[fdnyemswannabe]

Hey guys! Sorry if I'm repeating questions that have been previously asked. There's just so much on this topic.

1. Physical Agility Exam: What is the FDNY testing in a physical? Are there height/weight/strength requirements? Anyone have any info on this?
2. Psych Test: Are they just making sure I'm not nuts, or is there more?
3. Civil Service Exam: I have absolutely no idea how to sign up, when I can sign up or what benefits I'd get from signing up.
4. Promotions: If I am NOT interested in going from EMS --> FF, are there any promotional opportunities for me?
5. EMS Academy: How long is it? What do they do there? I know it's in Fort Totten.. that's about it.
6. How long does it take to join FDNY EMS?
7. Salary: Anyone have any idea what a "typical" salary would be for a 5-yr EMT? Paramedic? The site doesn't mention what "typical" O/T is.

Sorry for asking so many questions! I'm in college now, and honestly don't know what I'm doing with my life anymore. I have a genuine interest in EMS and volunteer, and I'm considering everything. Thanks for your help.

Yes, I know that FDNY EMS is a mixed bag of opinions. Some love it, some hate it. I want to judge myself.

[PWFD4290]

Hey bro, well I am relatively new to the job so in terms of the questions of promotional exams for EMS only some of the more seasoned members would probably have more insight on that. However just coming out of the academy and doing all the prerequisites in the hiring process I can tell you what I know.

Starting with the civil service… most people recently hired by the FDNY for EMS are provisional hires meaning they don’t have the job security of Civil Service. I don’t believe you need to be on the job to take the civil service exam, there is one opening up July 7th to July 28th They haven’t offered one since 2006 so I highly recommend taking it! I am provisional so I know I will be! There are further benefits to being Civil Service I believe it opens up the opportunity to take promotional exams to Lieutenant and what not. As for the salary I’m sure you saw the baseline salaries online, that’s basically it… but the OT makes a big difference, as for the amount of OT you do… You really can go for as much or as little as you want… Over time is time and a half and most guys try and do one to two OT tours a week. Some do more, some do none. You can get mandated OT if they can’t get a tour covered or if the call volume goes through the roof… ex. a storm or heat wave etc…

The Hiring Process…
Is a pain in the neck, not gonna lie. You have the Physical agility test which is a stair master (with a 40lb vest on) for like 3 minutes, then upper body and lower body endurance tests… You’ll be given a sheet with the mailing for the notice to appear for the test on what to expect that day. The psych isn’t hard just tedious, when I took it there were about 700 true or false questions total on anything and everything you could ever think of, plus you had to draw 3 pictures (not kidding and I SUCK at drawing haha) The medical is from what I hear the step that trips everyone up. That’s a LONG day at FDNY HQ (MetroTech) and they do: vitals, blood work, eyes and ears testing, a chest x-ray, then they weigh you and you meet with a Dept Doctor. The weight part disqualifies a lot of candidates, but not for good… They give you the opportunity to loose the weight and come back right where you were in the hiring process. Get through the Physical agility test, the psych, the medical and a meet with your investigator you’re done. Then you wait and wait AND WAIT for the call… When they call they’ll offer you the job and the academy begins.

The Academy….
Was AWESOME, great experience! The FDNY EMS academy is 9 weeks long and starts with a refresher course (or basic EMT course if they’re putting a class of civilians with NO medical training through). The refresher part is just about the first 5 weeks of the academy. Combined with daily physical training (Running and weight training) you’ll also work on a lot of EMS skills ex. moving and lifting patients with EMS equipment and your regular state skills. Once you pass the State exam they let you wear the uniform… Then the fun begins, you’ll start going through the EVOC training, rotations (in the field on an ambulance and at the FDNY EMS dispatch)… you go through some HazMat training, you’ll do some drills at the FDNY Fire academy on Randalls Island. You also do Ops training (some boring lecture classes on the operations of the FDNY EMS, they’ll give you a Ops Guide the size of 4 textbooks haha) Also scenarios, that’s where they give you a radio an ambulance and equipment and set up a fake call, you’ll go in and perform your patient assessment, treatments, packaging and moving the patient to the ambulance. It’s a great time, stressful in some aspects but you come out of it a better EMT… Trust me, if you put your mind to it and work for it, you’ll get it.

Like I said I am new to the job working out in the Bronx… but I love EMS and I love this job… Like every job it’ll have its ups and downs but it is what you make of it… If you haven’t already get your name up on the list for them to call you to start the hiring process. PM me on this website if you would like, I’d be glad to help in any way I can. Good Luck!!