Entry-Level Assessments

Overview
Description
Benefits
Test Details
McCann Associates' entry-level tests help police, fire and emergency medical agencies select the most qualified applicants by ensuring that candidates possess the basic skills necessary to successfully perform the job. Our entry-level tests for Police Officer, Firefighter, Fire Medic and Emergency Medical Practitioner (EMP) are empirically statistically validated (ESV) using a criterion-related validation study employing concurrent methodologies. Extensive normative data is continually maintained and validity data is analyzed to ensure that the psychometric properties of the tests remain consistent.
McCann's assessments have been widely used for nearly half a century by municipalities through the United States. These assessments use a five-response, multiple-choice question format and are designed to measure the aptitude at the entry level.
  • Candidate Study Guides
  • Test Booklets
  • Answer Sheets
  • Confidential Candidate ID System
  • Test Monitor's Instuctions
  • Scoring
  • Reporting
  • On-site Proctoring available Upon Request
  • Appeals Process
  • Practive tests
  • Please contact us to learn more.
  • 50 years of experience behind our entry-level tests
  • Used throughout the country to identify qualified candidates
  • Nationally normed data
  • Data re-validation study currently in progress
  • Refreshed items and updated forms expected in 2009
  • Onsite proctoring available upon request
  • Deliver via paper and pencil or online

The Entry Level Police Officer Test contains 100 multiple-choice, five-response option questions, with a recommended two hour and fifty minute time limit. The domains measured on the Entry-Level Police Test are:

  • Interest in Police Work
  • Observation Ability
  • Reasoning Ability
  • Reasoning Ability
  • Comprehension Ability
  • Ability to Exercise Judgment - Common Sense
  • Ability to Exercise Judgment - Map Reading
  • Ability to Exercise Judgment - Dealing with People

The Entry-Level Firefighter / EMT Test contains 100 multiple-choice, five-response option questions, with a recommended two hour and fifty minute time limit. The domains measured on the Entry-Level Firefighter / EMT Test are:

  • Spatial Visualization
  • Attentiveness (Visual Pursuit)
  • Interest in Firefighting
  • Compatibility/Teamwork
  • Problem-Solving - Mechanical Ability
  • Problem-Solving - Map Reading
  • Problem-Solving - Logical Thinking
  • Please contact us to learn more.

The Entry-Level Firefighter Test contains 100 multiple-choice, five-response option questions, with a recommended two hour and fifty minute time limit. The domains measured on the Entry-Level Firefighter Test are:

  • Spatial Visualization
  • Attentiveness (Visual Pursuit)
  • Interest in Firefighting
  • Compatibility/Teamwork
  • Comprehension Ability
  • Problem-Solving - Mechanical Ability
  • Problem-Solving - Map Reading

The Fire Medic Test contains 100 multiple-choice, five-response option questions, with a recommended two hour and fifty minute time limit. The domains measured on the Entry-Level Fire Medic Test are:

  • Attentiveness (Visual Pursuit)
  • Interest
  • Teamwork
  • Problem-Solving - Common Sense
  • Problem-Solving - Mechanical
  • Problem-Solving - Logical Thinking
  • Problem-Solving - Relevancy
  • Please contact us to learn more.

The Entry-Level Emergency Medical Practicioner Test contains 95 multiple-choice, five-response option questions, with a recommended two hour and fifty minute time limit. The domains measured on the Entry-Level EMT Test are:

  • Attentiveness (Visual Pursuit)
  • Interest
  • Teamwork
  • Problem-Solving - Common Sense
  • Problem-Solving - Map Reading
  • Problem-Solving - Logical Thinking
  • Problem-Solving - Relevancy
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Promotional Assessments

Overview
Description
Benefits
McCann Associates' promotional tests measure essential job-related information for candidates who are seeking promotion to a supervisory or command position in a law enforcement agency, fire safety/rescue department or emergency medical organization. Working closely with our clients and using job analysis data or detailed job descriptions, we develop subject matter coverage that is appropriate for the rank being tested. All tests are content-valid, job-specific, knowledge-based assessments that are customized to meet a client's unique specifications.

We recognize that the knowledge, skills, abilities and work behaviors for promotional ranks may differ from one municipality to another based on various factors including region of the country, population density, crime rates, and much more. Therefore, we work with each client individually to create content-valid promotional examinations customized to your specifications and designed primarily to measure job-related knowledge relevant to your police or fire department. Tests are typically 100 questions in length and have a 3 1/2 hour time limit. These instruments are available for all ranks within fire, police and emergency medical organizations and assess both the technical knowledge and managerial capabilities of staff seeking promotion.

