Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.
- 30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans
- Current Department of Army Civilian Employees
- Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army)
- Executive Order (E.O.) 12721
- Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
- Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473
- Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer
- Postal Service/Peace Corps and Other Unique Authorities
- Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible
- Reinstatement
- Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA)
In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.
GS-04 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes 1) performing strenuous physical activities such as lifting or carrying heavy firefighting equipment, climbing standard or aerial ladders, or carrying people for rescue; 2) using or maintaining firefighting equipment; 3) controlling or extinguishing fires; 4) applying basic first aid. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-03).
OR
Education: Two years of education above the high school level in an accredited college or university in Fire Training, Fire Science, or other related fields of study.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of education by 60. Add the two percentages.
GS-05 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes 1) using or maintaining firefighting equipment; 2) controlling or extinguishing fires; 3) assisting in rescue operations including administering basic first aid to injured victims; 4) eliminating potential fire hazards by identifying hazards and fixed protection systems. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-04).
OR
Education: Four years of education above the high school level in an accredited college or university in Fire Science, Fire Training, or other related fields of study.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: Computed percentage must equal at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of education by 120. Add the two percentages.
GS-06 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes 1) operating or maintaining firefighting equipment or apparatus; 2) controlling or extinguishing fires; 3) performing rescue operations; 4) responding to hazardous material incidents; 5) conducting fire protection inspections. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05).
Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this level, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone -- no substitution of education for experience is permitted.
GS-07 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes 1) work under close supervision that involves using the knowledge of standard operating guidelines; 2) operating or maintaining firefighting equipment or apparatus; 2) controlling or extinguishing fires; 3) performing rescue operations; 4) responding to hazardous material incidents; 5) conducting fire protection inspections; 6) assessing a patient's medical condition to administer basic treatment. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-06).
Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this level you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone -- no substitution of education for experience is permitted.
In addition to meeting the specialized experience requirement above, applicants must also possess the following certifications pertaining to the grade level in which applying for certified through DoD Fire and Emergency Services Certification System, International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC), or the Fire Service Professional Qualifications System (PRO-Board) in accordance with DoD 6055.06-M.
Firefighter Certificates:
GS-04: Requiredto obtain and maintain certified through DoD Fire and Emergency Services Certification System (DoD F&ES), International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC), or the Fire Service Professional Qualifications System (PRO-Board) certification Firefighter I&II and HAZMAT Awareness/Operations within 12 months AND a State or National Registry EMT (NREMT) License along with American Heart Association (AHA) CPR AND AED certifications.
GS-05: Applicants must possess the following DoD F&ES, IFSAC, or PRO-Board Firefighter I&II and HAZMAT Awareness/Operations AND a State or NREMT License along with AHA CPR AND AED certifications. (You MUST submit a copy of the certificates to be considered at this level.)
GS-06: Applicants must possess the following DoD F&ES, IFSAC, or PRO-Board Firefighter I&II, HAZMAT Awareness/Operations AND a State or NREMT License along with AHA CPR AND AED certifications. Required to obtain and maintain DoD F&ES, IFSAC, or PRO-Board Driver/Operator Pumper/Mobile Water Supply AND a Firefighter endorsement on motor vehicle license. (You MUST submit a copy of the certificates to be considered at this level.)
GS-07: Applicants must possess the following DoD F&ES, IFSAC, or PRO-Board Firefighter I&II, HAZMAT Awareness/Operations, Driver/Operator Pumper/Mobile Water Supply AND a State or NREMT License along with AHA CPR AND AED certifications. (You MUST submit a copy of the certificates to be considered at this level.)
You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:
- Emergency Medical Care
- Fire Suppression
- Preventative Maintenance
- Vehicle Operation
Time in Grade Requirement:
For the GS-04 and GS-05 level: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks may not be promoted more than 2 grades within the preceding 52 weeks.
For the GS-06 level: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-05).
For the GS-07 level: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-06).