Firefighter Exams

We accept applications for Firefighter every two to three years. When applications open Apply!

Qualify

Do you meet minimum qualifications?

1. At least 17½ years of age at the time of application and 18 years of age at time of hire
2. Possession of a valid driver’s license at time of hire
3. High school diploma or GED at time of hire
4. United States citizen at time of application.

Can you answer no to these two questions?

1. After reaching 18 years of age, were you convicted of domestic violence?
2. After reaching 18 years of age, were you convicted of a federal offense? A thorough background check will be conducted in step 3.

Often, Firefighters interact with our community at their most vulnerable times. Therefore, the City developed background removal standards to remove individuals from consideration to become Firefighters who have a history of violence, poor driving records, and more. The complete background removal standards can be found here.(PDF, 149KB)

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As you create your profile, add your contact information, work experience, education, and training. You can attach certificates, diplomas, DD214s and more. When you apply, your profile and attachments will be there and you can include them on your application. Update this information when you apply.

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 Three-Phase Firefighter Exam

• Phase I: Multiple-Choice Examination (pass/fail)
• Phase II: Oral Examination aka Fire Oral Assessment Mechanism (FOAM) (band/fail)
• Phase III: Physical Examination aka Firefighter Mile (pass/fail)

Firefighter Exam Preparation 

Review the Firefighter Test Guide(PDF, 907KB) to prepare for Phases I and II. Review the Firefighter Mile Candidate Orientation Guide to become familiar with Phase III. 

Learn what to expect during the Firefighter exam and how to prepare for success through this  Firefighter Information Session. It's a recording of a session held for candidates interested in the entry-level Firefighter Exam held by the City of Columbus Civil Service Commission’s Public Safety Testing Team.

Phase I: Multiple Choice

Phase II: Fire Oral Assessment Mechanism

The Firefighter Oral Assessment Mechanism (FOAM) is a video-based examination that tests your problem sensing and resolution skills and interpersonal relations skills. You will watch six scenarios, and at the conclusion of each scenario, you will respond verbally as if you were a firefighter or medic in that situation. We will video-record your responses. The scenarios are set in fire-related environments, meaning they occur in locations involving firefighters and situations they may encounter. However, no medical, fire suppression, or other knowledge that is learned in the fire training academy will be assessed. This exam is not intended to test for firefighter-related policies or procedures. The evaluation of your responses measures problem sensing and resolution skills and interpersonal relations skills. 

Watch this video to see a practice scenario.

FOAM Practice Scenario Video

Watch this video to see a sample response to the practice scenario.

FOAM Response to Practice Scenario Video

Review the Firefighter Test Guide for more details about this FOAM Phase. 

Phase III: Firefighter Mile

The Firefighter Mile consists of 10 events. The events require cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and stamina. Each event will be timed. During all events, you will wear a 40-pound weighted vest, which approximates the weight of the clothing, equipment, and breathing apparatus that a firefighter normally wears during these types of activities. For the first event, you will wear an additional 40-pound weighted vest to simulate carrying additional necessary equipment.

Watch this video to learn more about the Firefighter Mile. 

Firefighter Mile Orientation Video

Read this orientation guide for details about what to expect during the Firefighter Mile. 

Firefighter Mile Orientation Guide

Veteran's Preference

Are you a veteran of the US military? Would you like to have veteran's preference points added to your passing score?

Learn more through our Veteran's Preference Fact Sheet.

Eligible List

Candidates who pass all phases of the Firefighter exam are grouped in bands based on their final scores and placed on the Firefighter Eligible List. To be placed on the Eligible List, you will need to pass all three phases of the exam. Your exam score is your FOAM phase score. For passing candidates who qualify for veteran's preference points, these points are added to your passing exam score and may help elevate you to a higher band. Since, more that 100 eligible candidates are on a Firefighter Eligible List, the list is separated into three bands with the highest scoring candidates in Band 1 and the lowest passing candidates in Band 3.

Once you are on the eligible list, you will begin the background when we reach your band; Band 1 first, then Band 2, and finally Band 3.

Personal History Statement (PHS)

When we reach your band, we send you a personal history statement (PHS) by email. The sooner you complete and submit your PHS, the sooner you will be considered for the next class.

Background Investigation You will be required to attend a pre-interview with a background investigator at the background office. The investigation begins by taking your picture and getting your fingerprints. You will need to sign waivers to assist us in completing an extensive background investigation. Background investigators will review your PHS. At any point in this process, if you meet a removal standard or you do not respond or show up, you will be removed from the eligible list. Here's a list of the Firefighter removal standards.

Polygraph Exam You will complete a pre-polygraph questionnaire and participate in a polygraph examination. The polygraph is conducted to verify the accuracy and completeness of all the information you provided.

Background Removal Standards

The background removal standards are an objective list of disqualifying background characteristics for which Firefighter candidates will be removed from consideration. 

The CSC conducted a comprehensive review of the City’s background standards and gained community input to set these standards.

The background investigation is designed to identify candidates who meet a removal standard. When a candidate meets a removal standard, the background investigator formally requests the CSC remove the candidate from the eligible list.

Civil Service Commission Review

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) reviews the background investigation results, including the polygraph, to ensure that anyone who needs removed, based on the background standards are removed. CSC verifies that eligible candidates, who do not meet a removal standard are referred to the Public Safety Director for consideration. The CSC places you on a referral list and your background investigation packet is reviewed by selected Fire personnel in the chain of command. They make recommendations for hire to the Public Safety Director. The Public Safety Director sends selected candidates a conditional offer of employment.

