Firefighter EMT/Paramedic

$5,000 Hiring Incentive. Lateral entry pay available. $6,050 Annual Paramedic pay.

JOB SUMMARY

Under the general direction of the Station Lieutenant, the Firefighter/EMT/Paramedic is assigned tasks involving fire suppression, emergency medical services, rescue, hazardous materials incidents, fire prevention, and other special assignments as required.

The City of Belton is a Civil Service City, which is governed by Chapter 143 of the Texas Local Government Code. The position of Firefighter is a Civil Service position and will be filled following the hiring guidelines of this governing body. See the following link for more detailed information regarding the hiring process: http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/LG/htm/LG.143.htm#143.031

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education, License, Certification, Training, and Experience Guidelines:

• Candidate must hold a valid certification by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) as a Basic Firefighter, AND, you must have a current EMS certification of either an EMT- Basic or an EMT-Paramedic issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS).
• Per Civil Service rules and regulations governed by Chapter 143 of the Texas Local Government Code, a person may not take an entrance exam for a beginning position in the Fire Department if the person is 36 years of age or older.
• Must be a United States of America citizen.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must have a High School diploma or GED.
• Read, write, and speak fluent English.
• Must possess at least a valid State of Texas Class C driver’s license, with a good driving record.
• Must pass the civil service written exam and physical fitness assessment.
• Must pass pre-employment testing, including drug screen and medical physical exam.
• Any of the following statements noted below may disqualify the applicant from further consideration at any stage of the employment process. This list is not all-inclusive.

Applicants must pass a written Civil Service Exam to be administered on:

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Registration starts at 8:00 am

Testing Begins at 8:30 am.

Harris Community Center

401 N. Alexander St., Belton, TX, 76513

(Walk-up may be able to test, but not promised if tests are not available)

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FIRE DEPARTMENT DISQUALIFICATIONS

1. Failure to meet the minimum requirements for the position applied.

2. Applicants with a conviction of an offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten (10) years will not be considered for employment.

3. Applicants who have been or are currently on court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten (10) years from the date of the court order will not be considered for employment.

4. Applicants shall not be considered for employment while charges are pending for any criminal offense, other than Class C traffic offenses.

5. Applicants convicted of a felony under State, Federal, or military law will not be considered for employment. The applicant will not be considered for employment while charges are pending for any felony offense.

6. Applicants who have been convicted of and/or received a deferred judgment for any family violence offense will not be considered.

7. Crimes involving moral turpitude may result in permanent disqualification and will be considered on a case-by-case basis with appropriate consideration of circumstances and recency.

8. Applicants will be temporarily disqualified who have traffic or driving violations exceeding three (3) events (moving violations or preventable accidents) in the preceding thirty-six (36) months, or a reckless driving conviction in the preceding sixty (60) months.

9. Has been placed on a “Brady list” by a prosecutor and/or has been disqualified from testifying by a prosecutor.

10. Discharged from any military service under less than honorable conditions, including specifically:

• • Under other than honorable conditions;
  • Bad conduct;
  • Dishonorable; or
  • Any other characterization of service indicating bad character.

11. Applicants who have a history of delinquent payments, not meeting financial obligations, or repeated occurrences of issuing checks without sufficient funds, without extenuating circumstances, will not be considered.

12. Failure to cooperate fully with and keep all scheduled appointments with fire staff personnel involved in the selection process. Failure to provide added personal information as needed or failure to submit information update/changes within ten (10) business days of the change.

13. If application is illegible or there are gaps in employment, an applicant may not be considered. Additionally, if applicant fails to follow directions on application or demonstrates dishonesty or deception at any time during the application process, he/she will not be considered.

14. Applicants have made any false statements in any material fact; withheld information, practiced or attempted to practice any deception or fraud in his/her application, examination or appointment. Depending on the variables involved, disqualification may either be permanent or temporary.

15. Applicants that have been dismissed or resigned in lieu of dismissal from any employment for inefficiency, delinquency, or misconduct. Said dismissal or termination will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

16. Not being of good moral character or being known to habitually associate with those of questionable moral character.

17. Driver’s license suspension within the past five (5) years (suspensions older than 5 years will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.)

18. Must not have any defects or any physical condition that would interfere with the duties and performance of a Firefighter. This would include visible body piercing or tooth jewelry.

