Firefighter

CITY HALL WILL BE CLOSED ON OCTOBER 12, 2026 FOR COLUMBUS DAY EXAMINATION DATE FIRST DAY FOR FILING LAST DAY FOR FILING Monday, October 5, 2026 – 8:00 AM January 9, 2027 Monday, November 2, 2026 – 3:00 PM STARTING SALARY: $57,822.41 EXAM: #6006-4940 O.C. PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO CANDIDATES WHO ARE A NIAGARA FALLS, NY RESIDENT EXAM FEE: $30.00 A NON-REFUNDABLE application fee must accompany your application and is required for each exam for which you apply. DO NOT USE CASH. Make check or money order payable to the City Controller and write the examination number on your check or money order. FEE WAIVER A waiver of the application fee will be allowed if you are unemployed and primarily responsible for the support of a household. In addition, a waiver of the application fee will be allowed if you are determined eligible for Medicaid, or receiving Supplemental Security Income payments, or Public Assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families/Family Assistance or Safety Net Assistance) or are certified Job Training Partnership Act/Workforce Investment Act eligible through a State or local social service agency. All claims for application fee waiver are subject to verification. If you can verify eligibility for an application fee waiver, complete a “Request for Application Fee Waiver and Certification” form and submit it with your application by the close of business on the Application Deadline as listed on the Exam Announcement. An application fee waiver that is not supported by the appropriate documentation is grounds for barring admittance to exam or appointment. The “Request for Application Fee Waiver and Certification Form” is available in the Human Resource Department at City Hall. This eligible list will be in existence for a minimum of two (2) years from the date that it is established with the option to extend to a maximum of four (4) years upon MCSC approval. The current existing Firefighter eligible list will remain in effect only until a new list is established. Steps for filing for the examination: 1. Complete an application for examination on or before the last filing date and submit with a $30 check or money order, and the following required documents. Candidates who do not provide all documents will be listed as conditional and/or restricted and not considered for appointment until the documents are received: ❖ NYS Driver’s License (If you do not have a driver’s license, a birth or baptismal certificate must be provided.) ❖ High School diploma or GED certificate ❖ College degree or transcript (not required to take the exam but required to be considered for appointment) ❖ DD-214 to substitute active military service for credit hours or for age reduction or Veterans Credits. FILING FOR THE EXAM: Applications can be filed in person at Niagara Falls City Hall, 745 Main St., Room 14 or by mail. If filed by mail, the envelope must be postmarked on or before the last date for filing. Application can be filled out on online by going to www.niagarafallsusa.gov . Tie scores are broken and ranked on the eligible list by a totally random method as recommended by the NYS Department of Civil Service. The method that will be used is the last four digits of the social security number. Candidates taking exams for other jurisdictions on the same date, you must notify this office in writing at least 2 weeks before the exam (see General Instructions on Page 2, Item #14). Candidates claiming Veteran’s Credits, you must file a separate form and provide a DD-214 (see General Instructions on Page 2, Item #3). Active-Duty Military Personnel: Candidates unable to file an application during the filing period due to active military duty can file up to 10 business days before the scheduled exam date. Candidates unable to take the exam on the scheduled date due to active military duty may and who have properly filed an application to take the exam will be provided with a special make-up examination later (see General Instructions on Page 2, Item #4). -2- 2. 3. 4. 5. See Reverse Side for General Instructions GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES (Please read carefully) 1. COMPLETION OF APPLICATIONS - A regular application must be filed for each exam. The applicant must make sure that every question is answered, and that the application is complete in all respects. An incomplete application may be disapproved. 2. VETERAN AND DISABLED VETERAN CREDITS - Candidates must meet the requirements for Veterans Credits at the time of appointment or promotion. A candidate who is currently in active duty in the military may file for "conditional" credits but will be restricted from certification using the credits until appropriate documentary proof of honorable discharge and dates of service is provided to the Commission. The form necessary for filing for Veterans Credits, however, must be filled with the application. Evidence of military discharge (form DD-214) or proof of military status if claiming "conditional credits" must be presented with this form. You will be allowed the option of waiving these credits after the completion of the exam. 3. MILITARY MAKE-UP - – If you are unable to participate in the scheduled exam due to active military service, you may be eligible for a special military make-up exam later. You must first file for the exam during the filing period or no later than 10 business days before the exam. Once you can take the exam and if the eligible list is in existence, you may request from this office to be administered a make-up exam. Proof of your military order or DD-214 substantiating your active military service at the time of the examination must be provided before the test is administered. 4. SPECIAL TEST ARRANGEMENTS – Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on this day due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice and/or need special accommodations due to a disability, indicate this on your application form. 5. INVESTIGATION OF CANDIDATES - Inquiries may be made as to character and ability, and all statements made by candidates in their applications are subject to verification. 6. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION – Applicants will be required to undergo a State and national criminal history background investigation, which will include a fingerprint check, to determine suitability for appointment. Failure to meet the standards for the background investigation will result in disqualification. 7. ADMISSION NOTICES - The Commission will notify all candidates of the disposition of their applications. Approved candidates will be notified at least four days in advance of the place, date and hour of exam. If you have not received notification of acceptance or rejection or information as to where to appear for the exam by the Wednesday before the exam date, contact this office at 716-286-4429. 8. PASSING MARK - The passing grade in each announced subject of an examination is 70. 9. PHYSICAL EXAM - Prior to appointment, each candidate will be required to pass a physical exam. 10. RETIREMENT SYSTEM - Persons appointed to competitive positions are required to join the NYS Retirement System. 