The Fire Department of the City of Baytown is a "civil service" City whose sworn personnel are subject to Chapter 143 of the Texas Local Government Code, the City of Baytown Local Civil Service Rules, the rules of the City of Baytown, and a Collective Bargaining Agreement. All entry-level firefighters are hired from an eligibility list created by the entrance examination. The eligibility list lasts for one year from the date of the examination or until all the candidates on the list have been hired or disqualified. To obtain a place on the eligibility list, the candidate must have a passing score on the entrance examination. An additional five points shall be added to the entrance examination grade of an applicant who served 180 days active duty in the United States Armed Forces, received an honorable discharge, and made a passing grade on the examination.

The City of Baytown does not require a candidate to have already attained Fire or EMT certifications. As long as all qualifications have been met and the candidate is next on the eligibility list, the City will sponsor the candidate in the first available training academy class.

ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS FOR BEGINNING POSITION IN FIRE & RESCUE DEPARTMENT

To be eligible to take an entrance examination for a beginning position in the Baytown Fire & Rescue Department, the applicant must meet the following standards:

Age:
The applicant must be at least 19 years of age and less than 36 years of age at the time of the examination.

Education:
Minimum educational requirement for a beginning position is:

      High school diploma/GED

Citizenship:
The applicant must be a United States citizen.

Character:
Must be of good moral character.

General:
1. The applicant must not have been convicted or has ever been on court-ordered community supervision, probation, or deferred adjudication for any criminal offense of the grade of a Class B misdemeanor within the last 10 years from the date of the court order.
2. The applicant must not have been convicted or has ever been on court-ordered community supervision, probation, or deferred adjudication for any criminal offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor.
3. The applicant must not be currently under indictment for any criminal offense.
4. The applicant must not have ever been convicted of any family violence offense.
5. The applicant must not have been convicted of the offense of driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence of drugs within the last ten (10) years from the date of the court order.
6. The applicant must possess a valid Driver’s License with an acceptable driving record. A valid Texas Driver’s License must be obtained prior to appointment.
7. Meet all other qualifications established by Chapter 143 of the Local Government Code.

Military History:
The applicant must not have been discharged from any military service under less than honorable conditions including, specifically:

a. under other than honorable conditions;
b. bad conduct;
c. dishonorable; or
d. any other characterization of service indicating bad character.

Language:
The applicant must be able to read and write English.

To be eligible for appointment as a fire cadet, fire academy trainee, or firefighter, the applicant must meet the following additional standards:

Psychological:
Following a conditional offer of employment, the applicant must be examined by a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or registered professional as selected by the City of Baytown and be declared to be in satisfactory psychological and emotional health appropriate for the position of firefighter.

Physical:
Following a conditional offer of employment, the applicant must be examined by a licensed physician approved by the City and declared able to perform the essential functions of the job; and the applicant is required to pass a drug screen.

Physical Agility:
The applicant is required to pass a physical agility test. The physical agility test is a validated test based on specific job duties.

Certification:
The applicant must meet the minimum standards for licensing of a firefighter (fire protection personnel) pursuant to the provisions of Texas Government Code, Chapter 419, and the rules of the Texas Commission on Fire Protection which are in effect at the time of the examination and appointment. The employee is required to continue to meet all job standards to maintain employment.

Child of Deceased Fire fighter

1. Each applicant who is a natural born or adopted child of a fire fighter who died in the line of duty, upon receiving a passing grade on the entrance examination, will be automatically ranked at the top of that eligibility list, subject to meeting all entry-level hiring requirements.
2. The deceased fire fighter/parent must have been employed by a municipality covered by Chapter 143, Texas Local Government Code.
3. The applicant must provide the name of the deceased fire fighter/ parent on his or her application. The Director will be responsible for verifying the information relating to the line of duty death prior to placing that applicant at the top of the eligibility list.

Illegal Drugs

1. A candidate must not have used a Class 1 drug at any time. (Class 1 drugs includes heroin, cocaine, methadone, methamphetamine, LDS, PCP or morphine)
2. A candidate must not have used a Class 2 drug in the last 5 years. (Class 2 drugs include MDA/MDMA/MDE, peyote diazepam, steroids, xanax, darvon, halcyon ritalin)
3. A candidate must not have used a Class 3 drug in the last 3 years. (Class 3 drugs include marijuana)
4. A candidate must never have sold or delivered a controlled substance.
5. Neither arrest nor conviction is required for disqualification under this title.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS:

• The application process begins with the posting of a job vacancy for Firefighter by the City's Human Resource Department. Note: applications are only accepted during the posted times. Information can be obtained on our job line at 281-420-6551; on our website at www.baytown.org; or in the lobby of City Hall at 2401 Market Street.

• There is no certain date or time of the year that the examination is given. It depends entirely on the status of the current eligibility list and vacancies. When posted, the job vacancy notice is normally posted for a minimum of four weeks. The application for firefighter is not the standard City of Baytown application. A specific firefighter application will be available on line or at City Hall at the time the job vacancy is posted.

• If the candidate has been determined to meet the minimum qualifications, they will be sent entrance examination information.

• The Baytown Fire Department will offer a tutoring session prior to the written examination. This session is helpful and informal though not mandatory. However, it has been shown that those applicants who attend the tutoring sessions tend to score better than those who don't.

Upon completion of the written examination, an eligibility list will be generated based on the scores and credit given to each applicant. A system of banding (grouping several candidates based on scores) will take place. Each band must be exhausted (either hired or disqualified) prior to using the next band.

• When a candidate's name is next on the list, the following will take place:
  • Background checks are performed. (Criminal, driving record and social security number verification)
  • A panel interview is conducted.
  • A polygraph examination is administered
  • A Fire Chief’s interview is conducted.
  • A contingent job offer is made by the Fire Chief. (The candidate must complete the final three steps successfully.)
  • A psychological examination is administered.
  • A drug/stress/physical/functional test is administered by the City Physician.
  • A physical agility test is administered by the Fire Department.