There is no equivalencies or reciprocity for the CAL FIRE basic certification. That class is taught through a cooperating community college, CAL FIRE affiliated training program, or a specific unit if hired by them. Most people get theirs through college courses or in a participating Firefighter 1 academy. Fresno County Fire typically (not always) offers one in the fall, Porterville College offers one in the spring, Allen Hancock or Cuesta College may still offer one. Or you can do some research on Firefighter 1 academies that will give you the cert. Not all do.
2 Likes
I really thank you for that information. Thats exactly what I’ll do. I am looking up classes and schools right now. lol So when the FAE job posting comes out, is that when I will have to submit all my certs and my class B dl? I do not know the process or timelines at all so please excuse my ignorance. Thank you.
Just the certs are going to come into play with the application. The DL comes into play when Region calls you with an offer. See my above post with the list of NEEDED items to have in order to get the job.
Guys…the best test takers are the ones that have the best study habits. Work hard, study hard, and it will pay off. Yes, you may have to go against someone who has been going to school, but sacrificing for study time WILL get you a permanent job. Invest in yourself.
4 Likes
As far as certs go: be prepared to have to retake some of the classes you may already have if they’re older than about 5 years ago. I just came in as a lateral FC-B from a municipal dept and I have to retake 8 classes I already have certs for. Once you get your job offer, you’ll submit what certs and quals you have to your training captain or chief. They submit all that to the regional JAC coordinator, and then the training dept will tell you in your IDP what classes you need to retake and what classes will be grandfathered in. Three of the classes I have to retake for instance are ICS-300, LARRO, and vehicle extrication. I also had to have a valid CPAT within the last 6 months
That’s the CPAT question I was wondering. Should I wait to get it closer to the academy start if it has to be within 6 months?
CPAT is good for 12 months from when you pass it. Anytime between now and 1/1/20 will cover you for all of next years academy’s
1 Like
I got my cpat as soon as I got my ranking. I took the test in May, got my ranking (2) in September, got a job offer in mid January and started two weeks later. So I’d get it sooner rather than later jusssst in case they want to put you into FFA/COA1-20 that’ll start in January. I was in 2-19 and it started March 11
1 Like
Oh, my unit interviews were all in November and December also
What are the chances of getting picked up if you ranked 3
I would say based on the results…your chances are 1 in 1246
6 Likes
Will all depend on how the lists are ranked
95+ is Rank 1
85-94 Rank 2
75-84 Rank 3
As has been stated, be prepared to go in Jan. Have your CDL & CPAT in hand come 1/1/2020.
Will know more once the application comes out in Oct. 2 years ago they required a 4 page supplemental listing certs, quals, ICS 225’s & Resume. 5 years ago it was a 14 page Supplemental. Last year the list had 10 ranks & it was 100% based on your written test results. Read, reread, reread again once the announcement comes out. I personally know several individuals who did not make the last last for failure to sign unit rank sheet, failure to fill out unit rank sheet properly, or failure to sign application. The simplest of instructions not being followed will remove you from the list.
GOOD LUCK
2 Likes
So… if your currently a perm CF employee such as a FF2 or FF2 Medic, you are saying to get the CPAT done?
Does anyone have the slightest idea how many possible positions there are this time around?
I’m not sure. My gut tells me no if you’ve already been hired permanent, but the fire service as a whole is filled with redundancy.
1 Like
Well just based off the need to fill behind the Fire Captain exam, 420 positions will be open. That FC exam had a little over 600 take it with 420 passing. The remaining number will be TAU eligible. So to be safe say 500 hundred FAE spots solely off the FC exam. Then the recent staffing of the year round 13 B engines needs 41 additional FAE’s. Then you have numerous LT spots, coupled with retirements, discipline actions and attrition to other departments. It’s safe to say this list will move fast friends, so be ready! This is solely based off my speculation and solid coffee table talk.
4 Likes
If you are a current CF employee in a LT or Perm position you “should” not need another CPAT.
There are a total of 7 COA scheduled for 2020. That equals 336 total positions for company officer
(FAE, FC, HFEO) I mention HFEO because the rumor is 40 will be hired between new positions and retirements. That will leave 296 possible COA positions for FAE & FC. As has been stated there are 420 on the new FC list. If they exhaust the FC list(they did In 2019) there will be more training needs than can be filled with scheduled academy’s. Keep in mind there are people on the new FAE list that already have FFA & COA so they will be eligible (Turn key) and not need further training to promote. Finally there are roughly 970 FAE Positions in the state(schedule B) and 1700 FC Positions
(schedule B). That math doesn’t work. So the forced days will continue…
3 Likes
If you are currently a FFII or above you do not need a CPAT. You will select “other” when it asks for your CPAT on the application, and there will be a spot where you lost your eligibility (current FFII or above).
2 Likes
Great info! Do those COA Academies include any at Clark? By chance how many FFA Academies will be done between Clark and Ione?