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1. How do I become a firefighter or Firefighter /Paramedic at South Metro Fire Rescue?

SMFR is currently hiring for entry level firefighter positions. The minimum qualifications for all candidates must meet is:

• High school diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED) 
• Must be 18 years of age by the date of hire
• Valid FireTEAM test scores 
• Valid CPAT certificate
• Possess or be able to obtain a Colorado driver’s license Possess and maintain an acceptable driving record in accordance with SMFR’s Driving Records Policy
• Must be able to pass a pre-employment background check, criminal history review, physical, fitness/wellness assessment, medical evaluation, drug screen and psychological exam. 

2. Do I need to have a valid EMT-B certificate to start the hiring process?

No; but the candidate must have a valid EMT-B certificate prior to the start of the South Metro Fire Rescue Academy. If a candidate is selected for hire, the candidate must attend and successfully pass the EMT-B course hosted by South Metro Fire Rescue. A candidate that does not pass the EMT-B course will be eliminated from the hiring process.

3. Can I still get hired if I have an EMT-B or EMT-P certificate?

Yes. At a minimum, a valid EMT-B or EMT-P certificate is required by the start of the Recruit Academy.

4. When does the Recruit Academy start?

South Metro Fire Rescue conducts two hiring process per year. We hold one Fire Academy in the Spring (end of February) and another in the Fall (end of August). Please sign up to receive email notification of our job announcement by selecting to receive email alerts. To sign up, please visit our job postings page and click on notify me.

5. Can I schedule a ride along with the department?

Yes. From the home page of our website, click on services then scroll down to Community Services. Please note once a hiring cycle starts, ride alongs will be discontinued until the close of the hiring cycle.

6. How am I notified during the hiring process?

All communication throughout the hiring cycle will be sent to the email address that you provided to the National Testing Network when the FireTEAM test was taken. Please be sure to enter your email address correctly on your application and check your email frequently, including your junk or spam email folder. All applicants will be notified of their status via email at each phase of the hiring cycle. Please reach out to employment@southmetro.org with any questions or concerns.

7. Is South Metro hiring only firefighters or can firefighter/paramedic apply?

Please refer to our Careers page. This provides the most up-to-date information on what each academy will include whether it's for firefighters only or a mix of firefighters and firefighters/paramedics. 

8. What are the steps in the hiring process?

Step # 1 FireTEAM TEST

Candidates are required to take the FireTEAM test. The test is administered through the National Testing Network and available during our hiring cycle. Visit the National Testing Network to identify a testing center near you and register to take the test.

•  There is a $50 fee to take the FireTEAM test that will be at the candidate’s expense.
• Each candidate must complete the Work Attitude Questionnaire as part of the FireTEAM testing process. Candidates not completing this test will be eliminated from our testing process.
• FireTEAM minimum passing score deemed valid by NTN are as follows:

Test	Minimum Passing Score
Human Relations	70
Math	70
Mechanical	60
Reading	80
Work Attitude Questionnaire Score (WAQ)	60  *Please note that per NTN policy, the candidate’s WAQ test score will not be visible to the candidate

Step #2 CPAT

• Candidates are required to have a CPAT certificate that is valid through the hiring cycle. 
• Only a CPAT licensed by the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) will be accepted. South Metro Fire Rescue does not host the CPAT test. It is the candidate’s responsibility to obtain the certification on their own.

CPAT Resources for out of state candidates:

National Testing Network (NTN) provides convenient professional administration of the CPAT in Arizona, Florida, Oregon and Washington.  Please visit https://nationaltestingnetwork.com/publicsafetyjobs/cpat_info.cfm

Step # 3 APPLICATION:

Based on the candidates’ FireTEAM scores, SMFR will invite several hundred candidates to apply. Applications will be due no later than 03/31/2020.

Step # 4 ORAL BOARD:

Approximately 150 candidates will be invited to participate in the Oral Board process in May 2020. This is strictly an approximation and the actual number will vary based on the number of successful candidates in Step #3.