Lateral Firefighter/Paramedic Entrance Exam

The Painesville Fire Department is currently looking for lateral transfers for the position of Firefighter/Paramedic. Please go to our website www.painesville.com/employment to access the listing to submit your application. Application materials can also be picked up at the Office of Human Resources or at the Fire Department Administration Office. Applications and other required materials must be returned to the Office of Human Resources, 7 Richmond St, 2^nd Floor, Painesville, Ohio 44077. Application and testing deadline is Friday, March 13, 2026. You must meet the below minimum requirements.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR LATERAL TRANSFER (Proof of the below must be submitted with application)

• Completed City of Painesville Employment Application
• Must possess a valid Ohio Driver’s License
• U.S. Citizenship; please provide copy of social security card and birth certificate.
• High school diploma or Equivalent (GED); please provide a copy of diploma or official transcripts
• Must possess a certificate of completion of the firefighter physical agility test with a time of 4 ½ minutes or less from either Cuyahoga Community College(Tri-C) or Auburn Career Center. This certificate shall be dated within two (2) years prior to the application and testing deadline. (Anything before 1/26/2024 will not be valid)
• Must be certified by the State of Ohio as a Level II Firefighter and Paramedic
• Must be employed as a firefighter and/or Paramedic, or on layoff from their employer no more than 12 months from the time of application, or have resigned their position within 12 months of the time of application, and have been in good standing at the time of resignation
• Must have the following minimum full-time experience or equivalent part-time experience (2,040 hours/year)
  • Minimum 1 year experience prior to age 30
  • Minimum 3 years’ experience prior to age 35
  • Minimum 5 years’ experience prior to age 40
• Must be at least 21 years of age and under 42 years of age at the time of original appointment. (No Person shall be eligible to receive an original appointment on and after his/her forty-second (42nd) birthday ,or prior to his/her twenty-first (21st) birthday).

PHYSICAL AGILITY TEST:

Applicants shall be required to successfully complete the Firefighter Physical Agility Test given by either Tri-C or Auburn Career Center. At the time of the testing deadline, applicants must possess a valid certificate of having successfully completed the Physical Agility Test. Applicants shall be responsible for taking this test, at their own expense, on their own initiative. Certificates issued within two (2) years prior to the application and testing deadline shall be considered valid also. A time of 4 ½ minutes or less shall be required to be considered successfully completed.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Prior to appointment, a complete physical examination will be given, including hearing, vision, cardio-pulmonary, lumbar-sacral examinations and drug and alcohol testing.  Candidates will also undergo a polygraph test and psychological evaluation, and a full background investigation and driver record check. 
• Those individuals hired shall be required to abstain from tobacco/nicotine use for the duration of their employment with the Painesville City Fire Department.
• Those individuals hired shall be required to pass a physical, approved by the City of Painesville, annually.
• Those individuals hired shall be required to have and maintain:

• A valid Ohio Driver’s License
• State of Ohio Certification of Level II Firefighter
• State of Ohio Certification of Paramedic

Any falsification, misrepresentation or deliberate omission of face either included within the application or provided during the pre-employment process shall be justification for denial of employment, or if employed, termination therefrom.

The City of Painesville offers a competitive benefits package, which includes:

•   Medical, Dental and Prescription Insurance (full-time employees only)
•   Employee Wellness Program
•   Direct Deposit Program
•   Employee Assistance Program (full-time employees only)
•   Worker's Compensation Insurance
•   $25,000 Term Life Insurance (full-time employees only)
•   Family Medical Leave, Bereavement/Funeral Leave, Jury Duty Compensation, Military Leave
•   Holidays, Sick Time, Vacation Time
•   Prior credit for service with State of Ohio Public Employers
•   Section 457 (b) Deferred Compensation Plans

•   Ohio Police & Fire Pension System (OP&F)

ADDITIONAL CREDIT (Maximum of 20%):

Additional credit in the maximum amount of 20% shall be granted to applicants, only after receiving a passing score of 70% and providing proof at the time of application for the following:

• Prior service in this country’s armed forces (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Army National Guard or the reserve units of such) who have been honorably discharged shall receive an additional credit of 10% of applicant’s written score. (DD214required)
• Education Credit as follows (A copy of your degree or official college transcripts required)
  • Associate degree in Emergency Medicine, Fire Science, Emergency Management shall receive an additional credit of 5% of applicant’s written score.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Medicine, Fire Science, Emergency Management shall receive an additional credit of 10% of applicant’s written score.

 
STEPS IN THE SELECTION PROCESS

• Submit a completed application packet to the Painesville City Fire Department or Human Resources Department
• Background investigation
• Panel Interview(s)
• Psychological assessment
• Interview with the Fire Chief
• Post-offer polygraph examination and pension physical