Firefighter and Paramedic Employment and Testing

Thank you for your interest in employment with the Bellingham Fire Department. The following information is provided to answer some of your questions about the firefighter recruitment process.

Minimum Qualifications

Must be a U.S. Citizen or registered to work in the U.S.
Applicants must be a minimum of 21 years old at the time of certification of the register.
Must be a high school graduate or have received a GED.
Must pass a police criminal convictions records check with no felony record within the last ten years. Misdemeanor convictions will also be reviewed for the last ten years. A conviction will not necessarily disqualify an applicant, but offenses by their nature and recentness may reveal a lack of specific qualifications for the position.
Must possess EMT certification or acquire within 90 days of employment and maintain for the duration of employment
Must possess or obtain a Washington State Emergency Vehicle Accident Prevention (EVAP) certification within 90 days of initial hire.
Must have a valid Washington State driver’s license and no record of driver’s license suspension or revocation in any state within the last three years.
Must meet minimum medical requirements
Excellent physical condition, including ability to swim and tread water and retrieve a submerged weight.
Must not have smoked or used tobacco products for a minimum of 24 months prior to application.

Recruitment Process

The top 30 scoring candidates will be referred to the Bellingham Fire Department for an Oral Board Interview.
The minimum score to pass the Oral Board Interview is 60%.
The Oral Board Interview will be weighted at 60% of a candidates’ total score.
The register of candidates will be forwarded to the Civil Service Commission for certification.
When vacancies occur, the greater of either the top 15 candidates or top 25% of the register will be referred to the Department for a Chief's interview.
The register will remain active for a period of one year and will be used to fill vacancies as they occur.

The Fire Department will be teaming with Bates Technical College and other municipalities to conduct our next firefighter recruitment process.

Application materials will be available January 18-February 22, 2008 through Bates Technical College (see below):

Recruitment Process

Bates Technical College - Fire Service Training
2201 South 78th St.
Tacoma, WA 98409

Bates website (starting January 18)

Testing Process

Bates Technical College will be administering the written test. The top scoring candidates will advance to the physical agility portion of the process, which is pass/fail. The top candidates will then be referred from Bates to our department for interviews and further assessment.

The register of candidates will be forwarded to the Civil Service Commission for certification. Scores and ranks of these candidates will be posted on our web site under “Applicant Status Information”. When vacancies occur, the top 15 candidates or top 25% of the register, whichever is greater will be referred to the Department. The register will remain active for a period of one year and will be used to fill vacancies when they occur.

Compensation and Benefits

The 2006 salary for the position of firefighter is $4105/month; the full salary range is $4105 – $5207/month. An extensive benefits package is provided including medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage. Employees are subject to the provisions of a union contract.

If you have any questions regarding the recruitment process, contact Human Resources. Also visit the Fire Department’s web page.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application/examination process should contact Human Resources.