FIREFIGHTER I (ENTRANCE) (CLASS CODE 7210)

FIREFIGHTER I (ENTRANCE) (CLASS CODE 7210)

Salary

$45,734.00 Annually

Location

New Orleans, LA

Job Type

Probationary

Job Number

11511/7210

Department

Fire Department

Opening Date

04/24/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Kind of Work

Skilled work involving the response to emergency situations in the City of New Orleans for the protection of life and property, reducing the incidence of fire and the loss of life to civilians and fire personnel. Involves work in Emergency Medical Response, Extinguishment and Prevention of fires, Public Safety and Emergency Management related work as required; semi-skilled work in maintaining equipment, apparatus, and quarters in good condition. Work involves an element of personal danger.

Functions of the position are: preventing, responding to and mitigating emergencies i.e. extinguishing fires, rendering medical care, conducting inspections, installing smoke alarms, presenting fire safety and public education programs, working in shelters during emergencies, emergency management and public safety duties and related work as required.

Work involves the performance of tasks requiring considerable physical exertion, often under emergency and hazardous conditions. Employee must execute orders from commanding officers in a prompt, efficient manner according to appropriate methods and techniques. Duties also include forcible entry; ventilation; the search for, and rescue of fire victims; salvage; overhaul; and the proper response to medical emergencies or hazardous materials incidents. Employee must keep abreast of new developments in firefighting and prevention techniques through training. All duties are to be performed in compliance with the rules and regulations, policies and procedures of the NOFD. Upon hire to the classification of Firefighter I candidates will serve a one (1) year probationary period in that classification.

Minimum Qualifications

• Applicants must be at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of application. Applicants must present a valid picture identification, issued by a state or other governmental agency, within two weeks of application.

NOTE: Applicants must present a valid Drivers License to the New Orleans Fire Department prior to being given a conditional offer of employment.

• An official High School Diploma or G.E.D. Proof of graduation (either original High School Diploma, official high school transcript or original G.E.D. ) must be presented to the New Orleans Civil Service Department within two weeks of application.

• One (1) year of firefighting experience in a professional/paid fire department.

• Good physical and psychological condition to perform the essential functions of the job of Firefighter I.

• Arrests and convictions for felonies or numerous misdemeanors are disqualifying.

• Applicants must have a valid picture identification, issued by a state or other governmental agency, on their person during all phases of application and examination.

• Applicants must prove certification in the following areas. All certifications must be IFSAC (International Fire Service Accreditation) and/or Pro Board (International Accreditation for Fire Service Organizations) sealed. Proof of certifications must be submitted to the Civil Service Department within two weeks of application.

• Haz-Mat Awareness

• Haz-Mat Operations

• Firefighter I

• Firefighter II

This position requires a one (1) year probationary period. No probationary period may last longer than one (1) year.

• The following certifications must be obtained from the Louisiana State University's (LSU) Fire and Emergency Training institute (FETI): Haz-Mat Awareness, Haz-Mat Operations, Firefighter I, and Firefighter II during the probationary period. Failure to obtain all four certifications during the probationary period will result in removal from the Firefighter I classification through termination or demotion to Fire Recruit.

NOTE: Hiring considerations will be given for applicants domiciled in the City of New Orleans.

NOTE: Hiring considerations will be given for applicants who possess an Emergency Medical Technician Certification (EMT) or a higher level of medical training.

Kind of Examination

a) A written multiple-choice test, weighted 100%.

Note: 24% of the multiple-choice test contains questions based on an audio component.

b) A qualifying physical agility test.

The written test may include some or all of the following:

Observational Skills

Verbal Comprehension/Listening Skills

Reading Comprehension

Mechanical Comprehension

Basic Tools

Interpersonal Skills

Problem Analysis & Decision Making

Written Communication

Arithmetic Skills

ALL APPLICANTS are required to assist and cooperate with the Civil Service Department, and the New Orleans Fire Department in obtaining past employment records, medical records, or personal history information. Failure to comply may be considered cause for disqualification.

