Non-Firefighter Paramedic Lateral Process Summer 2022

Unified Fire Authority is offering an opportunity for Paramedics to join UFA as a Non Firefighter Paramedic with a starting wage up to the top step (Step 10) on the Firefighter Pay Plan. To be eligible for a Paramedic Lateral, candidates must be a certified Paramedic and be currently employed by a pre-hospital or first-responder (non-firefighting) agency as a full-time Paramedic and pass our required paramedic skills evaluation process.

Candidates currently employed as a part-time Paramedic for UFA are also eligible to participate in the Paramedic Lateral process. As they have already passed the skills evaluation, they do not need to complete this step of the process.  

Paramedic Lateral candidates participate in the same testing and selection process alongside entry-level Firefighter and Paramedic candidates. Further details about the overall testing and selection process can be found here.

The benefit for candidates of being considered under the Paramedic Lateral process is the ability to be hired at a higher starting wage, depending on experience, and to receive five preference points added to their general written exam score.

The general written examination serves as the initial “hurdle.” At least the top seventy scoring individuals, plus any individuals tied at the same score, will automatically move on to the oral board interview and physical performance exam. Preference points for those who passed the paramedic skills evaluation, or those currently employed as part-time Paramedics for Unified Fire Authority, will then be added to the written test scores to determine an adjusted, final written score. Those individuals whose final written score, with applicable preference points added, is above the established cut-off score will advance to the oral board interview and physical performance exam.

Paramedic Lateral candidates who do not pass the required skills evaluation can still take the new hire written exam and may be hired as an entry-level Paramedic. 

How does this work?

• Review a pre-recorded Workshop Webinar to find out more about the skills evaluation and hiring process. 
  • The webinar will allow you to meet the skills evaluators and will cover in detail the overall testing and selection process, the Paramedic Lateral Process and explain the components of the Paramedic Skills Evaluation.
  • Access to the 2021 recorded webinars can be obtained by clicking on these links: June 2nd Meeting Recording, June 3rd Meeting Recording
• Complete the Paramedic Skills Evaluation on July 12th, and 14th 2022. See Timeline section below for registration links. Additional evaluation dates may be added if needed.
• Compete for a position through the standard Firefighter hiring process (see General Testing Process page for more information).
  • Take the Firefighter Written Exam (dates can be found on the General Testing Process page).
• If successful, begin a full (typically 16-weeks) Firefighter Recruit Academy in February 2023.
• For those working for a pre-hospital or non-firefighting first responder agency as a full-time Paramedic, credit is given for time time as a full-time Paramedic for pay purposes only.  Individuals will be placed in the Paramedic I row on the Firefighter Pay Plan from pay step 1 to 10 (top-step) that corresponds with the years of credited service.
• Below are a couple of examples of how the credit for time works:
  • If an individual had three years and four months of credited time as a full-time Paramedic for a non-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.
  • 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 also 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 by then.  
  •  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, typically 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 through that employment. 
• Candidates hired through the Paramedic Lateral Process are required to successfully complete a full (typically 16-weeks) firefighter recruit academy.
• Full details for the Paramedic Lateral Process can be found in our Paramedic Lateral Process policy.

Requirements

• Must be currently employed as a full-time Paramedic with an EMS, pre-hospital agency or as a part-time Paramedic with UFA
  • 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 through that employment. 
• Must have licensure through NREMT
• Must successfully pass a paramedic skills evaluation process conducted by the UFA EMS Division (per NREMT Guidelines).
• Candidates may take to the written exam and participate in the regular hiring process whether or not they pass the skills evaluation.  Those who pass are eligible for the Paramedic Lateral preference points and credit for time as described on our website (link to the Paramedic Lateral Process webpage). Individuals who do not pass the evaluation, but are subsequently hired, will be hired as a Step 1 Paramedic I.
• Those selected will be required to pass 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 full (typically 16-weeks) firefighter recruit academy.

Timeline

**ALL DATES AND TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

2021 Workshop Webinar Links:	June 2nd Meeting Recording June 3rd Meeting Recording
Paramedic Lateral Skills Evaluation	Tuesday, July 12, 2022 Thursday, July 14, 2022
Written Exam Registration	May 15, 2022 to July 1, 2022
Written Exam	Wednesday, July 13, 2022 Saturday, July 16, 2022 Wednesday, August 3, 2022 Saturday, August 6, 2022
Oral Board Assessments & Physical Performance Test	August 29, 30 and 31, 2022 September 1 and 2, 2022
Selection of Candidates	September 2, 2022
Background Investigations	September 3, 2022 through Mid December 2022
Final Job Offers	Summer – Mid December 2022
New Hire Orientation	January 13, 2023
Start of Recruit Camp	First Week of February 2023