A career in the fire department

Applicants for training in career group 1, 2nd entry level will be employed as a civil servant on revocation by the professional fire department of the city of Salzgitter for the duration of the preparatory service. In order to apply, you must fulfill the following requirements:

• be German within the meaning of Article 116 of the Basic Law or a national of another member state of the European Community,
• guarantee that he/she will at all times stand up for the free and democratic basic order as defined in the Basic Law,
• has not yet reached the age of 40,
• has successfully completed at least a lower secondary school or provides evidence of an equivalent recognized level of education (the Minister of the Interior decides on the recognition of an equivalent level of education),
• has successfully passed the final examination in a training occupation suitable for the fire department,
• is unrestrictedly fit for the fire department,
• has successfully passed an aptitude test.
• current and valid proof of an occupational medical examination in accordance with G26.3

After recruitment (as a civil servant on revocation), the fire officer candidate undergoes a total of 24 months of training. It begins with a 6-month basic training course (GAL-B1), in which all basic activities that occur during operations are taught. This course includes training as an engine operator, breathing apparatus operator, radio operator, etc. In addition to a lot of practical training, theoretical content such as rights and duties, scientific basics (chemistry, physics) and preventive fire protection are of course also taught. The German sports badge and the bronze lifeguard badge must be acquired during the current GAL. After successfully completing basic training, further training is structured as follows:

The training ends with the career examination at the Lower Saxony Academy for Fire and Disaster Protection.

The possibility of a career change, in the form of a promotion to career group 2.1 (superior service), is possible depending on aptitude and staffing plan.

Candidate salaries are paid during training!

• is a German within the meaning of Article 116 of the Basic Law or is a national of another Member State of the European Community,
• offers a guarantee that he/she will at all times stand up for the free democratic basic order within the meaning of the Basic Law,
• has not yet reached the age of 40,
• has successfully completed at least the advanced technical college entrance qualification or can provide evidence of an equivalent recognized level of education (the Minister of the Interior decides on the recognition of an equivalent level of education),
• has successfully passed the final examination in a course of study suitable for the fire department,
• is unrestrictedly fit for the fire department,
• has successfully passed an aptitude test.

Management tasks and departmental responsibility are located in career group 2 (formerly senior civil service). At the Salzgitter professional fire department, for example, all watch department heads and incident commanders are in the higher grade.

In addition to being hired as a fire officer candidate, it is possible to start your career in the fire department in career group 2 as a fire inspector candidate after graduating with a bachelor's degree.

The initial stages of training are identical to those of the intermediate service.

All candidates start with basic training (B1) (see contents of basic training), after the first 6 months they go to the watch departments to deepen the knowledge they have acquired (B2).

The training concludes with the career examination (B3) at the Lower Saxony Academy for Fire and Disaster Protection (NABK). The B3 examination is regarded as an intermediate examination for candidates in the senior civil service.

Candidates in the senior civil service now continue with the first practical phase (group leader internship). After 16 weeks, they return to the NABK to start their platoon leader training (B4). The skills acquired must then be put into practice in an 18-week operational internship. The final stage of training is the platoon leader training (B5).

As with B3 and B4, B5 training usually takes place at the NABK.

The training for career group 2 ends with a one-week examination week at the Lower Saxony Academy for Fire and Disaster Protection.

Candidate salaries are paid during the training!

• is a German within the meaning of Article 116 of the Basic Law or is a national of another Member State of the European Community,
• offers a guarantee that he/she will at all times stand up for the free democratic basic order within the meaning of the Basic Law,
• has not yet reached the age of 40,
• has completed a university degree in engineering or natural sciences or a similarly suitable field of study with a Master's degree or an equivalent qualification and
• is unrestrictedly fit for the fire department,
• has successfully passed an aptitude test.

These exercises are supplemented by a number of manual and firefighting tasks.

The requirements for the sporting disciplines are published by the municipal professional fire departments and the German Sport University Cologne on behalf of the German Association of Cities. You can view the training recommendations for the sports test at the following link:

The written selection procedure is carried out by Prof. Dr. KAUFFELD & LORENZO and aims to provide an assessment of your knowledge and skills for the preparatory service as a fire officer (m/f/d). Within a fixed period of 10 to 20 days, you have the opportunity to take the test online on a day of your choice. The time required is approximately two hours. The tasks in the test relate to the subject areas of general knowledge, language, mathematics and logic.

During the interview, you will be asked a few questions about the City of Salzgitter, the specialist fire department of the City of Salzgitter and questions about yourself.

The medical examination is divided into two parts:

In the first part, the public health officer of the City of Salzgitter determines whether the physical requirements for working as a civil servant for the City of Salzgitter are met.

In the second part, an examination is carried out in accordance with the principles of the employers' liability insurance association (G 26.3) to check individual fitness for the job of firefighter.

In addition to the above-mentioned selection criteria, applicants for the higher service undergo additional tasks. The focus here is on leadership behavior and responsibility, which is tested, for example, with a simulation game or specialist lecture.

In order to gain an insight into the area of responsibility and everyday life at the professional fire department, it is generally possible to complete a school internship in the fire department. If you are interested, please apply online via the City of Salzgitter's Karriereportal (LINK) under the heading "Unsolicited application internship".

As we receive a large number of inquiries from young people interested in a school internship, it is unfortunately not possible for us to accommodate all internship requests.

The three-year training course includes theoretical and practical lessons at a rescue service school, practical training blocks at our 2 recognized training rescue and fire stations as well as internships in the surrounding hospitals.

The training hours are structured as follows:

• 1920 hours of theoretical and practical instruction
• 1960 hours of practical training in approved training rescue stations
• 720 hours of practical training in suitable hospitals

During the full training period, you will be accompanied, supported and encouraged by our professionally competent practical instructors from the ambulance service. This also includes practical exercises and simulations in the training blocks at our stations in specially equipped training and teaching rooms. A wide range of teaching and operational equipment is available there at all times for practicing with the practical instructor.

The practical training blocks take place at one of our two stations on the ambulance on 24-hour duty. During this time, you will also have the opportunity to take part in teaching sessions in the watch departments and a wide range of further training courses offered by clinics, doctors, colleagues or other institutions.

A training allowance is paid during the training!

If you pass the final examination or are suitably qualified, you may be taken on as a civil servant on revocation with 18 months of training as a fire officer.