Applicants who pass the written and agility tests will be scheduled to undergo and pass a criminal background investigation.

If given a conditional offer of employment, a qualifying medical test including a chest x-ray, lumbar spine x-ray, and psychological/psychiatric evaluation will be administered. A stress EKG may be given.

This is an original entrance examination.

Domicile requirements are waived for this position.

General Information

THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, GENDER, AGE, PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, CREED, CULTURE, OR ANCESTRY. REQUESTS FOR ALTERNATE FORMAT OR ACCOMMODATIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO SHANA PARKER AT (504) 658-3516 OR TTY/VOICE AT (504) 586-4475 or (504) 658-4020.

DOMICILE REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT: Domicile requirements are currently waived for the purpose of application. However, all new full-time employees hired into this classification on or after January 1, 2013, must be domiciled in Orleans Parish within 180 days of hire. Public safety employees such as commissioned law enforcement officers hired by the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), firefighters hired by the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD), emergency medical technicians hired by the New Orleans Emergency Medical Services (NOEMS) and the recruits for these positions hired by these departments are excluded from this provision. Airport employees are excluded from this provision if the actual domicile of the employee is nearer to the employee's job site than the distance from the job site to the nearest point of Orleans Parish.

Additional exceptions to the domicile requirement may be made on a case-by-case basis. We encourage you to apply for this position and discuss your need for a domicile exception during the interview process.

DOMICILE REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT (SEWERAGE AND WATER BOARD):

Domicile requirements are currently waived for the purpose of application. Residency requirements are waived for all Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans positions vacant and advertised for at least 90 days. Employees hired under this waiver remain exempt from the citys residency requirement for the duration of their employment at the Sewerage and Water Board. (La R.S. 33:4076). Additional exceptions to the domicile requirement may be made on a case-by-case basis. We encourage you to apply for this position and discuss your need for a domicile exception during the interview process.

BACKGROUND CHECK: The hiring department will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant's criminal history. If this position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate.

APPLICATIONS: Applications will not be accepted if received after the closing date or after the stated maximum number of applications has been received, as specified on this announcement. All minimum qualification requirements for examinations must be met by the final filing date unless otherwise specified on this announcement.

DELAY IN THE MAIL: The Department of City Civil Service cannot be responsible for failure of the applicant to receive an admission slip to an examination or for failure of the Department to receive material mailed by the applicant. Applicants should notify the Department of City Civil Service in writing of any address changes The minimum age limit is 18 years for any class of work requiring hard physical labor, operation of or proximity to hazardous machinery, exposure to hazardous chemicals, or participation in any other processes or procedures which are prohibited or limited by the Louisiana State Child Labor Law.

WORKING TEST PERIOD: Effective August 1, 2023, the working test (probationary) period for all positions in the classified service is one year.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTING: The City of New Orleans has a comprehensive program of substance abuse testing. Candidates for employment for certain positions where the health, welfare and/or safety of the public, co-workers and the individual employee is at risk will have to undergo pre-employment substance abuse screening. Candidates for all other original entrance positions will have to undergo an unannounced substance abuse screening during their working test period. For further information, see Civil Service Rule V, Section 9.

A MEDICAL EXAMINATION is required for all original entrance probationary appointments to ACTIVE classifications, and may be required for re-employment, promotions and/or transfers.

A MEDICAL SCREENING, which may result in a medical examination, is required for all original entrance probationary appointments to non-active classifications.

GOOD MORAL CHARACTER is required of all applicants. Any applicant may be disqualified if his/her character or past employment record is found to be unsatisfactory as determined by the Department of City Civil Service. Forgery, misrepresentation of facts, or cheating on examinations is punishable by disqualification, fine and other penalties.

IMPORTANT: Applicants who are licensed to drive should have a current license on their person for purposes of identification during all phases of an examination. In lieu of such license, the Department of City Civil Service may require that applicants have some form of picture identification.

