Qualify

Erie Fire Department Hiring
Standards

Effective: March 31, 2025

Eligibility

The City of Erie is an equal opportunity employer. In hiring for any position, the City does not discriminate based on race, creed, religion, ancestry, union membership, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, handicap, or disability in employment or service provision.

To qualify as a firefighter with the City of Erie, all applicants—regardless of prior firefighting, law enforcement, or military experience—must meet the physical, mental, and psychological requirements established by Pennsylvania State law and the City of Erie Civil Service Board.

Hiring Standards & Qualifications

Prerequisites to Apply:

• Must be at least 18 years old on the date of the Civil Service test.
• Must be and no older than 45 years old the date the civil service test takes effect
• Must be a citizen of the United States.
• Must have a high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED).
• Must possess a valid driver’s license at the time of application.

Prerequisite Prior to Date of Hire:

• Prior to the date of hire, applicant must:
  • Possess a valid Pennsylvania EMT-Basic certification OR
  • Be actively enrolled in a course that will lead to certification once complete.
    
    For additional information  PA Dept Of Health ( PA EMT FAQ – https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/healthcare-and-public-health-professionals/ems/ems-faq.html and EMMCO West (https://emmco.org/) can be contacted at 814-337-5380)
    
    
• Must provide proof of Hepatitis B vaccination or a Hepatitis B titer test documenting immunity.

Residency Requirement:

• Must establish residency within a 15-mile radius of City Hall (626 State Street, Erie, PA 16501) within one year of the hiring date.

Application Process:

• Online applications must be submitted by April 27, 2025.
• Application processing fee: $80.00

Written Examination:

• Must pass the Comprehensive Examination Battery with Practical Skills Test (CEB-PST).
  • Location and date to be determined (see the application page at https://efd.erie.pa.us/apply).

Physical Agility Test:

• Must pass the Candidate Physical Agility Test (CPAT), administered by the City of Erie Civil Service Commission, following CPAT standards.
  • Location and date to be determined (see the application page at https://efd.erie.pa.us/apply).

Veteran Preference Points (Only for qualifying candidates who pass the written exam)

To qualify for 10 veteran preference points, applicants must:

To be eligible for veterans’ preference, an applicant must first meet the
definition of “Veteran,” as provided in the Veterans’ Preference Act, 51 Pa.C.S §
7101.1-7111. Applicants in any of the following categories are considered to be
Veterans for the purposes of veterans’ preference:

1. An individual who has completed service in the armed forces of the United States, including a reserve
   component or National Guard, has completed their initial contractual military service obligation, and their last discharge or release was under conditions other than “dishonorable”;
2. An individual in the armed forces of the United States, including a reserve component or National Guard, who has served during a period of war or armed conflict (as determined by the United States Department of Defense), has completed a tour of active duty for purposes other than training, was released from that period of active duty under conditions other than “dishonorable” and continues to serve in a reserve component or National Guard;
3. An individual in a reserve component or National Guard, who has completed an initial contractual military service obligation and continues to serve; or
4. An individual who did not complete their initial contractual military service obligation because of a disability discharge under conditions other than “dishonorable”. 
   NOTE: This includes only those individuals whose DD214s state the reason for their discharge as being “Disability.” This is not to be confused with having a US Veterans Administration disability rating.
5. An active duty member of the armed forces of the United States who is completing a tour of active duty
   that is three (3) years or more and is within ninety (90) days of an approved discharge or release, as evidenced by documentation of the projected discharge or release from active duty under conditions other
   than “dishonorable.”

Merit Based Points: Candidates may receive additional points (if they pass the
written test) for each of the following:

• • 2 points – Firefighter I
  • 2 points – Firefighter II
  • 2 points – Reside in City limits 
  • 1 point – Paramedic Certification
  • 1 point – 5 years paid firefighter experience

To qualify for merit-based or Veteran’s Preference points, verification must be submitted to the Civil Service Commission prior to the written test date by submitting documents through the application portal.

