Firefighter/Paramedic

Upper Arlington Fire Division Firefighter/Paramedic

The Upper Arlington Fire Division provides fire-fighting, emergency medical, rescue, and hazardous materials response for the community. There are also a variety of non-emergency programs available to assist the public, including fire prevention, smoke detector service, blood pressure screening, carbon monoxide testing, fire inspections, station and truck tours, and public speaking requests.

The City of Upper Arlington's Firefighter/Paramedic Exam is currently OPEN until Sunday, September 20th, 2026. Testing will be continuous through this period and names will be pulled from the list as vacancies occur in the Fire Division. Candidates with the highest scores will be invited to participate in the next phase of the process. All applicants must register and take the exam through National Testing Network. NTN Scores must be valid at the time of hire, anticipated late 2026. Each applicant must receive the minimum score in each section of the test: Human Relations: 70%, Reading: 80%, Math: 70%, Mechanical: 60%. Upper Arlington Fire Division applicants are NOT required to take Part 2 of the Public Safety Self-Assessment Score. Part 2 of the Public Safety Self-Assessment Score is not considered regarding your final score for the position of firefighter-paramedic with the Upper Arlington Fire Division.

Lateral candidates can choose to participate in the written examination. If you choose not to take the exam, you will proceed to the next step with the lowest examination score. You will still be eligible to earn additional points under City of Upper Arlington's Civil Service Commission Rules, and can be found below in the Additional Points section.

Physical Ability Testing Information: The physical ability practice and test sessions will be invitation-only based on candidates successfully passing the NTN entry examination. Physical Ability Testing is tentatively scheduled for the week of October 18th, 2026. Candidates will have several dates to choose from and will also have the chance to visit Station 72 for practice sessions. Candidates will receive instructions via e-mail regarding the location and how to sign up for open time slots for the practice and test sessions once we have received their passing scores.

Salary Information: City of Upper Arlington offers competitive wages and benefits which start on your first day of employment. 2026 Annual Rates (based on 53/hour work weeks) Step A: $70,362.94 (first 6 months) Step B: $91,559.68 Step C: $98,713.60 Step D: $110,958.55 Step A is the entry step for an original appointment. Advancement to succeeding steps occurs after twelve months of continuous service at each step. Candidates with full-time Fire and EMS experience will be considered for Step B or C appointments on a case-by-case basis. Benefits Information: Full benefits; vacation, medical, dental, life insurance, participation in Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund (OP&F), deferred compensation / 457 plan options

The Upper Arlington Fire Division is a full-time fire department that provides all-hazard emergency response within the City of Upper Arlington and portions of Perry Township. Services include fire, rescue, emergency medical ambulance transport (paramedic), hazardous materials response, USAR, and a Community Paramedicine program. UAFD also responds to neighboring jurisdictions through automatic aid agreements. The UAFD provides a variety of non-emergency services to the public, including fire prevention inspections and fire code enforcement, fire safety education, and smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm checks and installations.

Upper Arlington is premier residential suburb within the Columbus metro area with close proximity to The Ohio State University and downtown Columbus. Size: 10 square miles - Population: 34,675

Job Requirements & Hiring Process: Those interested in the position of City of Upper Arlington Firefighter/Paramedic must meet a number of basic requirements. These include, but are not limited to the following.

• Be eighteen (18) years of age at the time of appointment
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Possess a valid Ohio driver's license at time of appointment
• Possess a valid State of Ohio EMT-Paramedic certification at time of appointment. Candidates may be apply if enrolled in Paramedic school and anticipate having their EMT-Paramedic certification by the time they are appointed.
• Have an acceptable driving record. Charges of Driving Under Suspension (DUS), Driving Under the Influence (DUI), and/or Hit-Skip may disqualify the candidate from consideration.
• Not have been convicted of or admitted to the commission of a felony
• Not have been convicted of or admitted to a domestic related crime of violence
• Successfully pass the written Civil Service Examination at National Testing Network
• Meet stringent physical requirements that include, but are not limited to: vision correctable to 20/20, the ability to pass a thorough physical examination which includes but is not limited to a stress test, hearing test, and a drug screening test, and possess the physical ability and agility to perform the duties of a Firefighter/Paramedic, including passing a physical agility test for admittance to the Ohio Fire Academy.

As vacancies occur, a list of current eligible names will be pulled from the NTN website. Those with the highest scores will be invited to the next phase of the process, the physical agility test. The physical agility test is administered by the Upper Arlington Fire Division. This is a pass/fail test and candidates are required to successfully pass it in order to proceed to the background investigation phase.

Additional Points: Additional points can be added to your scoring for the eligibility list based on the City's Civil Service Rules and Regulations. Candidates are responsible for providing documentation in order to receive these points. These documents may be submitted electronically prior to attendance at the physical ability test or submitted in person on the day of the physical ability test. No late submissions can be accepted.

• Military Points: Applicants who have been honorably discharged, are on active duty, or are in current reserve status are eligible for one (1) point. A copy of the applicant's DD-214 or other official document verifying this information will be required
• Educational Points: Candidates will be awarded one (1) point for an Associate degree, two (2) points for a Bachelor's degree, or three (3) points for a Master's degree. A copy of a degree or transcript will be required.
• Lateral Transfer from another agency Points: Applicants who currently hold the position being applied for in good standing at another agency are eligible for five (5) points if they have served in that capacity for at least 5 years and hold the required certifications for the position. A letter of verification from the current employer will be required.

Candidates who pass both the entry exam and the physical ability test are then placed on the Civil Service list and will proceed to the background investigation phase as vacancies occur.

Background Investigation: Candidates on the certified Civil Service list will undergo a thorough background investigation to ensure they are qualified to become a Firefighter-Paramedic for the City of Upper Arlington. This process includes, but is not limited to, the steps listed below:

1. The candidate will complete a comprehensive personal history questionnaire
2. Each candidate will complete and sign a personal inquiry waiver granting permission for the investigator to request personal and professional information deemed important to the selection process.
3. The investigator will conduct a review of the candidate's prior employment history, military service, financial records, educational records, and other information contained within the questionnaire to ensure that all information is complete and accurate and that there are no misunderstandings between the applicant and the investigator.
4. The candidate's criminal history will be researched
5. Once all required forms and preliminary information have been obtained, the investigator will conduct an in-depth background investigation. This will include contacting friends, family, business associates, past and present employers, and any other resources necessary to establish the credibility of the applicant
6. When the initial phase of the background investigation is completed, the candidate must submit to a computer voice stress analysis (CVSA) examination or polygraph examination. This examination will verify the truthfulness of the information the candidate provided to the background investigator

Please be advised, under Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 149, ALL material contained within a background investigation is public information and, therefore, must be released to any person making a public records request.

Oral Review Board: The top-ranked candidates who have successfully completed all previous phases will participate in an Oral Board Interview. The Fire Chief will determine the number of candidates invited to participate in the Oral Board Interviews. This is typically ten, in accordance with Civil Service Rule 8.B.1. (AKA the Rule of 10). Each candidate will be notified when and where he/she is scheduled to appear in front of the Oral Board. An invitation to appear in front of the