19. Applicants must not drink alcohol excessively.

20. Applicants must be current on child support payments.

21. Applicants may be temporarily or permanently disqualified if it has been determined by the city, they have admitted to conduct which constitutes excessive and/or recent use of illicit substance(s) or excessive use of intoxicants. Conduct involving excessive and/or recent use of illicit substances or excessive use of intoxicants shall be considered on a case-by-case basis with consideration given to circumstances and recency.

22. Failure to pass any portion of the hiring process, including the Oral Review Board. Reasons for failing the Interview Board include, but are not limited to, the following:

• • failure to verbally communicate effectively and appropriately;
  • failure to demonstrate an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the position sought;
  • failure to present the maturity expected of the position sought; or
  • failure to accurately and precisely respond to the questions of the interviewers.

23. Exercised poor judgment skills within the preceding five (5) years. The applicant has demonstrated either immaturity or poor judgment in the applicant's decision-making process. Examples of such conduct would include, but is not limited to: attendance at parties or social functions at which controlled substances or dangerous drugs are consumed, and such activity is known or should have been known by the applicant; silent acceptance of known illegal conduct by others in his presence; workplace behavior/decisions that adversely affect the business or associates, with little or no objectively justifiable need for such behavior. Temporary disqualification until the applicant can demonstrate that the applicant's judgment skills have improved.

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Application Selection Procedure

The testing procedure for applicants with the Belton Fire Department consists of five sections. Each section must be passed to move on in the process. Applicants who pass all five areas, based on the availability of open positions, will be offered employment as a probationary firefighter. The probationary period is a non-civil service position and is complete one (1) year from the date of hire. After completion, the employee will be a Civil Service employee.

• Written Examination:
  The Civil Service written exam is multiple choice and is designed to assess the knowledge, skills, abilities, and personal characteristics necessary for success. No prior training or experience is assumed of candidates taking this entry-level exam. Applicants must pass the exam with a grade of 70 or higher to have a passing score. A study guide is not necessary to pass the exam; however, if the candidate wishes to purchase a study guide, this can be done through the following website address: https://www.applytoserve.com/Study/

• Physical Assessment:
  The applicant will participate in a course that consists of the following requirements: 2000-meter row, hose drag, hand-over-hand box drag, high-rise hose bundle carry, forcible entry sled, rescue dummy carry/drag, and three (3) inch hose roll and lift. The Essential Functions Test is considered pass/ fail; there is no time limit specified. This testing shall be performed with the candidate wearing appropriate clothes, Firefighting Helmet, work gloves, and a weighted vest that is approximately 20 pounds. A fire department representative will walk beside the candidate while performing the test. At no time shall the fire department assist the candidate testing, other than for safety reasons. Tasks 1 through 7 are considered continuous. Candidates shall not be allowed to rest at or between events for more than 90 seconds.

• Background investigation:
  A thorough investigation into each applicant’s background will be conducted by Belton Fire Department personnel. The background packet will be issued by the Civil Service Director to the applicant and will advise the deadline for return of this material.

• Oral Board Interview: Each applicant who passes the above tests will be subject to an interview by a board comprised of selected Belton Fire Department personnel and the Civil Service Director. If a position is open, and the board passes the applicant, he/she will be given a conditional job offer as a probationary employee with the department, contingent on the applicant passing the required drug test and medical physical exam.

• Pre-employment testing:
  Each applicant passed by the board must complete a drug screen and a medical physical exam.

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Essential Functions Test

The test will be administered by Belton Fire Department personnel with the Director of Civil Service or a representative present.

Successful candidates must complete all tasks of the test within the guidelines set forth during the pretest walk-through. Any candidate who fails to complete a task within the guidelines set forth during the pretest walk-through shall be disqualified from this hiring process. Any questions about the test will need to be asked by the candidates prior to beginning the exam, preferably during the walk-through.

The Essential Function Test is administered directly after the successful completion of the written exam. Candidates shall supply their own clothes appropriate for this type of physical activity. Athletic shirts and bottoms, along with running shoes are suggested. It is the responsibility of each candidate to bring all accessories they may need. The Fire Department will provide the weighted vest, fire helmet, and gloves.

The Essential Functions Test is considered pass/ fail, there is no time limit specified. This testing shall be performed with the candidate wearing appropriate clothes, Firefighting Helmet, work gloves, and a weighted vest that is approximately 20 pounds. A fire department representative will walk beside the candidate while performing the test. At no time shall the fire department assist the candidate testing, other than for safety reasons. Tasks 1 through 7 are considered continuous. Candidates shall not be allowed to rest at or between events for more than 90 seconds.

