Becoming a Firefighter

Becoming a Firefighter

Before You Get Started

The state holds a yearly civil service exam to become a firefighter. The next exam takes place on October 14, 2023. The application deadline to take the exam is Tuesday, September 12, 2023.

*There is an additional $50 late fee for applications received after Tuesday, August 29, 2029. 

Applications will NOT be accepted after Tuesday, September 12, 2023.

Application assistance may be available 

The civil service exam has two parts — a written test (Fire Service Aptitude Battery) and a physical test. To take the state civil service exam to become a Somerville firefighter, you need to meet a few requirements:

• You must be at least 19 on October 14, 2023.
• There is no age limit.
• Non-US Citizens must be authorized to work in the United States.
• You must be a Somerville resident at least one year before the date of your exam. Somerville residents have preference over non-residents.
• You must have a valid Massachusetts license.
• You can't be a smoker.

Key Dates for the Municipal Firefighter Examination

Application Dates and Details:

• Application Opening: July 1, 2023
• Application Deadline: August 29, 2023*
• Notices to Appear for Written Test: September 29, 2023
• Written Examination Beginning Date: October 14, 2023, through October 21, 2023

Additional Information:

Notices to Appear for ELPAT: After taking the written examination, you will receive your notice approximately two weeks prior to your scheduled date and time for the ELPAT.

Score Release Date: TBD

Employment/Experience (E/E) Last Day to Appeal: TBD

Eligible List Establishment Date: TBD

Test Locations:

Written Test Location: Various Sites across the Commonwealth

ELPAT Test Location: 571A Main Street, Hudson, MA 01749

Apply to Take the Civil Service Exam

1. Create or log in to your Civil Service online account.
2. Read the Firefighter Written Test Preparation Guide.
3. Apply for the exam beginning July 1, 2023.
4. Notices to Appear for Written Test: September 29, 2023
   Candidates will receive their Notice to Appear by email approximately two weeks prior to their scheduled date and time for the written examination.
5. Written Examination beginning date: October 14, 2023*
   The Notice to Appear will provide detailed information. Please check your junk or spam email folder before contacting our office.
6. Notice to Appear for Entry-Level Physical Ability Test (ELPAT): Two weeks prior to your scheduled date and time.
   You will receive a notice to appear by email with detailed information and date/ time of your ELPAT Test.  Please check your junk or spam email folder before contacting our office. ELPAT Test Location: 571A Main Street, Hudson, MA 01749
7. Score Release Date: TBD
8. Employment/Experience (E/E) Last Day to Appeal: TBD
9. Eligible List Establishment Date: TBD
   When the eligible list is established, you will be able to view your ranking on our website.

The fee for the exam is $75. You can pay on the state’s website with a credit or debit card.

Once you’ve successfully submitted your application, you’ll see a Click to Pay button. Click the button to pay for your exam. Be sure to pay for the correct exam.

You’ll receive two confirmation emails when you’ve completed the process:

• an email confirming that your application has been received
• an email confirming that your payment has been received

Your application is not complete until you have received both confirmation emails. Once you receive the successful payment confirmation email, you may ignore the option to Submit Payment which may still be displayed in your account.

Please ensure that your email address is current on your account. If you need to change anything on your account, please see here for instructions: Update Your Account Contact Information. All notices are sent by email. 

Please check your junk or spam mail folder for the email before contacting this office. You are also able to view all email notices sent to you from our office by logging into your Civil Service account and viewing your inbox.

Exam Fees and Fee Waiver Information

Examination Fee: $75*
Examination Fee Waiver Form Available Online. 

Your fee may be waived if you participate in the following programs. Program participation may be evidence of need but will not guarantee the granting of a fee waiver: 

• Massachusetts Refugee Resettlement Program
• Municipal Veterans Benefits under MGL Ch. 115 
• Rental Assistance 
• Social Security Children (TAFDC) 
• Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP – formerly Food Stamps)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent 
• Unemployment Insurance (UI) 
• Women Infants Children Program (WIC)
• Other social services/social welfare programs may be considered for eligibility.

Decisions on fee waivers are made by the Human Resources Division, Civil Service Unit. 