Automatic Eligibility Disqualifications

Applicants shall not be eligible for hire if any of the following apply:

General Disqualifiers

• Failure to meet any listed minimum qualifications.
• Dishonorable discharge from the military.
• Failure to register with the Selective Service (if applicable).
• Falsification, omission, or misrepresentation of any material information on any employment application with the Erie Fire Department.
• Conviction in any state of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison.
• Conviction of:
  • False swearing (18 PA C.S. §4903),
  • Unsworn falsification to authorities (18 PA C.S. §4904), or
  • An equivalent offense in another state.
• Conviction of an offense that prohibits firearm possession.

Drug-Related Disqualifiers

• Use of marijuana within one year of application.
• Sale/distribution/manufacture of illegal drugs or controlled substances for profit.
• Use of prescription drugs without a prescription within one year of application.
• Pattern of prescription drug abuse within five years.
• Any use of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, or derivatives.
• Use of anabolic steroids without a prescription within five years.
• Illegal use of other controlled substances within five years.

Driving History Disqualifiers

• Two or more DUI convictions.
• DUI conviction within five years of application.
• ARD disposition for DUI within one year of application.
• Driver’s license revocation at any time.
• Three or more license suspensions (excluding parking ticket-related).
• Two license suspensions within three years of application (excluding parking ticket-related).

Conduct Disqualifiers

• Display or membership in antigovernment, racist, or hate-related groups.
• Disqualified on two prior occasions from Erie Fire Department civil service hiring.
• Two or more convictions within seven years of application for any of the following:
  • Accidents involving attended vehicle/property (75 PA C.S. §3743)
  • Driving without lights to avoid identification (75 PA C.S. §3734)
  • Drivers required to be licensed (75 PA C.S. §1501)
  • Required financial responsibility (75 PA C.S. §1786)
  • Disobedience to traffic direction (75 PA C.S. §3102)
  • Passing a school bus (75 PA C.S. §3345(a))
  • Speeding 31+ mph over the limit (75 PA C.S. §3362)
  • Racing on highways (75 PA C.S. §3367)
  • Reckless driving (75 PA C.S. §3736)
  • Accidents with unattended property (75 PA C.S. §3745)
  • False reports (75 PA C.S. §3748)

Additional Information
   
Summary theft offenses will be evaluated based on the applicant’s age and nature of the
offense.

• Any disqualifying infraction during the hiring process will result in immediate disqualification.
• Anyone with a pending criminal case, investigation, or ongoing legal matter involving a disqualifying offense will be temporarily disqualified until the case is fully resolved. If the final outcome would not have led to disqualification, the person may reapply during the next hiring cycle.

Employment History Review

Applicants’ work history will be thoroughly reviewed. Grounds for disqualification may include:

• Termination from previous employment.
• Resigning in lieu of termination.
• Unexplained gaps in work history.
• Lack of employment history.

Definition of Termination: The act of firing or dismissing an employee from a job.

Financial Review

Applicants’ financial responsibility will be assessed. Areas of concern include:

• Failure to pay income tax.
• Failure to pay child support.
• Excessive debt or financial irresponsibility.

Professional Appearance

All applicants must maintain a professional appearance, as determined at the sole discretion of the Fire Chief.

Areas of Concern:

• Visible tattoos must not be sexually, ethnically, or religiously offensive.
• Tattoos are not permitted on the neck, head, face, or ears.
• Visible Scarification (intentional burns or cuts) or voluntary disfigurement.

Character, Honesty, and Integrity Requirement

Applicants must demonstrate good moral character, which will be assessed through:

• Background checks.
• Credit checks.
• Physical & psychological evaluations.
• Oral interview assessments.

Reapplication After Disqualification

• Applicants disqualified for non-permanent reasons must wait four years before reapplying.

Probationary Period

• All new hires are subject to a one-year probationary period. Any disqualifying infraction during this period will result in termination, and future reapplication will be subject to the policies outlined above.