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Regional Testing
for Entry-Level Firefighters - FAQ's
The Miami Valley Fire/EMS Alliance is sponsoring an entry-level testing process
for firefighters for the Beavercreek Township, Brookville, Butler Township,
Englewood, Farmersville (Jackson Township), Harrison Township, Huber Heights,
Jefferson Township, Miamisburg, Miami Township, New Lebanon, Phillipsburg,
Riverside and Trotwood and Washington Township Fire Departments.
Is this testing process
just for full-time firefighters?
No, the testing process will establish eligibility lists for full-time, and
part-time. Candidates can register for both or will choose which eligibility
list they want to test for when they fill out their registration form.
How can I sign up to take
the test?
Candidates must sign up for the testing process at the offices of the Miami
Valley Fire/EMS Alliance in Room 231 of Sinclair Community College’s Building
#20; 220 South Edwin C. Moses Blvd.; Dayton, Ohio between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, Dates for sign-ups are always posted on the
official test announcement.
What are the components of the testing process?
Ø
Candidates
should attend an Orientation session. The location and directions
will be included in the information that will be passed out as candidates
complete their registration.
Ø
The
Orientation will provide information on both the written and the physical
ability testing processes. Candidates should make every effort to attend this
Orientation. If they do not attend, they will be responsible to make
arrangements to pick up their Information Packet at the Alliance offices and pay
their testing fees at that time. They will also miss much valuable information
that will be presented at the Orientation.
Ø The written
examination will take place approximately five weeks after the Orientation.
Ø
The
Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) will take place approximately four weeks
after the written test. The time, date and location will
be announced at the Orientation.
How much does the process cost?
Ø
Written examination –
Candidates will be charged a fee of $50.00 to take the written examination.
This fee must be paid by a cashier’s or certified check or a money order
(no exceptions will be made) made payable to the Miami Valley Fire/EMS Alliance
on the day of the Orientation. The fee will cover all testing fees and
materials.
Ø
CPAT –
Candidates will be charged a fee of $50.00 to take the CPAT. This must be paid
by a cashier’s or certified check or a money order (no exceptions will be
made) made payable to the Miami Valley Fire/EMS Alliance on the day of the CPAT.
The fee will cover the necessary maintenance and replacement of CPAT equipment
and storage.
How can I prepare for the
written test?
Complete test information is available on the Ergometrics website –
www.ergometrics.org. From their home page, click on “FireTEAM.” You can
read more about the testing process on this page or click on “Practice Test.”
You will be able to take a practice test (for an additional fee to be paid
directly to Ergometrics).
How can I prepare for the
CPAT?
There will be several opportunities for candidates to practice on the CPAT
equipment in the time between the Orientation and the CPAT administration. A
schedule of practice sessions will be announced at the Orientation. Candidates
may also find a wealth of information available on the Internet. For example, a
Candidate Orientation Guide is available from our web site for
reference (note, this is only a reference document, we do not warrant the
accuracy of this document). Candidates should take
advantage of every resource available if they wish to do well in this testing
process. Candidates should not expect to pass the CPAT without significant
preparation in advance. Past experience proves that candidates who attend
practice sessions have a much higher pass-rate than candidates who do not.
What are the general
requirements to participate in this testing process? Candidates must be at least 18 years of age;
possess a valid Ohio’s driver license; and have a minimum of a high school
diploma or equivalent. Participating communities may establish other criteria
for their individual selection and hiring processes as well. (See following
questions.)
Are there any other
general requirements I should be aware of before I sign up to take the test?
Some of the departments
participating in this testing process may require a background investigation
through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCII). In
such cases, a candidate for those departments must provide a set of fingerprints
and pass the criminal background check as a requirement of employment.
Candidates should also be aware that their driving record will be checked and
will be considered during the hiring process.
What other specific
prerequisites are required for full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters?
Each individual fire department sets their own hiring standards. In general,
candidates for full-time positions should have an Ohio Level II Firefighter
certification and a Paramedic (EMT-P) certification. Candidates for part-time
positions should have an Ohio Level I Firefighter certification and an EMT-Basic
(EMT-B) certification. As noted above, these are not universal requirements.
If a candidate has specific questions about the hiring standards for a specific
fire department, they should direct their questions to that department.
Candidates should bring copies of any such Ohio certifications to
Registration or Orientation or the day of the test so they can be recorded on
the candidates file. Updated certifications should be submitted on a timely
basis whenever new certifications are earned. Some fire departments will take
on volunteers without any prior certifications and they will assist those people
with training in the future.
Who developed the testing
material and the testing process?
Ergometrics, a nationally recognized leader in test development, specializing in
video and job simulation testing, developed the written testing process and
materials that the Alliance will use I this testing program. You can check
their website at
www.erogmetrics.org for more information.
Do I have to take the CPAT?
Some fire departments require the CPAT while others may administer their own
test later in the selection and hiring process. Candidates should check with
the individual fire departments to determine their selection criteria. CPAT is
a pass-fail test; it will not influence the candidates’ position on the
eligibility list. There will only be a notation on the eligibility list noting
if the candidate passed CPAT.
How often are the
entry-level tests given?
In an effort to keep active eligibility lists at all times, entry-level tests
are given approximately every six months.
How long will the
eligibility list stay active?
The eligibility list will stay active for one year after the
Training/H.R./Support Committee has ratified the testing process. There is a
chance that the list may be exhausted in less than one year, especially for
part-time firefighters.
When might I hear from a
participating fire department?
Part-time:
Experience indicates that
candidates on the part-time eligibility list can expect to hear from a hiring
department within six to eight weeks after the list is established. Many area
departments hire part-time firefighters on a regular basis, and many candidates
from our testing process often take part-time jobs with one or more
participating fire departments.
Full-time:
There are fewer full-time
positions available in the area, so it is less likely that the eligibility list
will be exhausted before they expire in one year. Hence, when a new full-time
eligibility list is established, an existing list may still be in place for up
to six months. Candidates on that existing list will be contacted before
candidates on the new list, so it may be six to seven months before candidates
are contacted by hiring communities.
What about CPAT?
Candidates who pass CPAT will receive a certificate from the Alliance. This
certification will be good for one year for those departments that choose to
participate in the process with the Miami Valley Fire/EMS Alliance. Outside of
the Alliance, it is up to individual departments to decide whether or not to
recognize these certifications. If a candidate were going to take the
Alliance’s entry-level test on a continuing basis (i.e., every six months) in an
effort to obtain full-time employment, they would only need to take – and pass –
the CPAT examination every other testing cycle, i.e. once a year.
Will you accept CPAT
certifications from other testing agencies, and will they accept Alliance
certifications?
Yes, CPAT is a standardized physical ability testing process and we will accept
certifications from any other certified CPAT testing agencies. Likewise, other
agencies may, at their discretion, accept our CPAT certifications for their own
candidates. For example, we have forwarded CPAT certifications to Colorado
Springs, CO for their candidates and we have accepted certification from West
Virginia.
Does the Alliance hire
full or part-time firefighters?
No, the Alliance only administers the written and physical ability tests as a
service and cost savings to its member communities. Each of the communities
sets their own hiring standards and practices. The Alliance cannot answer
questions about the specific hiring practices of all of these fire departments.
If candidates have questions about an individual fire department, they should
contact that department for more information.
What if I have other
questions not answered here?
If you have any additional questions, please send them in an email to Jackie
Leland, Administrative Assistant for the Alliance, at
jackiel@mvfea.com.
All communities participating in this testing and selection process
are equal opportunity employers.
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