When you receive a conditional offer of employment to become a Firefighter, you will be scheduled for a medical and psychological exam with the City’s medical providers.

Medical Exam

You must meet the medical standards; including passing a stress test. The City’s medical provider will assess your overall physical health. They will verify that you have the physical health to perform the requirements of the job.

Common Medical Issues

Our current medical provider, Mount Carmel Occupational Health provided this list of common medical‐related issues that would cause removal from consideration or require a temporary withdrawal. If you have been given a conditional offer of employment and need a temporary withdrawal due to a resolvable medical issue, please complete and submit the Request to Withdraw from Eligible List form.

 Medical:

1. The following conditions are disqualifying:

• a. implantable cardiac defibrillator,
• b. 100% dependency on a pacemaker,
• c. heart transplant, and
• d. hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

2. Any medical condition that results in sudden, unpredictable loss of consciousness is disqualifying.

3. Seizures: if you have ever had a seizure, contact Mount Carmel for more details.

• a. Seizure disorders are potentially disqualifying.
• b. Additional medical information from your neurologist is required.

4. Asthma: if you have used an inhaler in the past two years, you must meet NFPA 6.8.1.1 requirements.

5. Diabetes: additional medical information and a note from your treating provider is required (ask Mount Carmel for more details). a. Additional medical information must include the outcome of your annual eye exam, recent hgbA1C, stability of medication regimen, etc.

6. Blood thinners: are potentially disqualifying.

7. Hypertension: must be well controlled (less than 140/90).

8. Other serious medical conditions will require additional medical information and could be potentially disqualifying.

9. Injuries: require a temporary withdrawal until resolved without restrictions.

10. Pregnancy: requires a temporary withdrawal.

Vision: You may need glasses, contacts or eye surgery if you don’t meet the below requirements.

1. Your best distance vision must be at least 20/30 in the better‐seeing eye and no worse than 20/200 in the poorer‐seeing eye.

If your uncorrected distance vision is worse than 20/100 both eyes together, you will need vision corrective surgery (i.e., Lasik). The waiting period after Lasik and other corrective vision procedures is two months.

2. Your near vision must be at least 20/40 in both eyes together.

Physical Fitness:

You must reach a certain VO2 level during a treadmill stress test. The criteria are based on your age and biological sex. 

Stress Test

The medical exam includes a treadmill stress test. Know what to expect during the stress test by watching this video.

Stress Test Example (Video)

Treadmill Stress Test includes a Bruce Protocol treadmill stress test. The stress test provides a measure of your physical fitness and how your heart tolerates stress. You’re required to reach certain criteria during the stress test, which is measured by your VO2 level.

What is VO2?

• The volume of oxygen consumption, or VO2, is a measurement of the body's cardiorespiratory fitness. It reflects the rate at which the body can consume and transport oxygen to working muscles.

The oxygen is used to produce energy. What does VO2 measure?

• It measures the efficiency of a person's body to generate the energy required for activities with increasing workloads.

Why is VO2 important?

• The better your VO2, the easier it is to complete day to day activities.
• Being physically fit decreases the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other health conditions.

Tips to improve your VO2.

• High intensity interval training produces greater increases in VO2 than continuous steady state training.
• Quit smoking.
• Lose weight, if needed.
• Practice the Bruce Protocol.
• Engage in a consistent exercise training program. See the workouts below. 

Workouts

Always consult your primary care provider before beginning any exercise program.

The following workouts can be completed on your choice of exercise equipment. The intensity of each interval can be adjusted with resistance, duration, incline, and/or speed.

Intensity Definitions:

• REST: Sit there and catch your breath (restore slower breathing).
• EASY: A flat road, with slight base resistance, moving at a pace you could hold all day.
• MODERATE: This will start to feel like work but is maintainable. Use resistance like you’re on a small hill.
• HARD: You are working! Breathing is heavy and it feels hard to hold this. Use medium‐heavy resistance.
• ALL‐OUT: Give everything! Use heaviest resistance you can handle.
• COOL‐DOWN: Allow your body to gradually return to normal physical level.
• INTERVAL: Alternate two or more activities requiring different rates of speed and degrees of effort.

*Warm up for 10 minutes before your workout.*

Psychological Exam

The City’s licensed provider conducts the psychological exams. This psychological exam consists of three independent exams interpreted by licensed professionals. The exams are written or completed on a computer. Sometimes these written exams are administered in a group setting. Later, you will meet one-on-one with a licensed psychologist. The written exams and the one-on-one meeting can be conducted on the same day, but typically are handled in two sessions.

Once you clear your medical and psychological exams, you will be given a final offer of employment with an academy start date.

You will complete your new-hire paperwork. Before your first day, you and your family will have an opportunity to learn more about the training program, the training academy and the job.

Training

Once you start as a Columbus Firefighter, you will join a 32-week Fire Training Academy. You will be employed full-time and paid while you learn.

You will be given the education and training you need to become an Ohio certified Firefighter and a Emergency Medical Technician Basic (EMT-B). Once you graduate the academy, you will be sworn in during your graduation ceremony to serve the Columbus community as a Firefighter. 

You will complete a one-year probationary period from the date of hire. 

After your training academy graduation, you will be assigned to various stations as you complete your Journeyman program. The Journeyman program is a three-year program where you continue to learn as you serve the Columbus community.

Columbus Firefighters often respond to medical emergencies. Firefighters are the first-responders to most medical emergencies in central Ohio. The Division of Fire maintains a required number of Firefighters who possess an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)-Paramedic certificate. 

As a Columbus Firefighter, you may be required to obtain and retain an EMT-Paramedic certificate.