The Westchester County Department of Human Resources administers the civil service examination for firefighters that will be used to fill vacancies in the fire departments of the cities of Peekskill and Rye and those of the towns and villages and Special Fire Districts within the county. At this time, the Westchester County itself does not have a fire department.
The cities of Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, White Plains and Yonkers each hold their own firefighter examination.
The chart below summarizes the basic requirements for firefighter:
| Requirement | At Time of Examination | At Time of Appointment |
|---|---|---|
| United States Citizenship | No | No |
| High School Diploma | No | Yes |
| Current NYS Drivers License | No | Yes |
| Minimum Age | None | 18 |
| Maximum Age | None | None |
| Westchester County Legal Residency | 30 days prior to the examination date | Yes |
| New York State Legal Residency | Yes | Yes |
In addition to the above, there are medical and physical agility standards that must be met in order to achieve a permanent appointment as a Firefighter. The official announcement for Firefighter will detail the requirements necessary to complete the examination and appointment process.
Candidates for the firefighter examination are encouraged to read the Candidate Physical Ability Test: Orientation and Preparation Guide, and to view the Firefighter Physical Ability Test: Instruction Video. This exam is usually given once every four years and candidates have to wait until the beginning of next application filing period to apply. You may sign up to receive e-mail notifications when new examinations are announced.
CANDIDATE PHYSICAL ABILITY TEST (CPAT): Candidates may defer the Firefighter Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) once. Additional deferment will result in the restriction from the eligible list.
CANDIDATE PHYSICAL ABILITY TEST WAIVER POLICY: Candidates who have already passed the CPAT administered under IAFF and IAFC guidelines within the last 24 months, may be waived from taking the required CPAT again. Candidates seeking such a waiver must provide original documentation from the testing agency that shall include the CPAT date. Requests for waiver, and all supporting documentation, must be submitted to the Westchester County Department of Human Resources.
Westchester County Fire Departments
Learn more about the fire departments for which Westchester County administers examinations.
Town/Village of Harrison (no Web site available)