Glendale commission updates firefighter-recruit specification after debate over high-school equivalency language

The City of Glendale Civil Service Commission on Feb. 12 approved a revised class specification for the Firefighter Recruit position that would replace the Emergency Medical Technician requirement with a paramedic license as the minimum medical qualification and clarified the minimum‑education language.

Human Resources analyst Ms. Adams told the commission the department asked for the change to require a paramedic license so the city would attract candidates with advanced medical training and avoid repeated individual approvals for each job bulletin. "Our team has 57 open recruitments," Adams said while introducing staff recommendations and the proposed specification changes.

Commissioners pressed staff on practical implications, including whether an 18‑year‑old applicant could hold a paramedic credential. Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Riggs said people typically start as EMTs and may move into paramedic training later: "They could then move into paramedic. There are those outside chances where students can take coursework in high school to lead them to that," he said.

The meeting focused heavily on wording for the minimum education requirement. Commissioner Ream proposed replacing a list of acronyms (GED, CHSPE, HiSET, CPP) with a single phrase referencing a ‘‘State Board of Education issued certificate of proficiency’’ or a state‑issued high‑school equivalency certificate, arguing the change would remove outdated or misleading acronyms and better match state documentation. Ms. Adams said she could not confirm whether the term "GED" has been fully retired in state materials and asked the commission to allow HR time to research and return with a recommendation.

After discussion, the chair moved to approve the specification with modified minimum‑education language that retained both the state‑issued certificate phrasing and the commonly used acronyms in sequence ("graduation from high school or attainment of a State Board of Education issued certificate of proficiency, or attainment of GED certificate, CHSPE certificate, HiSET certificate, or CPP certificate"). The motion was seconded and passed by roll call; the record shows the motion carried with a majority of yes votes and at least one no vote recorded.

The commission directed HR to follow up with clearer guidance if necessary and to agendize further language changes for future meetings if HR's review recommends them. No immediate change to age or paramedic‑training cutoffs was made beyond the specification language approved at the meeting.

Next steps: HR will coordinate final filing and posting dates for the bulletin and schedule examinations per the approved specification; the job bulletin was tentatively scheduled for posting the week following the meeting.