11. DEGREES AWARDED FROM EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OUTSIDE OF US OR TERRITORIES: Your degree and/or college credit must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the New York State Education Department as following acceptable educational practices and/or your high school diploma must be equivalent to one awarded in the U.S. If your high school diploma, degree and/or college credit was awarded by an educational institution outside of the U.S. and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to this Department for a list of acceptable companies providing this service; you must pay the required evaluation fee. 12. APPLYING FOR CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS ON THE SAME DATE IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS: A) If you have applied for both State and Local government exams, you must make arrangements to take all your exams at the State exam center by calling (518)474-6470 or toll-free at 1-877-697-5627 (press 2, then press 1) no later than two weeks before the test date and also notify the Niagara Falls Civil Service Commission in writing, preferably prior to the last date for filing for the exam, but in no case less than two weeks prior to the exam date. B) If you have applied for other local government exams, you must contact each jurisdiction as instructed. The City of Niagara Falls requires a written request no later than two weeks before the date of the exams. You must notify all jurisdictions at which test site you wish to take your exam(s). For more information regarding this policy, call (716) 286-4432. 13. In conformance with section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive an additional ten points in a competitive exam for original appointment in the same municipality in which his/her parent has served. If you are qualified to participate in this exam and are a child of a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty in this municipality, please inform this office when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the application deadline to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility. However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has been established. 14. The City of Niagara Falls does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, marital status or national origin. 15. Applicants who have completed accredited military or industrial training can contact Excelsior College at www.exelsior.edu for information about the Full Service Credit Bank service which can issue a college transcript, which can be reviewed for compliance with the minimum education requirement for an exam. Firefighter Continued -3- DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: This is standardized manual work of a hazardous nature involving controlling and extinguishing fires, protecting life and property, performing various fire prevention duties and maintaining equipment. Detailed instructions are usually received from an assigned superior. Routine maintenance and custodial work on station and equipment is performed under general supervision and inspected upon completion. The Firefighter performs related work as required. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: Applicant must be a high school graduate or a holder of a high school equivalency diploma issued by an education department of any of the states of the United States or a holder of a comparable diploma issued by any commonwealth, territory or possession of the United States or by the Canal Zone or a holder of a report from the United States armed forces certifying successful completion of the tests of general education development, high school level. Applicants who do not possess high school diploma or equivalency are eligible to take the examination, but will not be eligible for appointment until they obtain a diploma. For information on how to obtain a New York State Equivalency Diploma, write New York State Education Department, Albany, New York 12224. AGE REQUIREMENT: Candidates must not be less than 18 years of age. Candidates who lack six (6) months or less of the minimum age requirement shall be deemed eligible for the examination if otherwise qualified. Eligibility for appointment from eligible list begins when a candidate reaches his or her 18th birthday. PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: Candidates must meet medical standards (as prescribed by the Municipal Police Training Council) and successfully complete the physical requirements of the Candidates Physical Aptitude Test (CPAT) during training period. Failure to do so will result in termination of appointment. DRIVER’S LICENSE: To be eligible for appointment, candidates must possess a valid New York State driver’s license. NOTE: Candidates must obtain the basic E.M.T. “D” (Emergency Medical Technician – Defibrillation) certification and maintain this certification throughout their career. The certification must be obtained within two (2) attempts at the examination, as scheduled and arranged by the Niagara Falls Fire Department. . SUBJECTS OF EXAM: Ability to learn and apply information These questions test for the ability to learn new information and apply it to answer questions effectively. Candidates will read information presented in a Training Lesson and then answer questions regarding the information and procedures covered in the Training Lesson. All information needed to answer the questions will be provided in the Training Lesson, and candidates will be able to refer to the Training Lesson when answering the questions. Some of the questions may require candidates to combine information from different portions of what has been learned in the Training Lesson. No prior knowledge of any specific job or subject matter is needed. Basic arithmetic This section requires candidates to use basic arithmetic (add, subtract, multiply, divide) to find a missing value in a table of numbers. Candidates will not need to refer to the Training Lesson or any other section of the test to answer the questions in this section. All information needed to answer each question will be contained in this section. No knowledge of firefighting or any other job is required. Candidates should bring a hand-held battery- or solar-powered calculator for use on this test. Candidates will not be permitted to use the calculator function on their cell phone. Reading comprehension These questions test for the ability to understand written materials (e.g., sentences, passages) and answer questions about the information presented. Candidates will be provided with reading passages, followed by questions related to each passage. Each question will require candidates to demonstrate that they have read and understood the information contained in the passage. Situational judgment This section tests for the ability to identify appropriate and effective responses to work-related challenges. Candidates will be presented with several scenarios that reflect the types of challenges one could encounter in a work environment. They will then be asked to rate the effectiveness of a number of possible responses to each scenario. Test guide: A Guide for the Written Test for Firefighter is available at the New York State website:https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm. Candidates not having access to a computer or the internet may request copy of the test guide from the municipal civil service office conducting this examination using the contact information found elsewhere on this announcement. CALCULATOR STATEMENT: CANDIDATES ARE PERMITTED TO USE QUIET, HAND-HELD, AND SOLAR OR BATTERY POWERED CALCULATORS. CELLULAR PHONE CALCULATORS, DEVICES WITH TYPEWRITER KEYBOARDS, "SPELL CHECKERS," "PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISTANTS," "ADDRESS BOOKS," "LANGUAGE TRANSLATORS," "DICTIONARIES," OR ANY SIMILAR DEVICES ARE PROHIBITED. YOU MAY NOT BRING BOOKS OR OTHER REFERENCE MATERIALS RATING OF EXAMS: The written exam is being prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23-2 of the Civil Service Law. The provisions of New York State Civil Service Rules and Regulations dealing with the rating of exam will be applicable to this written exam. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER