John Hilmer, Fire Chief, City of Racine, WI - Vantage

“The Vantage McCann tests have enough challenging components to ensure that those who pass are worthy of
making decisions about public safety. The standardized tests take the subjectivity out of the promotion process.”
- John Hilmer, Fire Chief, City of Racine, WI
Pre-Employment Assessments
Empirically, Statistically Validated Written Tests for
Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Personnel
The Challenge – Hiring The Right Public Safety Personnel
for the Job
There are many risks associated with not screening applicants using a fair,
job-related method. At the national level, serious threats include
breakdowns in security that result in large-scale loss of life and/or property
damage. At the organizational level, particularly for those employing
armed personnel, the risk of liability increases. If an action by an
employee is deemed the result of negligence on the part of the employer,
the court may impose a consent decree that requires state or federal
intervention, hampering the hiring process. Other dangers may not be life
threatening but cost the employer time and money, such as increased
injury rates and use of sick time, higher employee turnover, inefficiency
and difficulty in meeting industry and/or government standards. How can
public safety agencies reduce the risk of hiring personnel who are not
qualified to do the job?
The Solution – Vantage McCann Pre-Employment
Assessments
Vantage McCann’s pre-employment tests have a reputation of superior
quality and high candidate acceptance and have been empirically
statistically validated using a criterion-related validation study employing
concurrent methodologies. Extensive normative data is continually
maintained and analyzed to ensure that the psychometric properties of the
tests have not changed. Predictive studies and differential functioning
studies are done when data becomes available. Pre-employment written
examinations are available for Police Officer, Firefighter, Fire Medic and
Emergency Medical Practitioner.
The tests are at an appropriate reading level for the intended candidate
population and for the job tasks which successful candidates will be
required to perform upon being hired and trained. In addition, minority
candidates will not be disadvantaged because of cultural, ethnic or gender
bias in test questions, as all questions are thoroughly reviewed for bias in
terminology.
As part of the testing process, candidates are provided with a Candidate
Study Guide. After the test has been administered and scored, we provide
an enhanced report of the exam results, including score listings,
descriptive statistics, comments on group performance and on individual
candidates where warranted and a passing point recommendation for
those clients who do not have a fixed minimum cutoff score.
About Vantage McCann
Vantage McCann offers preemployment
and job advancement
written tests and oral assessments
for public safety occupations. These
tests assess the job-related abilities
of job applicants and the technical
knowledge and managerial
capabilities of staff seeking
promotion.
Other Services
Vantage McCann also offers:
• ConvictionWriter web-based
developmental tool designed
to improve report writing skills
• Content-valid, knowledgebased
job advancement
written examinations for
police, fire, corrections and
emergency medical personnel
• Oral assessment procedures for
all levels of the police, fire,
corrections and emergency
medical services

• Our Police Officer written examinations measure Interest in Police
Work, Observation Ability, Reasoning Ability, Comprehension
Ability, Ability to Exercise Judgment - Common Sense, Ability to
Exercise Judgment - Map Reading, and Ability to Exercise Judgment
- Dealing with People. Test Form 100 has an average test score (test
difficulty level) of 72.6% and Test Form N-100 has an average test
score of 74.5%.
• Our Firefighter written examinations measure Spatial Visualization,
Attentiveness - Visual Pursuit, Interest in Firefighting,
Compatibility/Teamwork, Comprehension Ability and Problem-
Solving in three formats – Mechanical Ability, Map Reading and
Logical Thinking. Test Form 100 has an average test score (test
difficulty level) of 72.6% and is designed for departments that do not
provide any emergency medical services. Test Form M-100 has an
average test score of 74.5% and is designed for departments that
provide traditional fire suppression and first responder and/or basic
EMT services, but not advanced cardiac technician or paramedic
level services.
• Our Fire Medic written examination measures Attentiveness - Visual
Pursuit, Interest, Teamwork and four Problem-Solving formats:
Common Sense, Mechanical, Logical Thinking and Relevancy.
Medic has an average test score (test difficulty level) of 73.6% and is
designed for use by fire departments that provide both advanced
cardiac technician or paramedic level EMS services and traditional
fire suppression and prevention services using cross-trained
personnel.
• Our Emergency Medical Practitioner (EMP) written examination
measures Attentiveness - Visual Pursuit, Interest, Teamwork and
four Problem-Solving formats: Common Sense, Map Reading,
Logical Thinking and Relevancy. EMP has an average test score (test
difficulty level) of 74.3% and is designed for agencies that do not
have any firefighting responsibilities.
Vantage McCann
110 Terry Drive Suite 100
Newtown PA 18940
Ph: 215-579-8390
Fax: 215-579-8391
www.vantagemccann.com
Version: vm_pre-employment_v2_10-06-04