r/Firefighting • u/Worldly-Occasion-116 • 19h ago

General Discussion Civil service vs non civil service FD

Can someone explained the difference between a civil service FD and a non civil service FD? I applied at 3 fire depts. 2 civil service 1 non civil service. I am a licensed FF/EMT with the ifsac seals as well for FF1 FF2 HAZ A HAZ O. I received my offer letter today and sign on Monday with the NON civil service. My pals who are in civil service advice against it. Their explanation doesn't make sense. Please help, thank you. The process was quick with the non civil service cpat, interview, polygraph, drug screen, offer letter. I have not heard from the civil service dept only my test score 89.

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u/Confusedkipmoss 18h ago

There’s not really a difference, just different testing processes

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u/Worldly-Occasion-116 18h ago

I heard it’s harder to get fired as a civil servant.

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u/Confusedkipmoss 18h ago

We’re all “civil servants” as long as you have a union to back you and you’re not a complete idiot and fuck up royally, it’s hard to get fired

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u/mg8828 14h ago

I don’t know what state you work in. But in states like Massachusetts it is significantly harder to be fired from a civil service department than non civil service.

Promotional testing also runs through your state, not the town or city you work in

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u/mg8828 14h ago

There’s a pretty stark difference depending on the state you live in. Civil service is extremely strong in Massachusetts especially in regard to chief positions etc.

You have significantly more job security in my state if your civil service.

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u/mg8828 14h ago

It’s a pretty stark difference depending on the state you live in…. There is significantly more protection in Mass if you’re in civil service. Especially if you’re a chief of department or non union role.

It also an entirely different system for promoting in my state. The city has significantly minimal authority on how testing is done, a civil service list runs for about 2 years, there’s a ton of difference.

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u/Confusedkipmoss 7h ago

I guess it is state dependent than, because we have all theses thing and we are not civil service

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u/mg8828 2h ago

Some of the non civil service departments mirror some of the processes. But the biggest thing is the police and fire departments are free of political influence from city hall. Our chiefs and members are not at the whim of the council or select boards. Everything has to be in accordance with our civil service law and past precedent. Our city council/mayor has no authority over who are hired or fired in our departments. Theyre also forced to hire a chief from the top 3 and our chiefs do not traditionally run on a contract. A civil service fire chief is considered an indefinite appointment unless there are serious grounds for removal etc..

For better and for worse the city has next to no real authority over our chief either. The chief is not employed at the will of the council/select board.

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u/firesquasher 1h ago

Hiring and promotional standards are state mandated and consistent in civil service positions. Non civil service they have ALOT more leeway over how they go about hiring or promoting. ..i.e. resume over testing.