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Firefighter Testing

GFD is dedicated to hiring firefighters who are committed to the compassionate and professional delivery of emergency medical and fire suppression services to the citizens of Galesburg. We want individuals who are personally dedicated to doing a challenging job and doing it right!

Follow the Galesburg Firefighters Association Facebook page to stay updated on all things GFD. 

Get notified of our next testing. Are you ready to be a Hero? Please note, we will NOT be testing in 2026.

Scroll down to see the details step by step of the entire process. It is a lot of information, but nearly ALL your questions are answered below.

Firefighter Testing Process

  1. Agility Test Practice at Chief Dale May Training Site | 2233 Veteran's Drive, Galesburg
  2. APPLICATIONS DUE: NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS (Do NOT include a resume or cover letter)
  3. AGILITY TEST:
  4. WRITTEN TEST:
  5. INTERVIEWS:
Applicant must be:
  1. a U.S. citizen,
  2. at least 20 years old (must be 21 years of age by date of appointment)
  3. not more than 35 years of age at the time the final eligibility list is posted,
    1. Exception: Firefighters previously employed in a full-time capacity with a paid municipal department. References:  65 ILCS 5/10-2.10-6 and 5/10-2.1-26
  4. High School diploma or GED equivalent,
  5. must possess a valid driver’s license; be able to safely, competently operate a motor vehicle and obtain Class B non-CDL within 12 months following appointment.

REGISTRATION: 8am - 8:30am

Candidates must bring a valid Driver's License. If a candidate has a current CPAT or Ladder certification, bring the original certification(s) to Registration for the Commission to verify.  CPAT & Ladder Climb

Candidates who have a CPAT certification will not have to participate in Sections I and II of the Agility Test.

Candidates who have a Ladder Climb Certification will not have to participate in Section III of the Agility Test.

Candidates who have the CPAT @ Ladder Climb Certifications will not participate in the Agility Test, but must show up for the Orientation.

ORIENTATION:  8:30 am

All candidates that submit a complete application and have registered are required to attend the orientation. DO NOT BE LATE.

  • F&P Commission will provide testing information.

AGILITY TEST: (Immediately after Orientation)

Section I - 1.5 Mile Run

Complete 1.5 mile timed

  • Ages 21-29 under 13:46 minutes
  • Ages 30-34 under 14:31 minutes

Section II - Obstacle Course

All Section II tasks MUST be completed in a cumulate time of less than 4 minutes 55 seconds

Candidates will be wearing a weighted vest and work gloves while completing the course. Please bring a pair of work gloves with you. Tasks may include but are not limited to: carrying, hoisting, striking, pushing, pulling and dragging objects.

Section III - Ladder Climb

Climb and descend a 60' aerial ladder in 2 minutes or less

The Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois (AFFI) provides information on their site about the CPAT, the Ladder Climb, what is involved, how to prepare for them, etc. The site also has links to three area locations that offer the CPAT and Ladder Climb tests!

Locations listed on the AFFI site:

  1. Decatur, IL 
  2. Glenview, IL 
  3. MABAS 24 Homewood, IL  

PLEASE NOTE: The Galesburg Fire Department does NOT coordinate the CPAT or Ladder Climb Tests. To register or get more information, contact the above organizations directly.

A copy of the applicant's VALID* CPAT and/or Ladder Climb must be turned into GFD prior to testing. Candidates are required to bring their original certification(s) to the Orientation for registration.

Only candidates who passed the Physical Agility Test or those that provide current CPAT and/or Ladder Certification will be permitted to participate in the written examination. 

Please note the written exam will be taken online.
These are all ONLINE study preparation options from the company we will use for the Written Test.

Written exams will be graded and candidates will be notified via email of their ranking creating a Preliminary Eligibility List. Those that fail will be eliminated from the process.

The Commissioners will interview each candidate to evaluate their speech, alertness, ability to communicate, judgment, emotional stability, self-confidence, social skill and general fitness for the position. Candidates who fail to successfully complete the interview will be eliminated from the process.

The Written examination and the Interview scores will create a total cumulative score. Candidates shall be placed upon the Initial Eligibility List in rank order, highest-scoring first.

Within 10 days of the posting of the Initial Eligibility Register, candidates listed may make a claim for preference points. Failure to timely make a claim for preference points shall constitute a waiver thereof. The Fire Department’s Secretary will email candidates at this time with a form to be completed. Once completed, the Candidate will return within the 10-day limit, the form along with the proper documentation to claim their preference points.
Preference points shall be awarded as listed below. (Documentation must be proved within the 10 days to be counted towards Preference points. Any certifications received AFTER the 10 days shall NOT be counted nor will later certifications change a candidate's standing on the Final Eligibility List):
  • Military Preference – 5 points – Awarded to applicants who have served a minimum of 12 months on active duty in the service of the U.S. Military and who have either been honorably discharged or, in lieu of an honorable discharge, are still serving in an active or inactive reserve status AT THE TIME of application.
  • Education Preference – 5 points – Candidates must have an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science or Emergency Medical Services from an accredited Community or Junior College or a Bachelor’s Degree in any field from an accredited College or University AT THE TIME of application.
  • EMT Preference – 5 points – Applicants must be licensed as an EMT AT THE TIME of application.
  • Residence Preference - 5 points - Applicants must be a resident of Galesburg with proof to claim.
  • Additional Points – 5  points – Applicants must be certified or licensed by the State of Illinois as a Firefighter Basic or Advanced by the Illinois State Fire Marshall’s Office AT THE TIME of application.
Preference Points are NOT cumulative. No points will be awarded for Fire Cadet Training or experience.

The Preference points will be added to the Initial Eligibility List to create the Final Eligibility List.

Any person whose name appears on the Final Eligibility List may opt to pass appointment once. It shall be the option of the Board, should a candidate choose to pass appointment a second time, to strike from or maintain upon the register the name of such candidate without otherwise altering the candidate’s original position on the List.

When an opening occurs, the next candidate on the list will be contacted via email to determine if he/she is still interested in working for the Galesburg Fire Department. The Commission, at its discretion, may bypass a higher ranking candidate and appoint a lower-ranking candidate.

The candidate is then subject to satisfactorily passing a

  • background investigation,
  • polygraph test,
  • psychological examination, and
  • medical examination (including, but not limited to: drug/narcotics screening, vision & hearing testing).

An offer of employment shall be made to a candidate once they have passed all preemployment exams.