Job description
DESCRIPTION
Salary (during academy):
$5,258.93 per month
Salary (first day of the pay period following academy graduation):
$5,950.19 per month (Step 1)
The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) is currently accepting applications for the position of Firefighter Trainee. Please review the entire recruitment bulletin for important information before applying.
This recruitment may be used to fill multiple future academies.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Sunday, January 8, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.: Last day to apply on-line
January 15 – January 28, 2023: Biddle Physical Agility Test coordinated by the OCFA (possession of a current Biddle Physical Ability Certificate completed between January 9, 2022 through January 8, 2023 will be substituted for this portion of the selection process)
February 3 – February 5, 2023: Firefighter Trainee Written Examination for those not currently on Firefighter Candidate Testing Center’s (FCTC) Statewide Eligibility List (SEL)
February 14 – March 10, 2023: Oral Panel Interviews
TBD: Eligibility List Established
March 20 – April 7, 2023: Fire Chief's Interview
April 17, 2023: Background Orientation (Virtual)
April 17 – June 9, 2023: Background Investigation, Pre-employment Medical Examination, and Pre-Academy Physical Fitness Assessment
June 9, 2023: Academy On-Boarding Orientation
July 21, 2023: Family Orientation
July 31, 2023: First Day of Fire Academy 58
Please note, all dates are subject to change.
CLASS SUMMARY:
Under close supervision in a training capacity, to learn to perform firefighting duties used in the suppression of structural, aircraft, wildland, and other types of fires; to learn to perform routine fire prevention activities; and to learn other duties as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
This is a trainee class. Incumbents attend an OCFA departmental academy to develop and demonstrate the minimum qualifications required for entry into a career as a firefighter. Appointment as a firefighter is based on satisfactory evaluations and graduation from the academy.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
To review the entire Firefighter Trainee job description please go to www.ocfa.org.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (position requirements at time of application):
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Possession of a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED)
- No experience required
LICENSE AND CERTIFICATIONS (position requirement at time of application):
- Possession of a valid Class C Driver License or out of state equivalent
- Possession of a valid, current California or National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) License
A valid, current California Paramedic License or National Registry Paramedic License will be accepted in lieu of a valid California or National Registry EMT License.
Applicants
MUST attach a copy of their valid, current California or National Registry EMT or Paramedic License at time of application submission.
Failure to submit required document at time of application will result in disqualification.
HIGHLY DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Possession of a valid, current California or National Registry Paramedic License
- Completion of a California State certified Firefighter I Academy
- Possession of a California State Fire Marshal Fire Fighter I Certificate
- Bilingual speaking skills (English and one of the following languages: Spanish, Farsi, Mandarin, Korean, Vietnamese, Urdu, Hindi, Tagalog or American Sign Language)
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
ONLINE APPLICATION:
Human Resources will screen all applications for minimum qualifications as listed above.
BIDDLE PHYSICAL AGILITY EXAMINATION:
Candidates must pass the Biddle Physical Ability Test in a time of 9 minutes and 34 seconds or less. The Biddle Physical Ability Test will be coordinated by the OCFA at a nearby Orange County college (TBD) and proctored by the college staff.
- Possession of a current Biddle Physical Ability Certificate completed between January 9, 2022 through January 8, 2023 will be substituted for participation in this portion of the selection process.
- Candidates MUST attach a copy of their valid Biddle Physical Ability Certificate completed between January 9, 2022 through January 8, 2023 to their application in order to substitute for participation in this portion of the selection process.
- Possession of a CPAT will NOT be accepted in lieu of the Biddle Physical Agility Examination portion of the selection process.
Human Resources will notify candidates by
EMAIL of the scheduled dates, times, and locations. Candidates will be required to pay the cost of the Biddle Physical Ability Test (approximately $40.00) at time of examination.
WRITTEN EXAMINATION:
Candidates must achieve a minimum passing score of 80%. The written exam will have a weight of 25% of the candidate’s overall score. All candidates who achieve a passing score on the written exam will be invited to the Biddle Physical Agility Examination.
- Applicants currently on the Firefighter Candidate Testing Center’s (FCTC) Statewide Eligibility List (SEL) with a written test score of 80% or higher completed between January 9, 2022 through January 8, 2023 will be substituted for participation in this portion of the selection process.
For more information on the FCTC SEL, click here.
To view the FCTC test schedule, click here.
ORAL PANEL INTERVIEW:
The minimum passing score is 80%. The panel interview will have a weight of 75% of the candidate's overall score. All candidates who achieve a passing score on the panel interview will be placed on the eligibility list.
