Individual Occupational Requirements for
GS-081: Fire Protection and Prevention Series
The text below is extracted verbatim from
Section IV-B of the Operating Manual for Qualification Standards
for General Schedule Positions (p.IV-B-13), but contains minor edits
to conform to web-page requirements.
This is an individual qualification standard.
EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
The following table shows the amounts of experience, education, and/or training required
to qualify for positions covered by this standard.
GRADE |
EXPERIENCE |
EDUCATION/TRAINING |
General |
Specialized |
GS-3 |
6 months |
None |
1 year of related education or training |
GS-4 |
None |
1 year equivalent to at least GS-3 |
2 years above high school with related course work |
GS-5 |
None |
1 year equivalent to at least GS-4 |
4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree |
GS-6 and above |
None |
1 year equivalent to at least next lower grade level* |
None |
Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for
grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable. |
*See provision on crediting level of experience for inservice placement actions in the
"General Policies and Instructions" section of this Manual.
EXPERIENCE
Work experience or military
service that demonstrated the ability to follow directions and to read, understand, and
retain a variety of instructions, regulations, and procedures and that otherwise demonstrates
the ability to perform or learn to perform the duties of the position.
Experience
that demonstrated the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform
successfully the duties of the position. Such duties may include (1) controlling or
extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or
governmental fire department or brigade; (2) rescue operations; (3) detection, reduction, or
elimination of potential fire hazards; (4) operation of fire communications equipment; (5)
controlling hazardous materials incidents and/or (6) developing, implementing, or providing
training in fire protection and prevention.
OR
EDUCATION/TRAINING
Appropriate
firefighter training may be substituted for experience on a month-for-month basis.
Firefighter training obtained as part of a high school curriculum- may be substituted for
the 6 months of general experience required for GS-3. Successful completion of a 2-year
course of study in an accredited college or university in Fire Training, Fire Science, or
other related fields of study is qualifying for GS-4. Successful completion of a 4-year
course of study in an accredited college or university with major study in Fire Science, Fire
Training, or other related fields of study is qualifying for GS-5.
USE OF SELECTIVE FACTORS
Some positions in this series require knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to
those described in this qualification standard. For such positions, job-specific selective
factors may be required to ensure that applicants have the background necessary for
successful performance in the position to be filled. For example, consideration may need to
be limited for positions involving emergency medical treatment to applicants with
certification as emergency medical technicians or for positions involving emergency response
to hazardous substance releases to those individuals with appropriate experience, training,
or certification.
REQUIREMENTS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION
For those positions requiring employees to drive motorized firefighting equipment,
candidates must possess and maintain a valid State motor vehicle operator's license of the
appropriate classification or kind. Applicants also may be required to pass a practical road
test and provide information on their driving record. See 5 CFR 930 and the "General
Policies and Instructions" section of this Manual for additional requirements for motor
vehicle operators.
MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT OPERATOR QUALIFICATIONS
For those positions requiring the operation of specialized firefighting pumping equipment,
mounted pressurized systems, dispensing devices, and/or rescue tools, applicants may be
required to demonstrate the ability, before appointment, to operate the specific equipment to
which they will be assigned, or similar related types of hydraulic equipment.
PERFORMANCE TEST
Agencies may require candidates to demonstrate satisfactory performance of the minimum
physical abilities necessary to perform safely and efficiently the essential tasks of a
particular position. The abilities may be demonstrated through prior satisfactory performance
in the same or a similar position, or agencies may choose to use a task demonstration. A task
demonstration must be directly related to the essential job tasks, and thus, must consist of
a sample of operations or steps that reflect a reasonably faithful representation of those
selected job tasks. Any demonstration required must be uniformly applied to all similarly
qualified candidates; the level of proficiency required cannot exceed that which is required
in actual job performance; and reasonable accommodation must be provided where necessary.
MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
Applicants for positions that have duties of an arduous or hazardous nature must meet the
medical standards described below. Since individual positions may not include all such duties,
a physical condition or impairment may be disqualifying for employment only if there is a
direct relationship between the condition and the nature of the duties of the specific
position to be filled.
Employees in positions involving firefighting duties or other duties involving arduous
physical exertion may be subject to periodic (e.g., annual) medical examinations following
appointment to determine fitness for continued performance of the duties of the position.
(See 5 CFR 339.)
Any serious deviation from sound medical condition may be grounds for rejection of an
applicant regardless of whether the condition is named below. Remediable defects or curable
diseases will not exclude a person from consideration, but proof that such defects have been
remedied or the disease cured must be received during the life of the eligible register before
persons otherwise qualified may be considered for appointment under civil service rules.
Corrected distant vision must be at least 20/30 in one eye and
20/70 in the other eye. Uncorrected distant vision is required only if it is likely that
corrective lenses may be lost or broken. If so, uncorrected distant vision must be at least
20/100 binocular. Ability to distinguish basic colors is required. Applicants must be free
from acute or chronic eye disease.
Using an audiometer for measurement, there should be no loss
of 30 or more decibels in the unaided worst ear at the 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz levels.
Applicants must be free from conditions
that interfere with distinct speech, free breathing, or with the use of breathing apparatuses
or protective equipment.
Applicants must be free from any pulmonary or chest wall
disease or condition that results in not being able to perform the duties of the position.
The following conditions may be cause for
rejection: organic heart disease, valvular or vascular diseases, coronary heart disease,
angina pectoris, recurrent syncope, or history of myocardial infarction.
Acute or chronic disease or inflammation of the abdominal
viscera, hernia, or significant enlargement of the liver or spleen that interferes with the
performance of the duties of the position will be cause for rejection.
Applicants must
have free movement of spine and pelvic joints.
Degenerative neurological disease or disorder
that results in documented evidence of neurological impairment that renders the applicant
unable to perform the duties of the position will be cause for rejection. A history of
serious mental disease may be disqualifying.
Individuals cannot have anomalies in the number, form,
proportion, and movement of the extremities that interfere with function. This includes
non-united fractures; nonreducible dislocations; united fractures and reduced dislocations
with incomplete restoration of function; amputation of arm, hand, leg, or foot; loss of any
skeletal portion of the thumb of either hand; loss of more than the two distal phalanges of
the ring or little fingers of either hand; any lose joints; pes cavus, weak foot, or clubfoot;
flatfoot with symptoms unresponsive to orthotics; loss or deformity of great toe or any two
toes on the same foot; torn cartilage or loose foreign bodies within the knee joint;
instability of the knee joint; or inadequately healed surgical procedure.
MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE
Title 5 U.S.C. 3307 authorizes the head of any agency to establish a maximum entry age for
the original appointment of individuals to the position of firefighter.
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