Job Information

DELAWARE, CITY OF
1 S. SANDUSKY ST.
DELAWARE, OHIO 43015
(740)203-1025
http:www.delawareohio.net

Bookmark: http://nationaltestingnetwork.com/publicsafetyjobs/fullJobDetails.cfm?agencyjobid=675&jobid=2&agentid=343

Updated: March 09, 2026

Job Classification: Firefighter/EMT/Paramedic

The City of Delaware is currently building an eligibility list to fill full-time Firefighter/EMT/Paramedic positions. The same hiring steps are required for both entry-level and lateral candidates.

Candidates must submit an application via the City's careers page, https://jobs.cityofdelawareoh.gov to be considered. Candidates who have submitted an application will be invited to send their scores once the application period closes on March 23, 2026. Scores must be submitted before April 6, 2026. The top 30 scoring candidates will be invited to complete the remaining steps.

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Compensation & Schedule:

Title	Minimum Starting Pay	Work Schedule *All shifts begin at 8:00 am
Full-Time Firefighter/EMT	$78,101.22/year	-24 hour shift/48 hours off -OR- -12-hour shift (2 days on, 3 off, 2 off, 3 on, and 2 off)
Full-Time Firefighter/Paramedic	$82,007.09/year

Lateral Hires: The city may hire firefighters through the civil service process with previous service as a firefighter/paramedic in the Ohio Police and Fire and/or OPERS pension systems. The firefighter/paramedic may, at the discretion of the fire chief, be paid up to the equivalent yearly rate based on the number of years of full-time service. Lateral hire candidates must have the minimum age for employment as a firefighter and not be over 40 years of age when first employed by the city of Delaware and must possess paramedic and firefighter II certifications. The firefighter/paramedic’s appointment date shall be their date of hire. The advance step placement shall not affect or be counted towards seniority. The new hire will also be required to serve a probationary period.

Benefit Information: Full-time employees are eligible for an excellent benefits package including medical, dental, vision and life insurance, vacation and sick leave, holiday pay, longevity compensation and tuition reimbursement and Ohio Police & Fire retirement benefits.

Department: The Fire Department provides emergency and non-emergency services most noticeably as fire, medical treatment and transport at the paramedic level, hazardous materials and technical rescue response. Other services include training, public education, public relations, fire inspections, fire investigation, disaster response and preparedness, strategic planning and policy development.

The Department responds to over 6,000 calls for service every year from three fire stations. A 5th fire station is being built this year and will open in 2027.

Mission: Protection through preparedness and response, delivered by the highest trained professionals.

City: The City of Delaware is a family-oriented community that blends a traditional hometown atmosphere with a modern, independent spirit. Delaware’s authentic downtown, well-established neighborhoods and cooperative governance provides a solid foundation for a career experience that fosters growth and creativity. Delaware is rated one of Money Magazine’s 100 Best Places to Live in America. Find more Information at https://www.cityofdelawareoh.gov.

Population: 48,000

Job Requirements

Age:
Minimum age of 18 at time of appointment; age limit of 40 at time of appointment.

Citizenship Required:
Must be a United States citizen or hold a permanent resident card.

High School Grad / GED:
Yes

Driver's License:
Yes. Valid Ohio Driver's License or ability to obtain an Ohio Driver's License prior to hire date.

Ability to Read/Speak English:
Yes

Academy Certification:
Ohio Firefighter I and II certification and Ohio EMT-B are required and must be in place (not in process) at the time of application with the City of Delaware for employment.

Prior Experience:
Preferred but not required

Residency Requirement:
Delaware County or adjacent county to Delaware

Minimum Scoring Requirements on National Testing Network (NTN) Firefighter Exam:

Reading	Math	Mechanical	Human Relations
80%	70%	60%	70%

*All sections must be passed to be considered for employment. The Human Relations Video Score is used to determine ranking for purposes of identifying top 60 highest scoring candidates and in calculating an overall score on the Eligible List.

Disqualifiers:
Candidates may be disqualified or removed from the recruitment process for, but not limited to the following, at any time:

Inability to establish minimum requirements or qualifications
Failure to pass any of the assessments, tests or oral review board required for the position

Felony and Criminal Activity

Conviction of or admission to any crime classified as a felony under Ohio Revised Code or any other applicable state code.
Conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude or an offense of violence.
Deception or fraud on application or examination.
Making false statements of material fact in the application, testing process or during any part of the hiring process.
Use, threatened use or attempt in using political influence in securing employment.

