The City of Erie Civil Service Board offers applications and testing for the position of firefighter during a limited publicized period every odd-numbered year. Applicants must pass both a written and a physical agility test to become a City of Erie firefighter.
Applicants do not need to be a resident of the City of Erie to apply for employment or take the written and physical exams. However, within a year of being hired, candidates will be required to live within a 15-mile radius of City Hall, located at:
City of Erie Municipal Building
626 State St.
Erie, PA 16501
Written Test
The National Fire Select Test (NFST) written test will be held in-person on Saturday July 8, 2023 at:
LECOM West
2000 West Grandview Blvd.
Erie, PA 16509
Registration begins at 8 a.m. Applicants must bring a valid photo ID. The test will begin at 9 a.m. Applicants will have 2.5 hours to complete the test.
Applicants who pass the written test will be placed on a list and ranked highest to lowest, based on their exam score.
Study Guide
In preparation for the National Fire Select Test (NFST), you may purchase an optional “National Fire Select Test (NFST) Candidate Orientation Guide” for $15 by clicking the following link: https://www.fpsi.com/product/nfst-candidate-orientation-guide/ The study guide is a helpful tool to prepare for the exam and can be downloaded as a PDF file to be saved or printed.
Please read through the disclaimer on the order page in order to access the file ad have a successful download. Payments will be submitted through PayPal via an account or credit/debit card. Once payment is submitted, PayPal automatically redirects you back to the Fire Police Select Incorporated (FPSI) site where access to the download link will be located on the “Checkout Status” page. It is important to pay close attention to all instructions on both the FPSI and PayPal websites in order to access the instant download successfully.
Candidate Physical Abilities Test (CPAT)
Only applicants who pass the written test will qualify to take the Candidate Physical Abilities Test (CPAT). The CPAT is pass or fail. A photo ID is required to take the CPAT.
A voluntary, eight-week prep session for the CPAT will be held for the top 40 candidates. At the time of the prep session, candidates will be advised of the schedule for the training simulating the physical abilities components and will be informed of the exact time and location of the CPAT final test.
Hiring List
The next hiring list will be active beginning Dec. 1, 2023. The list will be effective for two years and will expire on Nov. 30, 2025. Any vacancy existing prior to the exhaustion or expiration of an eligibility list must be filled from that list.
Vacancies within the City of Erie Fire Department will be filled according to the order of eligible candidates on the hiring list. The number of names taken from the list will be dependent on the number of vacancies. These names will be nominated to the Civil Service Board for appointment only after clearing a physical, psychological and a background investigation.
Civil Service Board and Military Service
The Civil Service Board accepts no lateral transfers from other departments, and each applicant must take both written and physical exams, regardless of past firefighting or emergency medical service experience.
Military service time is the only qualifier for 10 additional points to the NFST written test. Candidates must pass the written test to qualify for additional points. If two or more candidates achieve the same ranking, a lottery will be held.