The following tasks are considered essential to the position of firefighter:

TASK 1

2000 Meter Row – While wearing only the workout clothes (no helmet, weighted vest, or Gloves), the candidate shall row 2000 meters on the department supplied row machine within 10 minutes.
Once the candidate finishes the 2000-meter row, they have no more than 90 seconds to don the helmet, gloves, and weighted vest and to begin Task 2.

The row is used to ensure the candidate has the cardiovascular conditioning needed to perform firefighting tasks.

TASK 2

Hose Drag – The candidate shall drag a charged 1 ¾ inch attack line one hundred (100) feet and place the fog nozzle down past the designated marker. The attack line shall be charged to 100psi. The nozzle cannot be dropped, thrown or opened during this task. Once the nozzle is on the ground past the designated marker the task is complete.

This task simulates the advancement of a charged fire hose during fire ground operations.

TASK 3

Hand over Hand Box Drag – The candidate shall load a wooden box with a total of 2 sections of three (3) inch hose. The candidate has an option of loading a single section or both sections at a time. Once the box is loaded, the candidate shall stand in the four-foot by four-foot (4’x4’) designated area, grab the rope and pull the weighted box hand over hand fifty (50’) feet. If the candidate loaded only one section, he/ she must remove the sections of three (3) inch hose and repeat the process for the second section of three (3) inch hose. When both sections of three (3) inch hose cross the designated fifty (50) foot line the task is complete. The candidate shall not step out of the four-by-four area once the task of pulling the load begins until the box has crossed the designated marker.

This task simulates the upper body strength and endurance needed during fire ground operations such as pulling hose up stairways or hoisting equipment up multiple stories of a building.

TASK 4

High Rise Hose Bundle Carry – The candidate shall pick-up one (1) fifty (50) foot section of three (3) inch hose secured in an accordion style hose bundle and carry it one hundred (100) feet to a designated marked area and gently place the hose bundle on the ground past the marker. This will complete the task.

This task simulates carrying hose during high rise operations.

TASK 5

Forcible Entry Sled – The candidate shall drive the beam down the sled while standing on the sled rails with a ten and one half (10.5) pound dead blow hammer until the back edge of the beam has passed over the end of the sled which completes the task. It is the responsibility of the candidate to make sure the task is completed before moving onto the next task. The dead blow hammer handle will be marked with tape and hands should not be placed between the tape and the head of the hammer.

The task simulates the physical exertion required for forcible entry.

TASK 6

Rescue Dummy Carry/Drag – The candidate shall move a one hundred eighty-five (185) pound rescue dummy twenty-five (25) feet from the designated starting area around a cone and twenty-five (25) feet back to a designated completion area. The entire dummy must be all the way past the completion marker. The dummy shall be moved by one of the approved methods that will be discussed during the pretest walk through and shall not be handled with unnecessary force (Example dropped, thrown, dragged by one arm or the head, etc.). This will complete the task.

This task simulates the extraction of an unconscious fire firefighter or victim during emergency situations.

TASK 7

Three (3) Inch Hose Roll and Lift – After removing the helmet, SCBA, jacket/ weighted vest, and while wearing Firefighter gloves, this task is performed by flat rolling four, three (3) inch fifty (50) foot section of hose. The candidate shall start with the male end and roll each section of the hose neatly to the female end. The task is complete after all the rolled hose is carried 10 foot and place on the hose table.

This task simulates the flexibility and dexterity needed during day-to-day operations.

Note: The sequence of events described in this assessment may be modified at any time due to equipment availability or equipment failure. Individual tasks may be reordered, replaced, or removed at the discretion of the Belton Fire Department to ensure safety and fairness in testing.

Most of the tasks are spaced approximately forty (40) feet apart and each task is marked for accuracy to ensure every candidate is receiving a fair and consistent assessment.

Candidates are advised to prepare for the essential functions test with prior physical conditioning that is safe for their current level of fitness. The candidate is asked to get plenty of rest, eat well and hydrate the day before and the morning of the test.

Thank you for considering a great career at the Belton Fire Department.

Benefits include 48/96 work schedule, certification pay, 100% employer-paid employee-only medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums. Optional dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense. Paid vacation, holiday, and sick leave are available. Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) 7% participation is required, with City match of 2:1, vested after 5 years. Social Security deductions are required.

The City of Belton is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation/At Will employer and does not discriminate on basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status.