VETERANS PREFERENCE: On original entrance examinations, veterans (as defined in Article X, Section 10(2) of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana), disabled veterans, certain spouses and parents of veterans shall receive additional credit if claimed as provided on the Veterans Preference claim form which can be obtained in this office. To obtain credit, this form must be submitted with the required proof (at the minimum, a DD214) before the final filing date.

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND GENERAL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA (GED) must be issued by a state Department of Education or an institution recognized by a state Department of Education. Certificates of completion, high school diplomas and GED from institutions not recognized by a state Department of Education are not acceptable. High School diplomas from foreign countries will be accepted if the applicant submits a statement of educational equivalency from one of the evaluation services accepted by the Department of Civil Service. A list of the accepted evaluation services can be found on the National Association of Credential Evacuation Services (NACES) website (www.naces.org).

ACCREDITED COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: An accredited college or university is an institution that is accredited by an organization that is recognized by the USDE (United States Department of Education) as an Institutional Accreditor. College diplomas from foreign countries will be accepted if the applicant submits a statement of educational equivalency from one of the evaluation services accepted by the Department of Civil Service. A list of the accepted evaluation services can be found on the National Association of Credential Evacuation Services (NACES) website (www.naces.org).

EXPERIENCE: Applicants will not receive credit for unpaid work unless specified on the job announcement. Partial credit only will be given for related part time employment. Civil Service reserves the right to determine which degrees, education, or other credentials are related or closely related. Experience credit will be granted for related provisional appointments (internal applicants).

PROFESSIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE: The Civil Service Department defines this experience as experience gained in a position that required a Bachelors Degree upon entrance.

OFFERS OF EMPLOYMENT OR PROMOTION: Prior to appointment, the hiring agency is required to verify education, drivers license, and/or professional licenses/certifications claimed by the applicant to qualify for this classification. If selected for hire, applicants must provide original documents of their qualifying credentials to the hiring agency prior to their start date in this job classification. Offers of employment or promotion are required to be withdrawn for applicants who are found to have misrepresented their credentials during the application process.

Revised 1/91, 4/03, 7/05, 2/07, 8/10, 2/12, 8/15, 6/16, 1/17, 1/19, 2/23, 8/23, 3/24, 6/24, 2/25, 3/26.

Employment with the City of New Orleans brings many great benefits.

Want work-life balance?

• 14 paid holidays in 2026.
• 13 paid vacation days per year including during your first year of employment. Additional bonus vacation days the longer you are employed.
• 13 paid sick days per year including during your first year of employment. Additional bonus sick days the longer you are employed.
• Use or lose your days, off? Not here! You can roll an unlimited number of unused sick days and up to 45 unused vacation days to the next year.
• We pay you for unused vacation and sick days when you leave City government.
• Depending on your job, your department may also offer remote work, flexible schedules, and/or shift work.

Thinking of starting a family or adding to your family?

• We offer 12 weeks of paid time off for bonding with a newborn, adopted, or fostered child. This is in addition to your sick and vacation leave. Full-time employees with one year of service qualify for this program.

Need insurance for you and/or your family?

• We offer healthcare plans as low as $60.31 biweekly for individual employees. Our plan covers medical, prescription drugs, dental, and vision. Hate going to the doctors office? It also includes access to telemedicine. Plan members can also opt to cover their children, spouses and same or opposite sex registered domestic partners.
• We also offer a Flexible Spending Account that can reduce taxes for employees by allowing for pre-tax contributions for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs.
• A completely free $25,000 life insurance policy is also available for all full-time employees.

Have student loan debt?

• The City of New Orleans is a qualified employer under the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).

Are you part of the FIRE (Financially Independent/Retire Early) movement? Dont want to work forever? We have options to help.

• Pension, Pension, Pension! Depending on your job you can participate in one of several pension systems and enjoy this great benefit.
• You can also participate in a Deferred Compensation Plan (457b) which allows you to defer up to $24,500 of your pretax income each year to supplement your retirement savings.

