Employment

Navigation

• Building Permits & Inspections
• Engineering & Construction
• Fire Department
  • Community Services
  • Fire Employment
  • Fire Prevention
  • Links
  • Reports & Plans
  • Station Locations
• Online Services
• Parking
• Parks, Arts & Recreation
• Police Department
• Transportation Services
• CDBG & Housing
• Code Enforcement
• Neighborhood Programs
• Historic Preservation
• Planning & Zoning
• Urban Forestry

How do I become a Firefighter-Recruit with the Olympia Fire Department?

Olympia is a member of the Bates Firefighter Testing Consortium and our tests are actually proctored through Bates Technical College. When the Fire Department has openings, we will contact Bates Technical College for a list of passing candidates. The City of Olympia Human Resources department no longer maintains an interested applicant list.

Appications were available January 11 - February 19, 2010 at Bates South Campus Fire Service Training building and on the Bates Joint Recruitment Testing website. The written test date and the Candidate Physical Agility orientation is March 27, 2010. Qualifying applicants will move on to the CPAT. See our Examination page to learn more about the testing process, and our Candidate Physical Ability Test information page to help you prepare for the testing process.

Civil Service/Employment Register

Once the testing process is complete, Olympia's Civil Service Commission will certify an employment register, which will contain the names of those candidates who successfully complete the written examination, CPAT, and the competitive interview examinations. Candidates will be ranked in order of a weighed total score, to include the results from each of the examinations utilized in the selection process. This employment register is normally effective for one year; however, the Civil Service Commission may extend the register for one additional year, or may determine at any time that another examination is required to establish a new list.

Fire Chief's Interview

This interview normally lasts 90 minutes. It has more in-depth questions than the first interview. The board consists of four Olympia Fire Department Chief Officers. The board normally asks fifteen behavioral type questions. The Fire Chief will make final selection based on the recommendations of the board.

Appointment

Appointments are made from among the top five candidates on the employment register. The Department may consider the number of candidates equal to the number of position openings plus four (one positon opening = five candidates for consideration).

Prior to appointment, successful completion of the following procedures are required:

• Chief's interview and background investigation
• Medical evaluation including screening for controlled substance abuse (pass/fail)
• Psychological evaluation (pass/fail)

The City of Olympia is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The Olympia Fire Department is firmly committed to the City of Olympia's Workforce Diversity program. It is the Fire Department's goal to have is workforce represent the diverse population of the community.

For More Information:

Call: (360) 753-8348 Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm

Or Write to:
Olympia Fire Department Attn: Recruitment Officer
100 Eastside Street NE
Olympia, Washington 98506
fire@ci.olympia.wa.us