FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
RESPONSES TO
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I want to be a Springfield
Firefighter. What should I do?
To prepare to become a City of Springfield Firefighter
you must first meet the minimum qualifications and you must also
possess certifications in Firefighter I & II (from an IFSAC
accredited educational institution) and possess a Missouri EMT-Basic
license. Candidates who only meet the minimum qualifications
will be able to participate in the process up to the interviews.
Interviews may only be offered to applicants who also possess
Firefighter I & II and EMT-B MO.
Many colleges and schools offer the Fire and EMT courses.
I missed the
last posting for Firefighter. When will you accept applications for this
position again?
We accept applications for Firefighter only during
the posting period.
This period is usually in July and August. Make sure and
submit an application by the posted deadline.
Applications will not be accepted once the posting has closed.
What classes should I take
if I want to become a Firefighter?
Candidates serious about becoming a Springfield Firefighter must
obtain certifications in Firefighter I & II and obtain an EMT-B
license from the state of Missouri.
Firefighter I & II courses must be completed from an
IFSAC accredited educational institution.
When do you hire Firefighters?
Candidates are hired as openings become available in the department
due to resignations or retirements.
There is no way to predict when these positions will need
to be filled.
How many Firefighters will
you hire?
There is no set amount of Firefighters hired each year. That depends entirely on turnover in the department.
New positions are rarely created, so candidates are usually
hired to replace Fire personnel who resign or retire.
I do not live in Missouri.
Can I still apply?
We welcome out of state applicants. We encourage applicants who will be traveling to Missouri to be
aware of our hiring process. In
order to be considered eligible for hire, candidates must possess
Firefighter I & II from an IFSAC accredited school and they
must also possess a Missouri EMT-B.
Candidates who have the National Registry EMT can apply for
a Missouri EMT-B by submitting an application and paying a fee.
Candidates who do not possess these qualifications WILL still
be invited to participate in the process up to the interview phase.
Candidates who do not possess those certifications by the time interviews
are scheduled will NOT be invited to interview.
I do not have Firefighting experience.
Do I still qualify?
There is no requirement stating candidates must have experience
as a Firefighter. The Fire
Department considers the completion of Firefighter I & II and
licensure with EMT-B to be sufficient training prior to getting
hired to the Springfield Fire Department.
Firefighters will benefit from additional training once hired
to the position.
What is the process for hiring Firefighters?
The Firefighter seelction process only takes place once per year.
We begin accepting applications in July and accept them until a
specified date in late August or early September. Each year the
exact dates will vary slightly. We will post the announcement on
the City of Springfield website and on our telephone hotline numbers.
The sequence for the process includes: accept applications, written
exam (usually in early October), physical agility test (usually
in late October), first interviews (usually in November), second
interviews (usually in December or January). After the entire process
has been completed, only appilcants who satisfactorily complete
the interview process will be considered eligible candiadtes. The
list of eligible candidates remains in effect until a new list is
established at the completion of the next process - typically the
same time the following year.
Do I have to pass a physical if I’m offered
a position?
Yes. If a conditional offer
of employment is made, the candidate must satisfactorily complete
a full medical physical examination. In general, candidates should
be in excellent physical condition and meet vision requirements,
correctable to 20/30.
Does the City of Springfield provide the
necessary training?
The City of Springfield Fire Department Training Division does
provide extensive training to newly hired Firefighters. New employees must satisfactorily complete
the classroom and practical training and station duty assignments
during their probation period.
The training department does not provide Firefighter I &
II or EMT-B courses. Those must be completed prior to getting hired
into the department.
I have a criminal background. Can I still become a Firefighter?
The Springfield Fire Department is very selective when hiring new
Firefighters. The most desirable
candidates will possess a clean criminal record and meet all of
the other requirements. Candidates
who have a serious misdemeanor conviction within the past five years
or a felony conviction will not be considered eligible for the
position.
I cannot remember all the dates of my
traffic violations or other criminal convictions.
Do I still need to include them?
Absolutely. The City is
looking for full disclosure of criminal background regardless of
how long ago or what state the activity was recorded.
It is up to the candidate to be aware of his/her own record
and provide accurate information.
If undisclosed information is discovered during a background
investigation it could disqualify a candidate for employment with
the City.
I do not have a High School diploma or
GED. Can I still become a Firefighter?
No. A minimum qualification
for the position of Firefighter specifies that candidates must have
graduated high school or obtained a G.E.D.
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