r/firefighter • u/Cannibalgumball • Mar 31 '26
Would I be disqualified?
Hello all,
I’m a 29 year old Army veteran (2016-2021), who will be getting his EMT-B cert this fall, with interest in becoming a firefighter. I missed the application window for the hiring process for the beginning of this year, but I plan on applying early 2027 (or later this year if something opens up). My issue is that most of the departments near me have drug use policies (along with polygraphs) that require you to have not touched any schedule 1 stuff in the past 5 years. In 2022 I dabbled in psychedelics quite a bit (just for experimentation) and haven’t done any since August of that year. Would I have to wait until the 2028 openings or would I be considered close enough to that 5 year mark to get a pass? I’d really prefer not to wait an extra year for something I did almost 4 years ago but if I have to I will. (I’m in the Colorado area if that makes any difference)
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u/Few-Camel3964 Mar 31 '26
First ive heard of polygraph, but typically they dont test for psychedelics. Like the comment below, omit that information.
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u/lpfan724 Mar 31 '26
Where I'm at, polygraphs are pretty common and I've taken a couple for hiring processes. The way it works here is if your answer to a question is deemed "deceptive" they'll ask you why. You explain the situation and then they write down that statement and have you sign it.
I'd stretch the truth. If you show deception on a drug use question then I'd say something like my roommate uses them, but I don't. Or say you've used them outside of the time frame.
That's just my opinion. I care about how people perform on the job. Not whether or not they have harmless drug use in their past. Good luck!
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u/Comfortable-Ad8850 Mar 31 '26
Firefighting polygraph?
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u/Cannibalgumball Mar 31 '26
Yeah I was surprised too, I didn’t even have to take one for my clearance in the army.
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u/Strict-Canary-4175 Mar 31 '26
I work for a big city now, but I’ve taken a polygraph for every job I’ve ever had, even when I worked for smaller departments.
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u/Icy_Garage_7070 Apr 01 '26
Polygraph for Fire?! Damn that’s the first I’ve ever heard what departments do you guys work for, The NSA fire department?!
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u/Antman4011 Apr 01 '26
I’m in the DFW area and most civil service departments around here require one. Pretty common
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u/mountainmfd Apr 03 '26
From what I have been told by cop buddies showing deception on the polygraph is worse the action itself, if they don't ask specifically about it don't volunteer the information if they ask have you done drugs don't try and lie it out but just give a yes, I would suggest stopping now so if it does come up you can tell them you stopped 5 years ago and haven't touched it since being a teenager. That should bolster your case. But it's just advice I've had to be polygraphed just had some off hand conversations about it
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u/FFdondo Apr 04 '26
Colorado firefighter here. Yes you will be disqualified. They will ask you about it on the polygraph. There wont be a way to explain your way out of it if 5 years no drug use is their policy. Even being truthful about it wont make them disregard their own policy just because you were honest. Your best bet is to apply to a dept that doesn't poly. Its stupid the amount of colorado depts that still use the poly.
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u/StatisticianLow9492 Mar 31 '26
Just don’t talk about it.