CHIEF FIRE INSTRUCTOR
Career Family: CHIEF
Eligible list pendingExam status, as of November 4, 2026. We hold no currently open examination announcement for this title. The most recent announcement we hold was a promotional examination for BURLINGTON COUNTY (symbol PC3904H), which closed October 21, 2026. Its eligible list is pending: filing has closed and no list carrying symbol PC3904H has appeared on the Commission's eligible-list site, which we have read since October 24, 2026. Exam schedule
Provisional hiring can precede the examination. See the provisional route
Rules that apply to this title
A guide to the rules, not legal advice.
Chief Fire Instructor sits in the competitive class of New Jersey's local-government civil service, so reaching it runs through testing and an eligible list instead of a straight hire.
It asks for 5 years of relevant experience.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Examination announcements for this title
Previously announced, and no longer listed by the Commission
The Commission removes an announcement once it has closed and republishes nothing, so this examination is no longer on any of its own lists. We keep what we have read, here covering 2026. It cannot be filed for now; a title announced once is often announced again, so this is the record of whether that has happened.
| Title | Symbol | State or local, and unit | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF FIRE INSTRUCTORPromotional (scope-limited) | PC3904H | LocalBurlington County | October 21, 2026 |
Every row is CSC's own; see the full announcement calendar.
Salaries stated in examination announcements
One Civil Service Commission examination announcement has stated a salary for this title. Local pay is set by each employer under its own ordinance or contract, so this is one employer's figure for one position rather than a rate for the title.
| Employer | Salary as published | Basis | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington CountyPublic Safety Services | $53,601.00 ~ $89,490.00 | A year | October 2026 |
Each figure is quoted as the Civil Service Commission printed it in that employer's announcement on the date shown. It is evidence of what was advertised then, not a statement of what the position pays now, and an announcement does not say whether a post is full or part time. No average, range or comparison is given across employers, because each sets its own pay and nothing here establishes that two of these positions are alike. Where an employer has announced the title more than once for the same department, only its most recent figure is shown. How this data is sourced.
Where this title is used
Chief Fire Instructor is a local service title. It is filled by the counties, municipalities, authorities and other employers that have adopted civil service under Title 11A, not by State departments. Those employers set pay by ordinance or contract rather than from a State salary schedule, which is why most local titles carry no salary range here.
Check whether an employer is a civil service jurisdiction · How local civil service works
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under direction, administers a fire-fighting training program, supervises a group of fire instructors providing instructions and demonstrations in fire-fighting techniques and procedures; may conduct classes to train volunteer and/or paid firefighters; does other related duties.
Examples of work
- Directs and supervises the activities of fire instructors.
- Schedules training classes and drills, prepares training curriculum.
- Supervises the maintenance of grounds, facilities, and equipment at the fire training center.
- Supervises the training and instruction of drivers and fire pump operators.
- Provides instructions and demonstrates fire protection, fire prevention and fire-fighting techniques including forcible entry into burning buildings, use of portable fire extinguishers, ladder climbing, hose layout and hydrant connections, use and care of hoses and protective breathing equipment, salvage operations, rescue and first-aid practices and procedures, and methods of extinguishing fires.
- Conducts refresher training.
- Provides instruction in the method of responding to fire alarms, the use of fire vehicles, and the use and care of fire-fighting equipment.
- May provide information for budget preparation.
- Speaks before various organizations concerning the activities of the fire training center.
- Prepares reports.
- Maintains records and files.
- Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Experience
Five (5) years of experience in providing instructions and demonstrations in fire-fighting, extinguishing and control techniques.
CERTIFICATE
Applicants must possess a valid Fire Service Instructor Level II Certificate issued by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of fire-fighting techniques and procedures.
- Knowledge of fire protection and prevention methods.
- Knowledge of fire response methods and the use of fire vehicles.
- Knowledge of the use and care of fire-fighting apparatus and equipment.
- Knowledge of training techniques and instructional tools.
- Knowledge of predictable fire behavior.
- Knowledge of various types of fire nozzles and their purpose.
- Knowledge fire rescue operation.
- Ability to provide instructions and demonstrate fire-fighting methods and the use of fire-fighting equipment.
- Ability to plan and schedule courses of instructions.
- Ability to administer a fire-fighting training program.
- Ability to establish and maintain records and files.
- Ability to prepare reports.
- Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.