire suppression, special operations including criminal and terrorist use of chemical, biological, and radiological agents, building design, fire prevention, fire protection, hazardous materials, legal considerations for the fire service, and supervision with workplace safety and wellness.
• Situational Judgment Test: measures judgment and decision-making, accountability, adaptability, guiding and developing others, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
• ECT&E: an experience, certification, training, and education claim filed online. The official page states it is mandatory and that not completing it results in a failing score. Documentation is accepted up to seven calendar days after the written exam, and appeals are due within seventeen calendar days of the score notice.
• Assessment Center: part of some department groups only. The postings give its weight but not its format.

The eligibility rule on every posting is permanent civil service status in the eligible title by the exam date plus the years of service shown for your group. The eligible title is Firefighter for most Lieutenant postings, and Fire Lieutenant (or Firefighter, in a few departments) for most Captain postings. The eligible list can be certified for a period set by the administrator, not to exceed two years unless the statute or the HRD revocation policy provides otherwise.

Weights below come from the ten 2026 postings. Department lists differ between the official exam page and the individual postings, so find your department on the current poster instead of relying on a list here.

See all 2026 postings and their department lists

• Confirm your group first. A 56% technical exam and a 28% technical exam with a 40% assessment center call for different preparation.
• Match every text to its exact edition. This year's editions changed, and the exam is built from the listed editions.
• Start the ECT&E documentation early. It is mandatory and it needs letters and records that take time to collect.

The state publishes a candidate preparation guide and an ECT&E scoring guide for each cycle. Read them from the official exam page. Our promotional exam study guide explains how promotional exams differ from entry-level tests.

• 2027 application dates, fee, posters, and participating departments, which are not published in the sources we reviewed.
• The contents of the candidate preparation guide and the assessment center format.
• The Boston and Worcester posters and exam dates beyond the shared April 12, 2027 date on their reading lists. See the state's exam schedule.
• The contents of the Deputy and District Fire Chief reading list and its SJT preparation guide.

Facts on this page about dates, eligibility, and exam components come from the official sources below. We last checked them on October 12, 2026. Exam details change between cycles, so confirm with the administering authority before you act.

• 2026 Fire Lieutenant & Captain Examinations

  Mass.gov Civil Service · Published October 20, 2025 · Updated July 27, 2026

• Posters for the 2026 Fire Lieutenant & Captain Examinations (ten postings, all read)

  Massachusetts Human Resources Division

• 2027 Statewide Fire Lieutenant Reading List

  Massachusetts Human Resources Division · Published October 9, 2026

• 2027 Statewide Fire Captain Reading List

  Massachusetts Human Resources Division · Published October 9, 2026

• 2026 Statewide Fire Lieutenant Reading List

  Massachusetts Human Resources Division · Published October 10, 2025

• 2027 Boston Fire Lieutenant and Fire Captain Reading Lists

  Massachusetts Human Resources Division · Published October 9, 2026

• 2027 Worcester Fire Lieutenant and Fire Captain Reading Lists

  Massachusetts Human Resources Division · Published October 9, 2026

• 2026 Statewide Deputy & District Fire Chief Examination

  Mass.gov Civil Service · Published May 15, 2026 · Updated September 29, 2026

• Civil Service Examination Schedule

  Mass.gov Civil Service · Updated October 7, 2026