Driving

Conviction of, plea of “no contest,” participation in a diversion program in lieu of conviction of an OMVI or equivalent offense, or conviction which is the result of a plea bargain from an original charge of OMVI within the 36 months prior to the date of application.

Drug Use

As part of the hiring process, all applicants must meet the drug use standards aligned with federal guidelines, including those established by the FBI and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). These standards reflect our commitment to safety, security, and the integrity of our operations. The City of Delaware will assess past and current drug use based on the following criteria:
1. DEA Drug Schedules
  Drug use is evaluated in accordance with the DEA’s controlled substance schedules (Schedules I through V), which classify substances based on their potential for abuse, accepted medical use, and safety under medical supervision.
                                                               i.            Common Schedule II drugs/substances include Vicodin, methadone, Dilaudid, oxycodone, fentanyl, Adderall and Ritalin.

                                                             ii.            Common Schedule III drugs/substances include Tylenol with codeine, ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone.

                                                           iii.            Common Schedule IV drugs/substances include Xanax, Soma, Darvon, Darvocet, Valium, ,Ativan, Ambien, and Tramadol.

                                                           iv.            Common Schedule V drugs/substances include antidiarrheal, antitussive, and analgesic drugs, including Robitussin AC, Lomotil, Motofen, Lyrica, and Parepectolin.
1. FBI Drug Use Standards as a Benchmark
  We adopt guidelines similar to those used by the FBI in assessing drug history:
i. Cannabidiol (CBD) or hemp-derived products that consist of more than 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) meet the legal definition of marijuana.
i. Consideration will be given to whether the substance was sold with/without profit to the applicant, the amount sold was de minimus, and if the sales occurred when the applicant was a juvenile.
1. Additional Considerations

Employment

Dismissal from public employment for just cause.

Additional

The individual cannot be located, fails to report for an interview or other step in the selection process as directed by the Commission or Appointing Authority and/or fails to report for duty as directed by the Appointing Authority.
The individual has tested positive on a required drug test in that the test showed the presence of a drug of abuse as defined in Sections 3719.011 of the Ohio Revised Code in a body fluid unless such substance is identified as a prescribed medication (prescribed medication does not include medically prescribed marijuana). This provision is only applicable to entry level applicants.
The individual has a documented pattern of poor work habits and performance with previous employers. This includes but is not limited to excessive absenteeism, poor quality of work, excessive tardiness, and inability to get along with others in a work environment or any thefts.
Information showing that an applicant meets all of the minimum qualifications as stated in an examination announcement must appear on the application itself. No additional information will be accepted after the application filing deadline. Failure of an applicant to indicate on his application the qualifications as to education, certification, licensing, or any other requirement shall be sufficient cause to exclude an applicant from examination. A defective or incomplete application may be corrected by the applicant, and resubmitted by the filing deadline. Certification of an individual to an eligible list who has not met all of the requirements of these rules shall not be considered a waiver of any requirements, and shall not bar removal of the applicant from an eligible list by the Appointing Authority or the Commission as a result of the failure.

Recruiting & Selection Process:
While the City of Delaware continually accepts NTN scores, the remaining recruitment process is done pursuant to department hiring needs. All applicants must submit an application via the City's careers page, https://jobs.cityofdelawareoh.gov, to be considered. Once the application period has closed, candidates will be invited to send their NTN scores. The top 30 scorers will be notified via e-mail how and when to complete the following steps:

Background Self Report
Physical Ability Test —pass/fail
Panel Interview—70% minimum passing score
Eligible List certified by Civil Service– the Eligible List is ranked on the combination of the written NTN Human Relations Video test score (50%) and panel interview score (50%) plus additional points awarded for paramedic certification, college degree and military service. Candidates remain on the Eligible List for one-year from date of certification.
Fire Chief may then select candidates from the top 10 rankings on the Eligible List to continue in the selection process.
Post Eligible List certification steps include:
- Background Questionnaire/Release
- BCI/FBI fingerprinting and background check
- Firefighter Index and Emotional Intelligence Index
- Polygraph
- Interview with the Fire Chief and City Manager
Once a conditional for hire has been made, candidates must successfully complete a psychological evaluation, physical and drug screening.

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