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Agenda
Civil Service Commission
Monday, April 21, 2025 8:15 a.m.
Helling Conference Room
City Hall 410 E Washington St Iowa City, IA
1. Entry level Firefighter testing
If you will need disability-related accommodations in
order to participate in this program/event, please
contact Karen Jennings, Human Resources at 319-
356-5025 or karen-jennings@iowa-city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient
time to meet your access needs.
Date: April 17, 2025
To: Civil Service Commission
From: Karen Jennings, Human Resources Administrator
Re: Entry Level Firefighter Test
The City is committed to ensuring our workforce can effectively serve our growing and evolving community.
The current hiring list for the position of Firefighter was certified in January 2023 and has been exhausted.
Therefore, I recommend that we re-test for this position and certify a new hiring list. I recommend that the
position be advertised and applications accepted for three to four weeks and that the following process be
used to satisfy the original entrance examination and appointment requirements of Chapter 400.8 of the
Iowa Code.
Written Test: Staff recommends use of an entry-level Firefighter exam developed by the Public Sector HR
Association (PSHRA), formerly IPMA-HR. The recommended test is a multiple-choice test designed to
assess whether candidates have the most basic abilities to perform on the job and includes both a cognitive
and noncognitive component. The cognitive component focuses on learning, remembering and applying
information, reading comprehension, logical and mathematical reasoning, and situational judgement. The
noncognitive component uses a Firefighter Interest Questionnaire to assess a variety of personal traits
consistent with success on the job. The noncognitive components are designed to provide a more complete
assessment of candidates while also lowering any adverse impact. All candidates with a passing score will
be eligible to participate in the physical fitness test.
The PSHRA exam is available in both online and hardcopy formats. Candidates will be given the option of
completing the exam in an individual on-line test session proctored remotely by the testing company,
assuming they can meet the technology requirements of the testing company, or completing the exam in
hardcopy at a testing session proctored by Human Resources staff.
Physical Fitness Test: Staff recommends that we again use the physical fitness test used for police officer
candidates which establishes general fitness standards by age and sex demographic groups. It is
administered on a pass/fail basis and includes a 1.5 mile run, 1 minute sit-up test, and 1-minute push-up
test. This assessment was successfully used in our last testing process and utilizes assessments (running,
sit-ups, push-ups) that do not require specialized equipment, technique coaching, or travel to access. The
technical physical fire skills needed to perform the job successfully, several of which are simulated in the
previously used CPAT physical assessment for Firefighters, will be a focus of the new firefighter training
academy completed during the probationary period. This approach will enable the City to establish a
baseline fitness level for candidates through the hiring process while allowing for skills to be taught, properly
trained and competencies to be measured through the new recruit training program.
The physical fitness testing will be coordinated and managed by Human Resources and administered with
the assistance of staff test proctors.
Oral Interviews: Interviews will be offered to all candidates passing both the written and the physical
fitness test. Interviews follow a structured interview format with the interview panel including representatives
from the Human Resources Division, Fire Department supervisory staff, and the community, pending
availability. This process could take up to two weeks followed by panel review and discussion to determine
the composition of the recommended list.
Certification of Hiring List: A rank order list will be recommended to the Commission for certification. The
Chief will have the ability to hire candidates from the list in any order.
April 17, 2025
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Hiring Process: Following certification, all offers of employment must be made from the list. Any offer of
employment is subject to the candidate passing a criminal background and driving record check, MMPI
including a psychologist interview, and medical examination conducted in accordance with the protocols
developed by Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System of Iowa (MFPRSI) as mandated by Chapter
411 of the Code of Iowa.
A testing schedule will be established based upon the availability of testing facilities.
I look forward to discussing this process with you at your meeting. In the meantime, please contact me at
356-5025 with any questions.
Thank you.
Cc: Chief Lyon