Job Information

INDEPENDENCE FIRE DEPARTMENT
6305 SELIG DR.
INDEPENDENCE, OHIO 44131
216-524-4001

Bookmark: http://nationaltestingnetwork.com/publicsafetyjobs/fullJobDetails.cfm?agencyjobid=3388&jobid=2&agentid=1709

Updated: May 06, 2026

Position Title:	Firefighter/Paramedic
Department:	Fire
Salary Grade:	Contractual
Reports to:	Fire Lieutenant/OIC
FLSA:	Non - Exempt
Date:	April 2026

ANNOUNCEMENT & INSTRUCTIONS for
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION
for
FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC
CITY OF INDEPENDENCE, OHIO

A Competitive Written Examination ("Written Test") for the position of Firefighter/Paramedic for the City of Independence will be held from April 17, 2026, through May 31, 2026, at a National Testing
Network (NTN) testing location.

The examination is open to any individual meeting all the following criteria:

The applicant is a citizen of the United States; or is in the process of becoming a citizen of the United States per Independence Civil Service Commission Rule V.A. (2)
The applicant is at least eighteen (18) years of age prior to the date of his/her original appointment
The applicant shall not be over the age of thirty-five (35), upon original appointment
**Exception to age requirement, see Extra credit section, Pg. 6 of Independence Civil Service Rules & Regulations**
The applicant has graduated from high school or has obtained his/her G.E.D.
The applicant meets the Independence Fire Department's physical and mental health requirements and is of good moral character and habit
The applicant possesses a valid Ohio driver's license
The applicant possesses a valid Ohio Paramedic or provides proof of enrollment in Paramedic School (letter from school)
The applicant possesses a valid Ohio Firefighter II Certification.
The applicant possesses a current Firefighter's Agility Certificate with passing time of 4 minutes 30 seconds or less from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) or other Community College approved testing center. Tri-C will offer this agility test on April 26 and May 31, 2026. To register, call Tri-C at 216-987-5429.

APPLICATION: The applications submitted to NTN will be accepted as the candidate's formal application.

Applications submitted after May 31, 2026, will not be accepted.

DISQUALIFICATION NOTICE – APPLICANTS who do not complete the application form, provide false information, or do not include the required listed information above shall be removed from consideration.

The only way to register for the online written test is to contact the National Testing Network (NTN) www.nationaltestingnetwork.com

In addition to passing the Written Test, to be eligible for appointment, an applicant whose name appears on a list certified to the appointing authority must:

Meet the minimum standards on a physical examination conducted by a certified physician.
Receive a recommended rating ona firefighter index/psychological profile.
Maintain a valid Tri C Firefighter Physical Agility Certificate. Certification must be current for appointment.
Possess a valid Ohio Paramedic Certification (applicants who have not completed paramedic training will not be eligible for hire, and will remain on the active list)
Meet additional requirements imposed by the Civil Service Commission.

EXTRA CREDIT
Those wishing to receive any of the below extra credit must provide documentation on or before the date of the Physical Agility Test. Extra Credit will be added to an applicant's final grade if, and only if, the applicant received a minimum of passing grade of seventy percent on the Written Test. Please note, the maximum extra credit points an applicant can earn is limited to 20 points. The Commission reserves the right to reject information from applicants after their application has been submitted.

Military Credit
An applicant with a certificate of service or honorable discharge (DD214) shall receive additional credit
of five (5) points to his/her final grade.

Independence Employee Credit
An applicant who is currently employed on a part-time basis as an Independence Firefighter/Paramedic as of the date of the examination notice shall receive an additional credit of five (5) points upon completion of evaluation 2 of the Independence Fire Department Probation Manual.

College/Education Credit
An applicant who possesses an associate's degree in any field from an accredited institution shall receive an additional credit of one (1) point.
An applicant who possesses a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in fire science shall receive an additional credit of four (4) points.
An applicant who possesses a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in any other field shall receive an additional credit of two (2) points.
Maximum extra credit for education may not exceed four (4) points for original appointment.

Advanced Fire Officer Certifications Credit
(a) An applicant who possesses a State of Ohio Fire Safety Inspector Certification shall receive an additional credit of one (1) point;
(b) An applicant who possesses a State of Ohio Fire Instructor Certification shall receive an additional one
(1) point.

Other Jurisdiction Employee Credit
Extra credit is established as a method for hiring experienced Firefighters/Paramedics from other jurisdictions that have obtained and maintained Paramedic and Firefighter II certification in the State of Ohio and have previously been employed for three (3) consecutive years of full-time active service. For applicants not currently employed as a Firefighter/Paramedic, there shall be no more than a one (1) year break in service from previous employment as a full-time Firefighter/Paramedic. Applicants meeting the experience requirement shall receive one (1) point per year of full-time experience up to a maximum of five (5) points. Applicants who meet this criterion shall provide documentation on or before the date of the Physical Agility test.

Maximum age
Applicants for Firefighter must have attained the age of eighteen (18) on or before the date of appointment and shall not be over the age of thirty-six (36) on the date of appointment with the following exceptions: He/she may receive up to five (5) years of experience credit for that service ona year-to-year basis. This credit will be added to the maximum age allowing the applicant to be appointed up to and including the age of forty (40). For the purposes of this experience credit, the maximum age is before the forty-first (42nd) birthday.

Extra credit will be added to an applicant's final grade if, and only if, the applicant received a minimum passing grade of seventy percent (70%) on the Written Test.

Detailed instructions for this Examination are available online only at www.independenceohio.org (go to Government - Civil Service.) or at the NTN website www.nationaltestingnetwork.com.

The beginning annual salary for a Firefighter/Paramedic in the City of Independence is currently Prior full-time fire service will be taken into consideration when determining starting salary.

THE CITY OF INDEPENDENCE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Peter Nelson, Chairman
Civil Service Commission
City of Independence, Ohio
216.524.4131 Ext. 26

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