Firefighter (Basic Life Support)

AGE REQUIREMENT: Maximum Entry Age
For initial appointments, applicant cannot have reached their 37th birthday by the day of appointment. Applicants who have passed the designated entry age limit noted, but who have previously served in a covered position may be eligible to re-enter the fire service provided that they: 1) Meet all applicable qualifications for the position; and 2) Will be able to complete a total of 20 years of covered and creditable Federal firefighter service by the time the Federal firefighter reaches the age of 57. Prior service in covered positions and creditable towards retirement may be subtracted from the applicant's age to determine if the Federal firefighter meets the maximum entry age.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.

REQUIREMENTS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION: Applicants must possess and maintain a valid State motor vehicle operator's license of the appropriate classification or kind. Applicants also may be required to pass a practical road test and provide information on their driving record. Please do not upload a copy of your license at this time. If an interview is requested, you may be required to provide a copy of your current, valid, and unrestricted state driver's license.

In addition to the meeting the above requirements, you must also meet the following Selective Factors -Certification Requirements* for this position. You must submit copies of your certifications with your application to receive credit.

This position includes Selective Placement Factors (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration.
The Selective Placement Factors for this position are:

To be eligible for employment as a VA Firefighter, applicants must possess the following certifications. Please submit a copy of each required certification with your application to receive credit - no photos please.

• Must have received certification as either an International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) or Pro Board HAZMAT Operations Level Responder. (Proof of Certification Required)
• Must have received certification as either an International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) or Pro Board-Certified Firefighter I and II. (Proof of Certification Required)
• Must have received certification in Incident Command Systems - ICS-100 & 200. (Proof of Certification Required)
• Must have received certification in National Incident Management Systems - ICS-700 & 800. (Proof of Certification Required)
• Must have received certification as either an International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) or Pro Board Apparatus Operator - Pumper. Or you must obtain within 24 months. (Proof of Certification Required)
• Must have received certification as either an International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) or Pro Board Fire Inspector I and II. Or you must obtain within 24 months. (Proof of Certification Required)
• Must possess a current, valid, state, or national registry Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)- Basic certification. (Proof of Certification Required)

In addition to meeting the above requirements, applicants must also meet the following:

Specialized Experience: Applicants must possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-6 level in the Federal Service that has given you the knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position. Specialized experience includes: (1) controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department or brigade; (2) rescue operations; (3) detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards; (4) operation of fire communications equipment; (5) controlling hazardous materials incidents and/or (6) developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention. These duties would have been performed exercising independent judgment and under general supervision.

MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT OPERATOR QUALIFICATIONS: For those positions requiring the operation of specialized firefighting pumping equipment, mounted pressurized systems, dispensing devices, and/or rescue tools, applicants may be required to demonstrate the ability, before appointment, to operate the specific equipment to which they will be assigned or similar related types of hydraulic equipment.
PERFORMANCE TEST: Candidates may be required to demonstrate satisfactory performance of the minimum physical abilities necessary to perform safely and efficiently the essential tasks of this position.
MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: All applicants for positions that have duties of an arduous or hazardous nature must meet and maintain specific medical standards. Since individual positions may not include all such duties, a physical condition or impairment may be disqualifying for employment only if there is a direct relationship between the condition and the nature of the duties of the specific position to be filled. Employees in positions involving firefighting duties or other duties involving arduous physical exertion may be subject to periodic (e.g., annual) medical examinations following appointment to determine fitness for continued performance of the duties of the position. (See 5 CFR 339)


You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Attention to Detail
• Fire Management
• Interpersonal Skills
• Teamwork

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.


For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.