Testing while on probation

[Matty8378]

I am starting with a new dept. and they will be testing me monthly while im on probation. Will the testing be on material that they will give to me, or from previous subjects learned in the academy? I thought maybe it would be a combination of both. I want to start preparing and would like to know the best way to start getting ready for this part of the process. Thanks for any advice!

[CaptBob]

Ask the rookie firefighters who went before you.

Captain Bob

[Matty8378]

I definetly will, I was just curious as to how some other departments do thier testing. Now that the hiring process is over, I have something else to worry about!

[BCLepore]

On my department (major Southern California 23 stations 50,000 calls and roughly 500 firefighters) the recruit firefighters attend a 14-week academy. We hire 28 recruits for each academy. With 1 week remaining in the current class there are only 19 left. This is about the average attrition rate for us.

Once the recruits graduate they are assigned to an engine or a truck house. At the 3-month mark in their rotation they are brought back to the training center and given a manipulative exam on their respective rig (engine or truck).

The engine test is a 3-hour test that includes forcible entry, hose lays, ladder evolutions, EMS skills and a complete engine inventory.

The truck test is an all day event that begins with taking a car, flipping it over and squashing it with the forklift and having the recruit handle all of the extrication tools. Next he or she is responsible for every piece of equipment including specs, trouble shooting it in an emergency. Laddering, forcible entry and every aspect of truck work are covered in the truck test.

In addition to the manipulative exams the rookies are responsible for a written exam every three months. These cover departmental policies and procedures, Human Resources policies and procedures and every departmental Operational manual (earthquake, HiRise, WMD, Haz Mat etc).

It is the culture of our department that the last group to complete probation helps the new ones. There are study guides, notes and “rookie books” that are passed along.

Paul Lepore
Battalion Chief
www.aspiringfirefighters.com

[Matty8378]

Thank you. I just talked with the chief, the testing is not as detailed as you described above. I've already been through the academy, and yes we did lose quite a few there as well.