Firefighter/Paramedic

Basic Requirements for Probationary Firefighter:

Age:

Minimum:

20 years-old to test as of test date and

21 years-old at time of appointment

Maximum:

34 years-old as of test date

Age exemptions for individuals who were previously employed as a fulltime firefighter in a regularly constituted fire department, see State Statute 65 ILCS 5/10-2. 1-6.3

Physical Requirements:

Proof of successful completion of the CPAT test and documentation of ability to climb ladders required at time of hire. CPAT card with ladder climb that is no more than one year old from the issuance date at the time of job offer.

Vision:

Far visual acuity shall be at least 20/30 binocular corrected with contact lenses or glasses.  Far visual acuity uncorrected shall be at least 20/100 binocular for wearers of hard contacts or glasses.  Successful long-term soft contact lenses shall not be subject to uncorrected criterion. Peripheral Vision - Visual field performance without correction shall be 140 degrees in the horizontal meridian in each eye. Must be able to distinguish red from green for color blindness.

Education:

High school diploma or its equivalent.

Residence:

Within eighteen months of initial appointment employees must reside within a 25 mile radius from the intersection of Locust and North Main Streets in Bloomington.  A copy of this map can be viewed and downloaded here.

Service Agreement:

Prior to employment with the City of Bloomington a signed service agreement is required. The agreement is for reimbursement for training and equipment costs if a probationary firefighter terminates their employment with the City of Bloomington prior to successful completion of their probationary period.

Licenses and Certifications:

Must possess an Illinois Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic (EMT-P) license at the time of job offer.  Candidates are eligible to test if they submit proof of enrollment in certified Illinois Paramedic Program.  

If the candidate has a National Registry paramedic license, they may participate and apply for the IDPH license later. Candidates with an out-of-state or National Registry paramedic license can receive information and apply for the Illinois paramedic license reciprocity process by contacting the Illinois Department of Public Health (217-278-5900 or www.idph.state.il.us/ems). Typically this procedure takes approximately six to eight weeks.  During the candidate’s probationary year he/she will need to be accepted into the McLean County Area EMS System. For more information contact: 309-827-4348 or www.mcleancountyems.org.

Certification as a firefighter is not required to test or for original appointment. Probationary firefighters will attend and must graduate from an Office of the State Fire Marshal approved recruit firefighter academy.  They must obtain OSFM Advanced Firefighter and Hazardous Materials Operation certifications.  Candidates with out-of-state or military firefighter certifications will attend the recruit academy.  The OSFM does not offer reciprocity for certifications.

Character:

Must be of good moral character as determined by a background investigation.  Must agree to be fingerprinted and found not to have been convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanors as listed in the Illinois State Statutes.  A copy of offenses can be viewed and downloaded at: www.cityblm.org/fire.