Services > Fire

OverviewApparatusDisaster Supply Kit (PDF)Emergency DispatchEmergency Response Stats (PDF)
Employment OpportunitiesFAQ'sFire Prevention BureauHistoryLiquid Storage Tanks
Pharmaceutical Drugs and Sharps CollectionWarm Weather SafetyWinter Storm and Cold Weather Safety

Firefighter/Paramedic Employment Opportunities

Applicants may register for the next written examination starting on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 thru Friday, March 15, 2013 at Wheeling Fire Headquarters (Station 24), 499 S. Milwaukee Avenue (Monday thru Friday, 8:30am to 4:00pm.  Cut-off for pick-up of application packet is 1:00pm on Friday, March 15, 2013.  There is a $25.00 fee to register and pick-up an application packet; payable by cash or personal check (no credit card or debit cards accepted).  The written examination will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2013 (no walk-ins allowed; pre-registration required.)

All questions should be referred to the Wheeling Fire Department at (847) 459-2662 during regular business hours.

All positions for Firefighter/Paramedic with the Wheeling Fire Department are filled from an initial eligibility list that is recreated every two (2) years. Notice of the testing process is posted in various local/regional newspapers, on local Cable Channel 17, and on the Village of Wheeling web page several weeks before the actual testing process begins.

1) Employment Application - available for personal pickup several weeks prior to the written examination.  There is a registration/application fee of $25.00 payable by cash or personal check.  No credit cards or debit cards accepted.

2) Comprehensive Written Examination - median score of all candidates.

3) Physical Agility Test - candidates must show proof of successful completion of the "Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) from an approved agency no more than twelve (12) months prior to taking the written examination. Currently, the CPAT may be taken at the following local agencies:

           o Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy
              (NIPSTA), 2300 Patriot Blvd., Glenview, IL 60026
              (847) 998-8090 
              www.nipsta.org       

           o Southwest United Fire Districts (SUFD) Academy –
              CPAT Division, cpat@sufd.org
              (708) 579-2064
              www.sufd.org

Proof of successful CPAT completion will be accepted from other fire service agencies as long as the fire service agency is licensed by the International Association of Firefighter (IAFF) as a valid licensed CPAT agency and includes the required State of Illinois "ladder climb" portion.  Proof of licensure of the testing agency will be required prior to the candidate taking the written examination.

4) Preference Points (maximum of thirty (30) points):

          o Veteran's Points/Military Service with an "Honorable Discharge" (requires a DD214):  five (5) points. 

          o Education Points: College degrees from an accredited College of University, as follows:
                 • Bachelor's Degree (any curriculum): 2 points
                 • Associate's Degree (Fire Science or related): 1 point

                   (Note: Applicant can only receive points on the highest education received.
                
          o Paramedic Points:  current State of Illinois license:  five (5) points

          o Experience Points: applicants employed by a municipality (full-time, part-time, or paid-on-call) in the State of Illinois, as
             follows:
                  • Any combination of Firefighter II (State of Illinois), EMT – B (National), and/or EMT – I (National): half a point (0.5)
                     for each year of successful service up to a maximum of five (5) points.
                  • Any combination of Firefighter III (State of Illinois), Paramedic (National): one (1) point for each year of successful
                     service up to a maximum of five (5) points.

                     (Note: Applicant can only receive points on the highest certification received.

           o Lateral Hire Preference: applicants employed full-time by a municipality or fire protection district (State of Illinois) as
              a “Firefighter” or “Firefighter/Paramedic” for a minimum of two (2) years: five (5) points.

          o Residency: applicants with verifiable proof of residency within the Village of Wheeling: two (2) points.

In addition to the testing process, candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

1) Minimum of twenty-one (21) years of age and less than thirty-five (35) years of age as of the date of the written examination (per State of Illinois Statute). Proof of age is required.

2) United States citizen (per State of Illinois Statute). Proof of citizenship required.

3) Visual Acuity:

          o  20/30 or corrected to 20/30 in each eye. 
          o  Red, yellow, and green color vision. 
          o  Sufficient peripheral vision to have obtained or be able
              to obtain a State of Illinois motor vehicle driver's 
               license.
          o  Binocular vision with normal depth perception.
          o  No pathological conditions that currently impairs
              or will impair vision.
          o  Peripheral vision in the horizontal meridian of more than 100 degrees in both eyes
          
4) Hearing:

           o  No hearing deficit in the pure tone thresholds in the
               worst unaided ear: 

                1. Greater than 25 dB in three (3) of the four (4)
                    frequencies: 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 3000 Hz
                2. Greater than 30 dB in any one of the three (3)
                    frequencies:  500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz 
                3. An average greater than 30 dB for the four (4) 
                    frequencies: 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 3000 Hz

As vacancies occur, candidates are drawn from the eligibility list for:

1) Oral Examination (Formal Interview) 
2) Psychological Examination. 
3) Polygraph Examination.
4) Medical Examination (Includes Drug Abuse Testing).