The panel interview will be arranged by Human Resources. Human Resources will notify referred candidates by EMAIL of the scheduled dates, times, and locations.
ELIGIBILITY LIST:
Placement on the eligibility list will be established based on a combination of the written examination (25%) and the panel oral interview scores (75%). The Biddle Physical Ability Test is pass/fail. The eligibility list will remain in effect for a period of one (1) year from the date of establishment or until all the names on the list are exhausted. The eligibility list may be extended or abolished at the discretion of the Assistant Chief / Human Resources Director.
CHIEF'S INTERVIEW:
Candidates who successfully complete the Chief's interview may be invited to begin the pre-employment background process.
The Chief's interview will be arranged by Human Resources. Human Resources will notify referred candidates by
EMAIL of the scheduled dates, times, and locations.
SELECTION:
Tentative selections will be completed after the Fire Chief interviews. Final placement in any academy will be determined based on successful completion of:
- Pre-employment medical examination
- Background check
- Pre-academy physical fitness assessment
PRE-EMPLOYMENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION:
Candidate must successfully complete a comprehensive pre-employment medical exam including a drug screen through the OCFA's designated physician.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND:
Candidate must successfully complete a comprehensive pre-employment background investigation including but not limited to fingerprinting, current and previous employment history check, reference check, DMV check, criminal history check, and licensure/certification check.
PRE-ACADEMY PHYSICAL FITNESS ASSESSMENT:
Candidate must complete a comprehensive Pre-Academy Physical Fitness Assessment through the OCFA's designated assessment vendor.
All job offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal conviction check (Live-Scan), comprehensive pre-employment medical exam and drug screen, and pre-academy physical fitness assessment.
After an offer of employment is made, a candidate must be able to provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States in accordance with Immigration and Reform Control Act of 1986.
LOYALTY OATH:
All new employees must take an oath of allegiance to the United States of America and the State of California.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA ACCOMMODATION):
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, anyone who needs an ADA accommodation for the purposes of employment testing should contact Brad Stephens, Senior Human Resources Analyst at (714) 573 - 6816 or via email at bradstephens@ocfa.org within 72 hours prior to the need for the accommodation.
TOBACCO PRODUCTS:
Employees represented by the OCPFA hired after September 1, 2016 are not permitted to use tobacco products on or off duty.
QUESTIONS:
All questions regarding this position should be directed to Brad Stephens, Senior Human Resources Analyst at (714) 573 - 6816 or via email at bradstephens@ocfa.org.
NOTE:
The provisions of this publication do not constitute an express or implied contract. Any provision in this publication may be modified or revoked without notice.
FIREFIGHTER TRAINEES
EMPLOYMENT STATUS:
Firefighter trainees must successfully complete the Authority's Basic Fire Academy as a condition of employment. Employees under this classification are represented by the Orange County Professional Firefighters Association (OCPFA) IAFF - Local 3631.
SALARY:
Firefighter trainees receive a flat hourly wage rate as stated in the job description. Trainees are not eligible for a merit increase due to the "trainee" capacity.
RETIREMENT: All regular OCFA employees are members of the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS) - a defined benefit retirement program. Employees are enrolled in one of the following retirement formulas based on date of hire.
Legacy Members: Firefighter Trainees hired on or after January 1, 2013
who establish reciprocity with OCERS are enrolled in the 2% at age 55 retirement formula (General, Plan N). When a Firefighter Trainee promotes to Probationary Firefighter, OCERS membership changes from General to Safety and transitions to the 3.0% at age 55 retirement formula (Safety, Plan R)
New Members: Firefighter Trainees hired on or after January 1, 2013 without reciprocity are enrolled in the 2.5% at age 67 retirement formula (General, Plan U PEPRA). When a Firefighter Trainee promotes to Probationary Firefighter, OCERS membership changes from General to Safety and transitions to the 2.7% at age 55 retirement formula (Safety, Plan V PEPRA).
New Members: Firefighter Trainees hired on or after January 1, 2013 without reciprocity are enrolled in the 2.5% at age 67 retirement formula (General, Plan U PEPRA). When a Firefighter Trainee promotes to Probationary Firefighter, OCERS membership changes from General to Safety and transitions to the 2.7% at age 55 retirement formula (Safety, Plan V PEPRA).
For more information about OCERS retirement, go to: https://www.ocers.org.
To learn more about the comprehensive benefits package offered to employees represented by the Orange County Professional Firefighters Association, please refer to the Firefighter Benefits Summary.
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