A Guide to Firefighting in NYC

It’s not easy to even think about throwing yourself into fire and risking your life to save the lives of others. Yet, thousands of firefighters in United States still dedicate their lives to saving lives.

From accidents to explosions, the Fire Department New York (FDNY) is always there and among the first responders to any crisis. While the job is tough, it comes with many benefits as well. It’s because of honor and attractive benefits that many young people aspire to join the fire department. If you’re also one of those people who wish to become firefighters, then this blog post is for you. As we move through this blog, we’ll guide you about everything you may need to know pertaining to firefighting in NYC.

Application to NYC Fire Department

Keep in mind that becoming a firefighter is tough job and hence NYFD has extremely tough criteria for it. You can’t just apply to FDNY and get hired without any effort. In fact, they also have a strict eligibility criteria that you must meet in order to be considered for any further application process.

Any candidate above the age of 17 ½ years and under 29 is eligible to apply. However, no candidate will be employed before reaching the age of 21. There’s only one exception to this rule and that’s for those who have served in US military. They can apply before they reach the age of 36. Military servants are allowed to subtract up to six years of age from the amount of time they served in military.

Besides age, there are many other factors that must be taken into account. For instance, as per the current policies of FDNY, only those applicants who are citizens of U.S are eligible to apply. As for the immigrants, they must also abide by all the rules and regulations of Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Moreover, for FDNY, only the residents of Orange, Nassau, Putnam, Suffolk, Westchester County, and Rockland will be considered.

The candidates who meet all these requirements will be eligible to appear for both the computer-based exam and physical ability test, and they must pass both to succeed.

Other Assessments

It doesn’t end at the computer assessment and physical ability test. The candidates are also required to get through a medical assessment, psychological assessment and much more. The department also carries out a background investigation to find out about the individual’s character history. Those convicted for any crimes or misconduct and disrespect for the law may be disqualified from the process. Successful candidates are also required to possess a valid driver’s license.

Work and Education

Candidates are also required to meet some criteria pertaining to education and experience. All applicants must complete their four-year high school diploma before their appointment. However, it’s also possible to produce a proof of any other educational background that is equivalent to this. All candidates must also have at least 15 college semester credits from an accredited college or university.

Additional Requirements

There are some additional requirements as well for those who have been hired at FDNY. They must become a Certified First Responder and possess a Defibrillation Certificate (CFR-D) within their probation. An inability to do so will result in cancellation of their employment.  Candidates will have to pay for the cost of their training and hence $30 per pay will be deducted from their salary upon the completion of their training period. Any misconduct or inability to successfully complete the training will result in disqualification of the candidate.

Steps to Follow

Once a candidate meets all the requirements, they need to strictly follow certain steps as directed by the department. The candidates will appear for a written exam that will test their basic reading, problem-solving, and listening skills. The next stage is the physical examination test which is also called Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT). CPAT helps in assessing a candidate’s agility and strength. Those who aren’t physically active can attend training sessions offered by FDNY prior to the CPAT.

All those candidates who pass the CPAT will them appear for a series of medical and psychological screening to ensure that they are suitable for the job and not involved in any sort of substance abuse. Successful candidates will then be enrolled for 18-week classroom and physical fitness and get close to starting their flourishing career at FDNY.

What to Expect?

Considering the struggle that the candidates have to go through to be able to start a career at FDNY, it makes sense to have high expectations of salary and other benefits. And the expectations are correct. All members of FDNY receive good salaries and many other employment benefits such as lifelong medical coverage not just for themselves but also for their families. They can also enjoy four weeks paid vacation every year. When a member of FDNY retires, they receive a reasonable salary along with many other retirement benefits.

Are Candidates Expected to Have Any Prior Knowledge of Firefighting?

Contrary to the popular belief, candidates applying to FDNY aren’t expected to know anything about the firefighting and they are trained for everything upon successful completion of their hiring process. The tests and assessments are designed to only assess the primary skills of candidates.

How long is the Hiring Process?

Unfortunately, there’s no set limit or time frame in which you can expect to get hired at FDNY. The tests are arranged once every four years and hence you should start preparing if you’re planning to appear for it any time soon. Some candidates wait for many years before successfully becoming a part of FDNY.

If you’re also interested in joining FDNY, the reach out to us. At Civil Service Success, we prepare candidates for FDNY assessments and many other civil service exams relevant to their interests. All our courses and preparation strategies are designed to provide the candidates with all the essential knowledge and everything else they need for their application. You may get in touch with us to find out more.