Fire chief

To train as a fire officer, you must meet a number of requirements:

• At least possession of a successful secondary school leaving certificate
• Completed vocational training suitable for the fire department
• German citizenship or citizenship of another member state of the European Union, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland
• Impeccable reputation (constitutionally compliant and no criminal record)
• Not over the age limit (currently 35 years) at the time of recruitment
• Minimum height of 162 cm
• Possession of a class B or C driving license
• Proof of the German swimming badge in bronze or an equivalent or higher achievement
• Proof of the German Sports Badge in bronze or an equivalent or higher level of achievement
• Successful participation in the recruitment test (athletic, written, practical)
• Good eyesight (spectacle wearers require vision of at least 50% in each eye without correction. With glasses, it must be fully correctable in one eye and at least 70% correctable in the other eye).
• No health restrictions
• Fitness for altitude

In addition, your place of residence must be within a defined area (travel time max. 60 min. according to route planner) of the fire station (so-called residence requirement). Shift work should also not be a problem for you.

In Bavaria, training for the 2nd qualification level in the fire department comprises a total of 12 months and consists of the following parts:

Basic module

In the 6-month basic module (at least 800 teaching units), you will be prepared in theory and practice for the wide range of firefighting tasks. You will be able to carry out all the activities of fire department officers correctly and safely under the stresses and strains that prevail during operations. The basic module ends with a written, oral and practical examination and is carried out at one of the Bavarian professional fire departments or "permanently manned stations".
You must also successfully pass the sports and rescue swimming badge.

Paramedic course:

Successful participation in the paramedic course is a mandatory part of the 12-month training program. The paramedic course includes the following points:

• 160 hours of theoretical and practical training
• 160 hours of rescue station internship
• 160 hours of hospital internship
• 40 hours of final course with subsequent examination
• Driving license training C, CE

You will complete the 12-month training period as a fire officer candidate in the civil service on revocation.

When you start your training, you will be appointed as a civil servant on revocation. This gives rise to special rights and obligations that are regulated by law for civil servants, as you are in a relationship of service and loyalty under public law. You will not receive a training contract, as you will be appointed as a civil servant by being issued with a certificate of appointment.

You will already receive a monthly salary of € 1,359.93 (gross) during the preparatory service and approx. € 1,314.96 (net) if you are unmarried and have no children.

In addition, the City of Erlangen pays a special supplement for civil servant candidates in the 2nd qualification level of the fire department amounting to 35% of the candidate's basic salary, so that you can secure your livelihood. This currently amounts to € 475.98 (gross).

In addition, there are capital-forming benefits of € 13.29 per month, a special payment (Christmas bonus) and possibly a local and family allowance.

The salary is based on the Bavarian Salary Act (BayBesG).

After training, the starting salary in grade A7, level 2, is currently € 2713.94 (gross) and approx. € 2336.19 (net) if you are unmarried and have no children.

In addition, you will receive capital-forming benefits of € 6.65 per month, a special payment (Christmas bonus) and possibly a local and family allowance. You can also expect regular salary increases and performance-related steps.

After one year, you will receive an official allowance of € 84.25 for the fire department, which will be increased to € 168.54 after two years (as of 01.12.2022).

Supplements for work performed at inconvenient times (e.g. at night, on Sundays and public holidays) are also granted.

The salary is based on the Bavarian Salary Act (BayBesG).

As part of the preparatory service, all fees are paid by the City of Erlangen. Training materials required for vocational training and for taking the examination (e.g. work and protective clothing, textbooks or examination preparation booklets) are also provided free of charge.

Travel to the basic module is reimbursed in accordance with the Bavarian Travel Expenses Act (BayRKG) and the Separation Allowance Ordinance (TGV). Accommodation will also be provided free of charge during the basic module at a course location outside Erlangen.

All the social benefits that the city administration of Erlangen offers its employees naturally also apply to our junior staff.

Anyone who regularly travels to work by public transport receives a monthly travel allowance from the City of Erlangen. During their training, junior employees can purchase the Bavarian discount ticket (€29 ticket). The costs incurred for this are reimbursed in full by the City of Erlangen upon application.

Civil servants are not subject to compulsory insurance for statutory health, pension and unemployment insurance. However, there is compulsory insurance for long-term care insurance. Even as a civil servant candidate, you are entitled to benefits from the City of Erlangen. The allowance is a pro rata reimbursement by the employer of specific expenses incurred in cases of illness, nursing care and childbirth as well as for measures for the early detection of illnesses and vaccinations to the person entitled to the allowance. The allowance usually covers 50 to 80% of the costs. You can take out private health insurance to cover the remaining costs.

As part of the company's health management program, regular sports courses and other health-promoting activities are offered in which you can participate.

The number of trainees at the City of Erlangen is based on the anticipated personnel requirements.

The City of Erlangen can therefore offer you a guarantee of subsequent employment if you are suitable, qualified and have the necessary technical skills.

After successfully completing the training and passing the qualification examination, you will be taken on as a probationary fire officer (grade A7).