Lets talk pay

• We offer competitive pay including pay increases based on the length of your employment. We also offer special pays for educational advancement, professional certifications and specialized work assignments.

Love to learn?

• Our Employee Growth and Development Division offers free courses in over 50 topics including Leadership, Personal Finance, Conflict Management, Excel, Managing Stress, and Business Writing.

We take care of our employees during emergencies

• Employees who work during declared emergencies receive extra pay.
• Employees who cant work due to emergency related workplace closures continue to receive their normal pay.

Want to make a difference?

• We need you! Make an impact on our community through your work in City government!

These benefits apply to employees of the City of New Orleans. Employees of Sewerage and Water Board enjoy many of these same benefits, but some benefits offered may vary. A listing of benefits available to Sewerage and Water Board employees can be found here.

This description of benefits is intended to be informational and does not create a contractual entitlement to any listed benefit. The employee welfare and pension plan documents and applicable law govern the eligibility, vesting, and schedule of benefits, and the above description does not alter or interpret the plan documents or applicable law.

01

The supplemental questions are a very important first step in our screening process. Therefore, you are required to complete these questions so that we may initially determine your eligibility for this position. A lack of detail and explanation in the supplemental questions and in your application may result in disqualification for this position. This means you will be ineligible for further consideration in this recruitment process. Please check "yes" to show that you have read and understand this statement.

• Yes
• No

02

Are you at least 18 years old?

• Yes
• No

03

To verify that you are at least 18 years of age, applicants must present a valid picture identification indicating date of birth, issued by a state or other governmental agency, within two weeks of application. Failure to submit a valid picture identification indicating date of birth, issued by a state or other governmental agency, within two (2) weeks of submitting your application will result in the rejection of your application. Please check "yes" to show that you have read and understand this statement.

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have a valid Drivers License?

• Yes
• No

05

Applicants must present a valid Drivers License to the New Orleans Fire Department prior to being given a conditional offer of employment. Please check "yes" to show that you have read and understand this statement.

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have either a High School Diploma or GED?

• Yes
• No

07

If you have a High School Diploma or GED, please provide a. the date the Diploma or GED was awarded, and b. the name of the School or Entity that issued it. c. city and state where you received your diploma or GED Failure to provide this information will result in the disqualification of your application for this position.

08

High School and College diplomas from foreign countries will be accepted if the applicant submits a statement of educational equivalency from one of the evaluation services accepted by the Department of Civil Service. A list of the accepted evaluation services can be found on the National Association of Credential Evacuation Services (NACES) website (www.naces.org). Please check "yes" to show that you have read and understand this statement.

• Yes
• No

09

How many months and/or years of verifiable full-time work experience do you have as a firefighting in a professional/paid fire department?

• None
• Less than 6 months
• 6 months to less than 12 months
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years to less than 6 years
• 6 years to less than 7 years
• 7 years to less than 8 years
• 8 years to less than 9 years
• 9 years to less than 10 years
• 10 years or more

10

Describe all your full-time, paid work experience as a firefighting in a professional/paid fire department.. For each job your description must include: a. where this experience was obtained, b. dates the work was performed (MM/YY-MM/YY), c. and a brief description of the work performed. Failure to describe your experience in detail could result in disqualification for this position. If you do not have this type of experience, type in "None".

11

Do you possess a current Haz-Mat Operations certification issued by IFSAC (International Fire Service Accreditation) and/or Pro Board (International Accreditation for Fire Service Organizations) sealed?

• Yes
• No

12

If you possess a current Haz-Mat Operations certification issued by IFSAC (International Fire Service Accreditation) and/or Pro Board (International Accreditation for Fire Service Organizations) sealed, please provide the following information: a) certification number (if applicable), c) date certification was issued, d) date certification expires (if applicable), and e) name of institute that issued the certification. If you do not possess a current Haz-Mat Operations certification issued by IFSAC (International Fire Service Accreditation) and/or Pro Board (International Accreditation for Fire Service Organizations) sealed, please type "N/A."

