Applicants must meet all of the minimum qualifications. Except as noted herein, any failure to meet one or more of the minimum qualifications will result in your immediate disqualification. Please note that some standards have particular time limits associated with them. If this applies to your situation, you may later become eligible and apply once those time limits have lapsed. If you do not meet a minimum qualification based on your behavior or criminal history occurring both prior to age 18 and more than five years ago, you may be eligible to request an "exemption" from disqualification. (Please see Exemption from Disqualification for Behavior Prior to Age 18.) If you have already scheduled an appointment and find that you do not meet the minimum qualifications, please contact the Denver Civil Service Commission at (720) 913-3365.

• AGE: Applicants must be at least eighteen (18) years of age on or before the date of application. Acceptable proof of age will be required if selected to proceed beyond the video test. Acceptable substitutes for a birth certificate include naturalization papers and/or a valid passport.

   

• EDUCATION: Applicants must have a high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) on or before the date of application. Acceptable proof of a high school diploma or GED certificate will be required if selected to proceed beyond the video test. Acceptable substitutes for a high school diploma or GED certificate include an original certified high school transcript bearing the official school seal and showing graduation date, or an original letter from the school on the school's letterhead which verifies the graduation.

   

• GOOD DRIVING AND EMPLOYMENT RECORD: Applicants must possess a valid driver license before being placed on the eligible register, and have a good driving and employment record.

   

• CITIZENSHIP: Applicants must be citizens of the United States on or before the date of application. Acceptable proof of such must be presented if selected to proceed beyond the written test. Acceptable proof of United States citizenship shall include a birth certificate from within the United States, naturalization papers, a United States passport, or a Certificate of Live Birth Abroad of a United States Citizen.

   

• LEGAL: To be eligible for both application for original appointment and original appointment to a position in the classified service, an individual shall not have any legal impediments to their ability to perform the essential job functions for the position of Firefighter. Also see Emergency Medical Technician (E.M.T.) State Certification.

   

• FELONY CONVICTIONS: An individual who has been convicted of and/or received a deferred judgment for a felony will be disqualified.

   

• MISDEMEANOR CONVICTIONS: An individual who has been convicted of and/or received deferred judgments for four (4) or more misdemeanors (non-traffic) within the thirty-six (36) months prior to date of application, and up to and including the date of appointment, will be disqualified. Individuals who have been convicted of and/or received a deferred judgment for a misdemeanor (non-traffic) while employed in law enforcement, firefighter or other sworn public safety position will be disqualified.

   

• EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (E.M.T.) STATE CERTIFICATION: E.M.T. Certification is not required prior to testing or hire. Initial certification will be received as part of the academy training. All applicants for Firefighter must not have any legal impediments for state certification as an E.M.T. as provided in C.R.S. 25-3.5-203. E.M.T. certification is granted by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment under the State Board of Health rules pertaining to Emergency Medical Services as found in 6 CCR 1015-3. A conviction of, or plea of no contest to, certain felony and misdemeanor offenses may result in a denial of state certification as an E.M.T.

   

• DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Individuals who have been convicted of and/or received a deferred judgment for a misdemeanor involving domestic violence will be disqualified.

   

• SEXUAL ASSAULT: Individuals who have been convicted of and/or received a deferred judgment for a misdemeanor involving sexual assault will be disqualified.

   

• CHILD ABUSE: Individuals who have been convicted of and/or received a deferred judgment for a misdemeanor involving child abuse will be disqualified.

   

• HARASSMENT: Individuals who have been convicted of and/or received a deferred judgment for a misdemeanor involving intimidation or harassment of a person or group, because of that person’s or group’s race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability will be disqualified.

   

• DUI/DWAI: Individuals who have one or more convictions or deferred judgments for a DUI or DWAI offense within the thirty-six (36) months prior to date of application, and up to and including the date of appointment will be disqualified. Individuals who have two or more convictions or deferred judgments for a DUI or DWAI offense in their lifetime will be disqualified.

   

• ILLEGAL DRUG ACTIVITY: Individuals who have illegally sold, delivered, distributed, or manufactured drugs will be disqualified.

   

• SOFT DRUG USE: Individuals who have illegally used soft drugs at least one time within the thirty-six (36) months prior to the date of application, and up to and including date of appointment will be disqualified.

   

  Definition: Marijuana, the use of which would be classified as a petty offense or misdemeanor under CRS § 18-18-406; and any Schedule III, IV or V controlled substance, as defined by and listed in CRS § 18-18-205, 206, and 207, respectively, the use of which would be classified as a misdemeanor under CRS § 18-18-404; except when the drug or substance is used pursuant to being dispensed by or under the direction of a person licensed or authorized by law to prescribe, administer, or dispense such drug or substance for bona fide medical needs.

   

  Examples: Illegal use of cough syrup with low dose codeine, Ganja, Marijuana. Note: The following drugs are currently defined as “Soft Drugs.” However, the Commission is proposing that the definitions be revised to move illegal use of these drugs into the "Hard Drugs" category: Amytal, Anabolic Steroids, Codeine (low dose), Darvon, Deca, Ketamine, Librium, Phenobarbitol, Rohypnol, Roofies, Seconal, Special K, Steroids, Talwin, Valium, Xanax.

   

• HARD DRUG USE: Individuals who have illegally used hard drugs at least one time within the sixty (60) months prior to the date of application, and up to and including date of appointment will be disqualified.

   

  Definition: Any Schedule I or II controlled substance, as defined by and listed in CRS § 18-18-203 and 204, respectively, the use of which would be classified as a felony under CRS § 18-18-404, except for marijuana and except when the controlled substance is used pursuant to being dispensed by or under the direction of a person licensed or authorized by law to prescribe, administer, or dispense such controlled substance for bona fide medical needs.

   

  Examples: Illegal use of Adam, Angel Dust, Amphetamine, Black Tar, Blue Birds, Buttons, Cocaine, Codeine (high dose), Crack, Crystal, Demerol, Dilaudid, Ecstacy, GHB, Hallucinogens, Hash & Hash Oil, Heroin, Ice, LSD, Mescaline, Methadone, Meth-amphetamine, MDA, MDMA, Microdot, Morphine, Mushrooms, Opium, Percocet, Percodan, Peyote, PCP, PHP, Psilocybin, Quaalude, Red Birds, Ritalin, Smack, Speed, STP, TCP, Thai Sticks (soaked in hash oil), THC, XTC, Yellow Jackets.

   

  Individuals who have illegally used soft or hard drugs while employed in a law enforcement, firefighter or other sworn public safety position also will be disqualified from the testing process.

   

• EXEMPTION FROM DISQUALIFICATION FOR BEHAVIOR PRIOR TO AGE 18: If an individual fails to meet a minimum qualification based on behavior or criminal history occurring both prior to age eighteen (18) and more than five (5) years ago, the individual may be eligible to request an exemption from disqualification. The request for exemption must be made in writing. The request for exemption may be made either before application or, if after application, within forty-five (45) days following notice of disqualification. (Due to the limited availability of Fire Test slots, the Commission recommends any request for exemption be made prior to application.) Any request for exemption from disqualification will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

   

  Applicants who are granted an exemption may re-apply when testing slots are available. In some circumstances, particular criminal matters are not eligible for the granting of an exemption. Details regarding the filing of a written request for an exemption, and the eligibility requirements for an exemption are contained in Commission Rule 3. Commission Rules can be found on our website at www.denvergov.org/civilservice in the left margin under Civil Service Home Page. If you have additional questions, please call the Denver Civil Service Commission at (720) 913-3370.