Employment

Before You Apply: You must possess a current Florida State EMT or Paramedic license, BLS card, and/or an ACLS card if you are a paramedic. On the day of testing you must also produce a picture ID, valid driver's license, and your social security card. All applicants are required to successfully complete the Collier County EMS/Fire new-hire Testing Center.

Practical Exam: Each applicant must take a scenario "hands on" exam pertaining to the position they are applying for. The scenario may be a medical or trauma call.

Oral Interview: Each applicant will sit in front of the Review Board for a series of situational questions.

All applicants that successfully pass all phases of testing are ranked and considered for employment. Each applicant will go through a vigorous background check (criminal and driving), and physical and drug screening before a conditional offer of employment will be offered by our Human Resources Department.

New employees are required to attend a "New-Employee Academy" which will last 3 weeks (120 hours). This academy allows each employee to become familiar with Collier County EMS/Fire operational procedures and policies, guidelines, and specialized areas within our department. This is including, but not limited to: helicopter operations, special operations teams, and the driving of emergency vehicles. Once the employee has successfully completed the academy, they will be assigned a Field Training Officer/Mentor and act as a third crew member until they have completed the necessary objectives that are required of their position.

Collier County EMS/Fire offers shift specific work of 24 hours on and 48 hours off. Start time for each shift is 8:00 am.

• Overtime rate of "time and one-half" paid on all hours worked over 40 per week.
• Minimum requirements for Company Officer positions include 3 years of credible service with either a career pre-hospital EMS system or fire department and testing
• Ability to join specialty teams as credentialed paramedic (MedFlight, HazMat, Tactical, Search and Rescue, ALS Engine Swap Program) with specialty incentive

CCEMS/Fire employees work for the Board of County Commissioners and currently enjoy the benefits as outlined in the bargaining unit contract with Local 1826 of the Southwest Florida Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Union. View the current contract(PDF, 6MB).

Collier County EMS/Fire Department employees enjoy an excellent benefit package. Benefits include very competitive family medical/health plans, dental and vision programs, paid holidays, productive sick time, vacation sell-back programs, short and long term disability, life insurance, separate vacation, personal and bereavement leave, tuition reimbursement, attendance incentive programs, supplemental insurance, deferred compensation, credit union membership, and free employee assistance programs. Details of these benefits can be obtained through contacting Interim Chief Bruce Gastineau at Bruce.Gastineau@colliercountyfl.gov.

Full-time Collier County EMS/Fire Department employees are within the "high risk" Florida Retirement System (FRS) which enables each employee to accrue retirement at a much higher percentage rate for each year that they are employees with our agency.

Each employee will be provided the following for employment:

• Four (4) pair uniform pants
• Two (2) uniform shirts (class A)
• Two (2) Polo style uniform shirts
• One (1) winter jacket
• One (1) pair of NFPA boots
• One (1) leather Velcro style no buckle belt
• One (1) badge
• One (1) Name Tag/Collar Brass
• Two (2) Jumpsuits
• Six (6) t-shirts
• One (1) accountability name tag system
• Four (4) uniform shorts
• NFPA approved PPE equipment as required
• Employee shall be supplied ink pens for use in completing necessary paperwork