Career Firefighter Paramedic Lateral Process for Summer 2022
Unified Fire Authority is offering opportunities for Paramedics to join UFA in 2022 as a Paramedic Firefighter with a starting wage up to the top step (Step 10) on the Firefighter Pay Plan. Processes will take place in the Summer of 2022 (please see Timeline below).
Summer 2022 Firefighter Paramedic Lateral Process Flyer
Career Firefighter working for a firefighting first responder agency as a full-time Firefighter Paramedic within the last eighteen (18) months.
Must have licensure through NREMT.
Must successfully pass the Paramedic Skills Assessment process conducted by the UFA EMS Division (per NREMT Guidelines.)
Those selected will be required to pass a background investigation, medical exam, new-hire drug test and other contingencies as required in UFA policy.
Those offered a position will be required to successfully complete a 4 – week orientation, and 10-shifts of field orientation as an extra crewmember in Operations.
***If a Firefighter Paramedic does not pass the required Paramedic Skills Assessment they will have an opportunity to test in our entry-level Firefighter testing process. If a Paramedic is selected for hire through our entry-level testing they will be compensated as a Paramedic at the beginning of the pay range. Please visit the General Testing Process.
Summer 2022 Firefighter Paramedic Lateral Timeline
| 2022 Skills Assessment Information: | Paramedic Skills Assessment Fire Skills Assessment |
| EMS and Fire Skills Assessments, Oral Board and Physical Performance Test (Will be required to attend on only one of these dates) | Tuesday, July 12, 2022 Thursday, July 14, 2022 |
| Selection of Candidates | July 14, 2022 |
| Background Investigations | July 15, 2022 through August 15, 2022 |
| Final Job Offers | July 15, 2022 through August 15, 2022 |
| New Hire Orientation | TBD |
| Start of 4-week Orientation | October 2022 |
**ALL DATES & TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Additional Information
- You can review information regarding the Paramedic Skills Assessment and Fire Skills Assessment.
- For those working for a firefighting first responder agency as a full-time Paramedic, credit is given for time as a full-time Firefighter EMT or AEMT or full-time Firefighter Paramedic for pay purposes and for meeting the qualifications for advancement to Paramedic II in accordance with UFA Policy. You will be placed in either the Paramedic I or Paramedic II row on the Firefighter Pay Plan from pay step 1 to 10 (top-step) that corresponds with your years of credited service and the qualifications you hold.
- Here are a couple of examples of how the credit for time works:
- If an individual had two years and four months of credited time as a full-time Firefighter Paramedic, and one year of credited time as a full-time Firefighter EMT, for a firefighting first responder ambulance agency, that individual would start employment with UFA at Step 4/ Paramedic I on the Firefighter Pay Plan and be eligible to move to Step 5 on their one-year employment anniversary. But that individual would also be eligible to promote to Paramedic II in one year and eight months if they had also completed Inspector I and Instructor I certification.
- If an individual had Instructor I and Inspector I certification, six years and three months of credited time as a full-time Firefighter Paramedic, and three years of credited time as a full-time Firefighter EMT, for a firefighting first responder ambulance agency, that individual would start employment with UFA at Step 10 (top step)/ Paramedic II on the Firefighter Pay Plan and be eligible for a longevity award following one full year of employment at that top step.
- Credit-eligible service will be verified with the individual’s previous employer by the HR Division and candidates will receive written notification, as part of the employment offer, that indicates all years of credit-eligible service along with specific details regarding the designated pay step and if applicable, the remaining requirements necessary to advance to Paramedic II.
- The credit for time does not apply to, or affect, an individual’s seniority date or service date, and is therefore not recognized for benefits associated with those dates (i.e. promotional time requirements, station bids, vacation draws, seniority points for examinations, reductions-in-force, etc.)
- Part-time Paramedics currently working for UFA are not eligible to receive any credit for time unless they are also employed as a full-time paramedic for a pre-hospital, or first responder (firefighting or non-firefighting) agency and may then receive credit for that employment.
- Full details for the Paramedic Lateral Process can be found in our Paramedic Lateral Process policy.
