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How to go full time?
Greetings. Currently my Part Paid Department is looking to go combination by adding a few full time Firefighters. Anyone out there experienced this on their Department, and have any guides, SOP's, or any materials that could possibly help us out? Thanks in advance!!
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If your department is looking at adding full time personnel for the first time, I would reccomend hiring internally. Bringing in outside people to work full time over those that have been there will only divide the department. I reccomend giving a written exam. There are several companies that you can buy tests from or write your own. If you write your own, make questions from textbooks such as IFSTA Essentials, & your own SOP's. Give candidates enough notice of the exam and tell them what to study ahead. Set a minimum passing score prior to the exam, 70% is pretty common. You may want to consider giving bonus points. A certain percentage extra added to a passing raw score for Paramedic training, level 2 fire training, etc. Some departments around here give 1 bonus point for each full year as a part time FF, up to 5 points max. Some type of physical ability test is good too. After these 2 steps, establish an eligibility list in order of top rank. Most departments keep their lists active for 2 years. A 2 step interview process is also pretty common. Usually an officer interview w/ 3-4 Lts. or Capts. And a chief's interview is usually last. If your municipality has a civil service commission, check with them first. They may have guidelines that they have to follow in accordance with your local or state law.
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