What to Expect From the Tests

The 2023 Municipal Firefighter Examination consists of two parts:

1. A written examination the Fire Service Aptitude Battery (FSAB) 
2. A physical ability test 

What you should expect on the Fire Service Aptitude Battery (FSAB)

The FSAB consists of the following three test components: the Ability Test, the Work Styles Questionnaire, and the Life Experience Survey. 

• The Ability Test is designed to test a series of abilities, such as Written Comprehension, Problem Sensitivity, and Reasoning, determined to be important to the effective performance of entry-level firefighters. 
• The Work Styles Questionnaire is designed to assess certain motivational, value-related, and attitudinal characteristics that are of potential relevance to the successful performance of entry-level firefighters. 
• The Life Experience Survey is designed to assess candidates' past history and experience of potential relevance to the successful performance of entry-level firefighters. 

What you should expect in Physical Ability Test (PAT)

Firefighter Physical Ability Test (PAT) consists of seven timed assessments.

1. Stair Climb
2. Ladder Event
3. Hose Drag/Advance
4. Forcible Entry
5. Search
6. Rescue
7. Ceiling Hook

Stair Climb

This event simulates stair climbing while carrying equipment, an activity that Fire Fighters may perform when getting to a fire at an incident scene.  For this event, candidates will be required to make six trips up and down one flight of stairs to shuttle one piece of equipment during each climb.  During a 5-minute equipment return and recovery period, you will be required to return the six pieces of equipment to their starting positions. The time limit for the climb portion of the event is 173.9 seconds.

Ladder Event

This event simulates various activities related to using ladders.  You will be required to remove a ladder from a rack, carry it some distance, raise a weight of approximately 45 lbs.  attached to a rope that simulates the raising of an extension ladder, lower that weight, and return the ladder to the rack from which it was taken.  The event ends when the ladder is back in the rack in the proper position. The time limit for this event is 35.56 seconds

Hose Drag/Advance

This event simulates the actions necessary to manipulate a fully charged fire hose.  You will be required to pull 50 feet of hose through a U-shaped course with several turns and then continue to advance the hose while you remain in a stationary position.  There will be a ceiling on the U-shaped course to prevent you from standing upright.  Once the timed period ends, you will be required to straighten out the hose to reset the event. The time limit for the action of the event is 50.6 seconds.

Forcible Entry

This event simulates breaking down a door to gain entry to a burning structure or an incident scene.  For this event, you will be required to strike a rubber pad mounted on a moveable post.  You will use a 12 lb. sledgehammer to move the post a set distance.  The post and structure are weighted to simulate the force you would need to exert on a door in order to gain entrance.  Your score will be based on the time it takes to move the post the required distance. The time limit to complete the event is 15.8 seconds.

Search

This event simulates the actions necessary to enter and search a smoke-filled structure. Candidates crawl through a dark wooden tunnel with obstructions and turns. The tunnel is approximately 65 feet long. The tunnel is 4 feet high and 4 feet wide. At one location in the tunnel there is an obstacle on the floor and at one location there is an obstacle from the ceiling, and another location has an obstacle on each side. In addition, at these locations, the tunnel is reduced from 4 feet to 3 feet in width. The time limit for this event is 51.1 seconds.

Rescue

This event simulates the actions necessary to drag an unconscious victim from a burning building or other structure to get the victim to safety.  You will be required to drag a 120 lb. weighted bag approximately 30 feet along a zigzag course to a designated area at the end of the course.  In this event, there is a low ceiling over the course to prevent you from standing upright. The time limit for this event is 32.3 seconds.

Ceiling Hook

This event simulates the use of a pike pole or ceiling hook.  A pike pole or ceiling hook is a firefighting tool used to tear down ceilings or open walls while looking for hidden fires.  This event will require you to take a pike pole, tipped with a flat head, and thrust it upward at a metal plate in an 8-foot ceiling.  The metal plate weighs approximately 60 lbs. and must be lifted approximately six inches in order for the strike to count.  You will then step over to the next part of the event, where a pike pole handle is suspended from a ceiling height.  The pole is attached to a counterbalance that weighs approximately 80 lbs.  You must pull the pole down approximately six inches in order for the pull to count.  You will be required to perform one push and five pulls in a sequence.  The event will require you to perform four one-minute periods of work, in which you will try to do as many push-pull sequences as possible.  Only completed sequences will count in the scoring of this event. Each work period will be followed by a 30 second rest period. You must complete 24 full repetitions within the allotted time.