How to get hired at Columbus Division of Fire

Written by a career firefighter · Updated 2026-11-04

Columbus hires entry-level firefighters through a Civil Service Commission exam with an annual November filing period. Candidates pass a multiple-choice exam, a video-based oral assessment (FOAM) and the Firefighter Mile physical test to reach the eligible list. A background investigation, an oral interview board and medical/psychological exams follow, then a paid academy of about 34 weeks.

Apply / get notifiedOfficial recruitment page

Minimum requirements

• At least 17 1/2 years old at application and 18 at hire src
• U.S. citizen at time of application src
• Valid driver's license at application; valid Ohio driver's license at hire src
• High school diploma or GED by appointment src
• Vision correctable to 20/30 binocular, and no worse than 20/100 uncorrected in each eye src
• Free of dependence on narcotics, alcohol or other controlled substances src
• Must pass the background investigation, including truth verification, plus medical, stress and psychological exams src

Certifications

• EMT: unknown
• Firefighter I/II: unknown

Tests

• Columbus Civil Service multiple-choice exam (Phase I) (written): Pass/fail; December 2026 through January 2027. Veterans may receive 5 extra points. src
• FOAM (Fire Oral Assessment Mechanism), Phase II (oral): Video-based; banded scoring; December 2026 through January 2027 src
• Firefighter Mile physical test (Phase III) (physical): Pass/fail; not CPAT. The exams page says March through April 2027; the FAQ says February through March 2027. src
• Oral Interview Board (oral): Held by the Division of Fire after the background investigation src

Hiring process

1. Apply online during the November filing period
2. Multiple-choice exam
3. FOAM video oral assessment
4. Firefighter Mile physical test
5. Eligible list
6. Background investigation
7. Oral interview board
8. Conditional offer
9. Medical, stress and psych exams
10. Academy (about 34 weeks)
11. One-year probation

Source: official page

Starting pay

Starting $69,975/yr (Step A, effective Nov 1, 2025), rising to $112,164 at Step E src

Academy

About 34 weeks of paid training at the Columbus Division of Fire Training Academy, followed by a one-year probation src

Checked 2026-11-05 against the department's official pages (linked). Hiring windows open and close quickly; always confirm on the official site before you apply. See every academy, EMT program and test site in Ohio.