As an employee in the 2nd qualification level of the fire department, you will take part in all operations of the Erlangen fire department to protect the citizens of Erlangen. You will carry out a wide range of tasks in the areas of firefighting, technical assistance and operations with a medical background. Rescue, extinguish, rescue and protect are four keywords that best describe the range of tasks.

As a firefighter, you will drive modern fire engines of up to 24 tons, operate a wide range of technical equipment during operations and work as a paramedic. Training as a firefighter diver is also possible.

Shift work is carried out 24 hours a day, including Sundays and public holidays. The service is provided 365 days a year by three watch departments. Shift changes take place daily at 07:30. A 24-hour shift is divided into working hours and on-call times. On-call duty is available on Sundays and public holidays. Assignments are to be expected at all times and must be given priority. During your free time, you must expect to be called out to provide support in the event of major emergencies.

At the City of Erlangen, training is seen as the first step in personnel development. After completing it, employees have extensive professional development and promotion opportunities.

There are promotion opportunities up to the rank of fire inspector. The principle of performance orientation is at the heart of what happens at Erlangen City Council.

After further training, you can also work as a machine operator, group leader or diver.

If you have the appropriate professional and personal aptitude, you can also advance to the third qualification level in the course of your career through training qualification or modular promotion qualification. As part of these advancement measures, all course and examination fees are covered by Erlangen City Council.

The application period runs from approximately February to April of the previous year of recruitment.

As the City of Erlangen bases its training numbers on current staffing requirements, not every profession is offered every year. Please refer to our job advertisements to find out whether the profession is being trained and the exact application deadline.

Once the recruitment requirements have been checked, you will be invited to take the recruitment test. This examination is divided into a sporting, practical and written part.

Sporting part:

• Turntable ladder climbing
  The candidates must climb an aerial ladder, which is fully extended at an angle of 75°, within the specified time.
  Requirements: 60 seconds for all age groups
• 3,000m run
  3,000m run on a running track (7.5 laps of 400m each)
  Requirements: ≥ 18 years: 15:00 minutes; < 18 years: 16:00 minutes
• Box boomerang test
  A course must be completed as quickly as possible. It starts with a forward roll. Then a total of three box sections must be jumped over and crawled through. Finally, the finish line must be crossed. After the forward roll and after each box section, a pylon in the middle of the course must be run around on the right. The distance between the mats/boxes and the pylon is 2m.
  Requirements: ≥ 18 years: 20 seconds; < 18 years: 20 seconds
• Alternating jumps
  Two-legged, sideways jump over an obstacle. Number of repetitions in 30 seconds. The obstacle must not be touched.
  Requirements: ≥ 18 years: 42 jumps, height of the obstacle 33cm; < 18 years: 42 jumps, height of the obstacle 15cm
• Bending hang
  Shoulder-width hang with bent arms on a pull-up bar. The hang is performed with a comb grip (thumbs pointing outwards). The chin must be above the pull-up bar. The exercise is completed when you reach under or over. A climbing aid enables the bent-over hang without a pull-up.
  Requirements: ≥ 18 years: 44 seconds; < 18 years: 30 seconds
• Rescue of persons
  A dummy / training dummy must be pulled backwards around two pylons over three laps. The pylons are 11m apart.
  Requirements: ≥ 18 years: 75 kg dummy in 60 seconds; < 18 years: 50 kg dummy in 60 seconds
• 200-meter swim
  All swimming styles and the use of swimming goggles are permitted. Other swimming aids may not be used. A start jump with the legs in front is not permitted.
  Requirements: ≥ 18 years: 4:30 minutes; < 18 years: 5:20 minutes
• Distance diving
  The distance dive starts in the water from the edge of the pool. You must complete 15 meters without any part of your body surfacing. You must not leave the course. The finish of the diving course is marked with a diving ring. The use of swimming goggles is permitted. Other swimming aids may not be used.
  Requirements: ≥ 18 years of age: ≥ 15 meters; < 18 years: ≥ 15 meters

Practical part:

Here you demonstrate your manual and practical skills as well as knowledge of first aid at five stations. For example:

• Connecting metal plates using various fasteners
• Shortening a wooden beam and then extending two wooden beams to withstand tensile and compressive forces
• Connecting a ¾" water hose to a coupling and securing it with a hose clamp
• Recognizing and explaining various signs (warning, prohibition, mandatory and information signs)
• Estimating different heights, weights and volumes
• Performing first aid on patients and making an emergency call

Written part:

• Basic German test
  Spelling, grammar, text comprehension, summary of a text
• Basic arithmetic test (9th grade secondary school level)
  Basic arithmetic operations, fractions, rule of three, text tasks
  The calculations are carried out without the aid of a calculator or smartphone.
• General knowledge test
  Politics, news, current affairs, geography, history, etc.
• Practical-logical reasoning test
  Completing sentences, abstractions, number sequences, days of the week, weights and measures, text tasks, spatial imagination, calculations
• Each test lasts 30 minutes

Those who have successfully passed all three parts of the test and have proven their suitability in a final interview will be admitted to employment. After the selection interview, a company and official medical examination is carried out to check the candidate's suitability for the fire department.

Further information on the recruitment process can be found on the Erlangen Fire Brigade website.