Firefighter/Paramedic

The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department has been approved by City Council to increase their overall staffing numbers. Testing is being conducted to fill full-time Firefighter/Paramedic vacancies. This test will also be used to establish an Eligibility List for future available positions.

City of Crystal Lake Employment Application Deadline:
Monday, June 8, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. CST

National Testing Network Written Exam Deadline:
Must be completed through the National Testing Network by
Monday, June 8, 2026 5:00 p.m. CST. www.nationaltestingnetwork.com
Score must be submitted to Crystal Lake via the National Testing Network by June 8, 2026 5:00 p.m. CST.

CPAT (must include Ladder Climb): Must be dated between 6/8/25-6/8/26

**CPAT testing dates fill up fast, so DO NOT DELAY scheduling your CPAT exam**.

See below for links to CPAT testing facilities.

EMT Certification Requirements:

Must have Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) EMT-Basic License at time of application. Applicants are required to be Nationally Paramedic certified (National Registry) with the ability to obtain IDPH EMT-Paramedic Certified by date of hire.

Salary Range:

Effective May 1, 2025: $81,628 - $120,497 (8 steps). Currently in negotiations for a successor collective bargaining agreement.

• Proof of U.S. Citizenship (Birth Certificate, U.S. Passport, Naturalization Certificate)
• Valid driver's license
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Illinois EMT-B or EMT-P
• National Registry Paramedic License (if obtained)
• CPAT Card (dated between 6/8/25-6/8/26)
• CPAT Ladder Climb (dated between 6/8/25-6/8/26)

• Three Stations
• Responded to 7,862 calls in 2025
• 74 Sworn Personnel
• Specialty Teams include Dive Rescue, Technical Rescue, and Hazardous Materials.

• Valid Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) including ladder climb issued by a licensed agency no more than 12 months PRIOR to June 8, 2026 (CPAT cards must be dated between 6/8/25 - 6/8/26)
• Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) EMT-Basic License at time of application
  • Applicants are required to be Nationally Paramedic certified (National Registry) with the ability to obtain the IDPH EMT-Paramedic Certified by date of hire.
• Applicant must be 20 years of age at time of application deadline (must have reached age 21 by date of hire) and under 35 years of age at time of application deadline, except as otherwise determined by State Statute.
• U.S. Citizenship
• No Felony Convictions
• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Valid Driver’s License
• Ability to speak, read and write English
• Meet Visual Acuity Standard of correctable to 20/100 in each eye uncorrected, correctable to less than 20/40 and able to meet vision standards (NFPA 1582).
• Residency: Required to live within a 40 mile nautical radius of the City Municipal Complex upon completion of the probationary period.

See above minimum qualifications and additional requirements/certifications.

Selection Process:

Each phase of the process is pass/fail and required to proceed to the next. Candidates who successfully pass the written exam will be invited to participate in an on-site interview to be held in June. An eligibility list of applicants will be established in numerical order based on a minimum passing score on the written examination and oral interview, which we anticipate posting by July. The Eligibility List is valid for a period of two years from the date of certification or until the list is exhausted. Further participation in our process will take place as vacancies occur. Applicants will be invited, in rank order, to participate in and successfully advance through the following steps:

• Basic interview with representatives of the Fire Rescue and Human Resources Departments
• Character and background investigation
• Polygraph Examination
• In-depth interview with representatives of the Fire Rescue and Human Resources Departments
• Post-offer examinations including but not limited to psychological evaluation, medical examination, vision screening and drug screening.
• All appointments are subject to a probationary period.

The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department accepts for employment and promotes its employees without regard to perceived or actual race, age, sex, color, religion, political preference, national origin, disability, ancestry, marital status, order of protection status, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status or class protected by federal, state, or local law.

• Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy (NIPSTA)
  • CPAT Schedule | NIPSTA, IL
• Village of Romeoville
  • Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) | Romeoville, IL
• City of Naperville
  • Candidate Physical Ability Test | The City of Naperville
• Huntley Fire Protection District
  • CPAT Testing | Huntley FPD
• National Testing Network
  • CPAT Pre-Test | CPAT Orientations and CPAT Practice Tests | National Testing Network
• Central Illinois Fire Chiefs Association
  • Central Illinois Fire Chiefs Association :: CPAT Schedule

• Stair Climb
• Hose Drag
• Equipment Carry
• Ladder Raise & Extension
• Forcible Entry
• Search
• Rescue
• Ceiling Breach & Pull