FIRE DEPARTMENT PROMOTION TESTS: A NEW DIRECTION
Analysis of the most recent exams given for fire department promotion tests confirms a new but very clear trend. In national education circles, it is called “alternative assessments." This trend, which has been developing in national education testing for some time, dramatically affects the way a candidate prepares for a promotion exam. Instead of only one form of testing, candidates are tested through several test formats on more than one test component. For example, a test component for skills and abilities has been added to the traditional technical knowledge component. The premise here is that a person’s capacity is proved by the ability to perform or produce, not by the ability to answer on cue. Because of the unusual performance requirements for fire officers, civil service has adopted the alternative-assessment concept for fire department promotion tests. This action was taken primarily to ensure test validity, the federal government’s requirement that fire department promotion tests relate to the job for which candidates are being tested.
Since the position of fire officer requires a good deal of technical knowledge and performance as a supervisor/manager, the alternative-assessment concept for promotional exams is appropriate and probably will remain as part of the testing program.
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