If you've ever considered becoming a firefighter in Massachusetts, now's your chance.

The firefighter civil service exam is given every other year and determines the candidates who will be eligible for positions in fire departments covered by civil service throughout the state, including Southcoast communities of Acushnet, Fairhaven, Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton, Bourne and Plymouth.

The application period for the 2016 Massachusetts Firefighter Civil Service Exam is now open through March 1, 2016. Applications submitted after that date but before March 21 will be assessed an $50 late fee.

The exam will take place April 16, 2016 at various locations across the Commonwealth.

To be eligible to take the exam, applicants must be 19 years of age before March 1, 2016 and pay a $200 registration fee. 

The exam is composed of two part, a written exam and an Entry Level Physical Ability Test (ELPAT). 

The written portion has three parts that test different qualities that are important to an entry-level firefighter:

  • Written Ability Test (WAT) — Evaluates key mental abilities, including communication skills and understanding, ability to detect and solve problems, deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, and putting new information in a logical order
  • Work Styles Questionnaire (WSQ) — Assesses motivation, values, and attitude
  • Life Experience Survey (LES) — Determines suitability based on questions about relevant personal and professional history

The ELPAT tests an applicant's ability to handle the physical aspects of being a firefighter. 

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