13

Do you possess a current Haz-Mat Awareness certification issued by IFSAC (International Fire Service Accreditation) and/or Pro Board (International Accreditation for Fire Service Organizations) sealed

• Yes
• No

14

If you possess a current Haz-Mat Awareness Certification issued by IFSAC (International Fire Service Accreditation) and/or Pro Board (International Accreditation for Fire Service Organizations) sealed, please provide the following information: a) certification number (if applicable), c) date certification was issued, d) date certification expires (if applicable), and e) name of institute that issued the certification. If you do not possess a current Haz-Mat Awareness Certification issued by IFSAC (International Fire Service Accreditation) and/or Pro Board (International Accreditation for Fire Service Organizations) sealed, please type "N/A."

15

Do you possess a current Firefighter I certification issued by IFSAC (International Fire Service Accreditation) and/or Pro Board (International Accreditation for Fire Service Organizations) sealed?

• Yes
• No

16

If you possess a current Firefighter I certification issued by IFSAC (International Fire Service Accreditation) and/or Pro Board (International Accreditation for Fire Service Organizations) sealed, please provide the following information: a) certification number (if applicable), c) date certification was issued, d) date certification expires (if applicable), and e) name of institute that issued the certification. If you do not possess a current Firefighter I certification issued by IFSAC (International Fire Service Accreditation) and/or Pro Board (International Accreditation for Fire Service Organizations) sealed, please type "N/A."

17

Do you possess a current Firefighter II certification issued by IFSAC (International Fire Service Accreditation) and/or Pro Board (International Accreditation for Fire Service Organizations) sealed?

• Yes
• No

18

If you possess a current Firefighter II certification issued by IFSAC (International Fire Service Accreditation) and/or Pro Board (International Accreditation for Fire Service Organizations) sealed, please provide the following information: a) certification number (if applicable), c) date certification was issued, d) date certification expires (if applicable), and e) name of institute that issued the certification. If you do not possess a current Firefighter II certification issued by IFSAC (International Fire Service Accreditation) and/or Pro Board (International Accreditation for Fire Service Organizations) sealed, please type "N/A"

19

The New Orleans Civil Service Department must verify all credentials applicants use to qualify for this position. If you have not already done so, you MUST submit the following credentials to the Civil Service Department within two (2) weeks of filing your application. -Valid picture identification, issued by a state or other governmental agency. - Official High School diploma or GED to the New Orleans Civil Service Department. Transcripts that have a raised seal are also acceptable. - Required Certifications: Haz-Mat Awareness, Haz-Mat Operations, Firefighter I, and Firefighter II - Preferred Certifications: EMT or higher -If applicable DD-214 To ensure you meet the two (2) week submission deadline, we suggest you begin the process of obtaining this information. Our office is located at 1340 Poydras St. Suite 900 New Orleans, LA 70112 Failure to the submit the documents listed above to the New Orleans Civil Service Department within (2) weeks of submitting your application will result in the rejection of your application. Please check "yes" to show that you have read and understand this statement.

• Yes
• No

20

This position requires a one (1) year probationary period. No probationary period may last longer than one (1) year. The following certifications must be obtained from the Louisiana State Universitys (LSU) Fire and Emergency Training institute (FETI): Haz-Mat Awareness, Haz-Mat Operations, Firefighter I, and Firefighter II during the probationary period. Failure to obtain all four certifications during the probationary period will result in removal from the Firefighter I classification through termination or demotion to Fire Recruit. Please check "yes" to show that you have read and understand this statement.

• Yes
• No

21

If you were referred by a City of New Orleans employee, please list his or her name. Please list one name only. If you were NOT referred by a City of New Orleans employee, please type "N/A."

Required Question

Employer City of New Orleans

Address 1340 Poydras Street

Suite 900

New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112

Phone (504) 658-3500

Website http://www.nola.gov/home/