Our promotional services Include:
  • Written Tests
    • Suggested reading list
    • Candidate study guides
    • Development of local questions based on client's local rules, regulations, ordinances and standard operating procedures
    • Optional pre-test review
    • Test Booklets
    • Answer sheets
    • Confidential candidate ID system
    • Test monitor's instructions
    • Scoring
    • Comprehensive report on candidates' comparative strengths
    • Optional post-test review
    • Appeals process
    • Passing point recommendations
  • Performance Assessments
    • Structured Oral Assessments
    • In-basket Assessments
    • Fact Finding Exercises
    • Role Play Exercises
    • Leaderless Discussions
    • Assessment Centers

Experience you can rely on. Fully customized to client specifications, McCann promotional assessments can reliably determine qualified candidates for promotion. McCann has 50 years of experience working closely with command-rank public safety personnel from around the country to identify crucial required knowledge related to successful performance and authoritative texts and training materials that help impart this knowledge.

Valid, reliable assessments. McCann works with dozens of municipalities to deliver their custom created promotional assessments for all ranks. Our promotional tests measure essential job-related information for candidates who seek promotion to a supervisory or command position in a law enforcement agency, fire safety/rescue department or emergency medical organization. All tests are content-valid, job-specific, knowledge-based assessments that are customized to meet a client's unique specifications.

Local Item Writing. Working closely with our clients and using job analysis data or detailed job descriptions, we develop custom promotional tests aligned to the knowledge, skills, abilities and work behaviors identified by each customer for each rank, including writing local items specifically tailored for each client's local rules and regulations. The job descriptions or job analysis data can be either client-generated or developed by McCann through comprehensive job analysis.

Full Suite of Services. For promotional assessments, McCann also offers a full-array of test development and psychometric services including:

  • Job Analysis
    • Tier I
    • Tier II
    • Tier III
  • Test Specifications/Blue Prints linked to Job Analysis
  • Item Development
  • Additional psychometric oversight and consultation
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Practice Tests

Overview
Description
Benefits
Practice tests help ensure candidates are ready for their high-stakes exams by reducing test anxiety and allowing candidates to get an understanding of their level of preparedness. Designed by test development experts, our online practice tests simulate the high-stakes McCann entry-level firefighter and police tests. Candidate tests are scored immediately upon completion and provide detailed strength and weakness feedback.
Practice tests are delivered online and are accessible anywhere, anytime. The content was developed in conjunction with industry experts to ensure validity. These practice tests are of comparable length and content domains founds on the actual proctored exams to better prepare candidates. Immediate score reports and feedback on specific strengths and weaknesses are provided upon completion of the test.
  • Candidates learn what to expect from themselves in a timed testing session.
  • Candidates get a general idea of how they might score.
  • Candidates increase familiarity with exam questions.
  • Candidates are able to give focus to their study sessions.
  • Candidates are able to relieve stress by improving confidence.
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Job Analysis Services

Overview
Description
Benefits
Job analysis is a fundamental part of all well-developed assessment programs, including personnel selection programs and, more broadly, human resources programs. Our job analysis services provide the objective, legally defensible criteria your human resources program needs for personnel selection and placement decisions, whether they are entry-level or promotional. Job analysis may also play a key role in identifying training needs, conducting performance appraisals, workforce projections, and compensation decisions.
Job analysis is the systematic study of a job that documents the activities and responsibilities (often referred to as work tasks, work duties or work behaviors) as well as the knowledge skills, and abilities that are necessary for successful performance of the work duties. The Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures (Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, 1978) states that a thorough job analysis is needed for supporting selection procedures. McCann has over 50 years of experience designing and developing job analysis survey instruments, collecting and analyzing job analysis data, and preparing job analysis reports. Our various methods of collecting data range from surveys, to focus groups, to data review (training materials, job descriptions, rules and regulations, etc.), to on-the-job observations to in-person and/or telephone interviews. In addition, because the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform a specific job may change overtime, we advise refreshing your job analysis every five (5) years.

Contact Us to learn more.
  • Provides legal defensibility to human resource selection and placement decisions
  • Serves as the foundation in developing employment tests and assessment instruments
  • Identifies necessary training and/or minimum competency levels required for specific jobs
  • May expose "gaps" between job descriptions and actual on-the-job requirements and duties
  • Supported by 50 years of experience
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Test Validation Services

Overview
Description
Benefits
A well-validated test program is a legally defensible one. Our comprehensive test validation services provide your organization the evidence that your test conforms with the EEOC's "job related and consistent with business necessity" requirement and does not discriminate against minority and other groups protected by the EEOC.
The test validation process includes more than a simple look at validity. It is an investigation of test validity and reliability from multiple perspectives. Depending on the purpose of the test, examining content, construct, concurrent and/or predictive validities may be appropriate. Likewise, reliability studies include measures of internal consistency, test-retest, and/or alternate/parallel forms. Differential item functioning (DIF) and adverse impact studies are also conducted. These analyses are necessary to determine if there is a substantially different rate of selection that disadvantages members of a particular race, gender, or ethnic group. In such cases, test construction steps are taken to ensure that the test does not discriminate against minorities and other protected groups.

Contact Us to learn more.
  • Legal defensibility that test is job-related
  • Ensures fairness to EEO protected groups
  • Backed by 50 years of experience
  • Specializing in police, firefighter and EMT personnel selection assessment programs
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Item Writing Workshops

Overview
Description
Benefits
Our Item Writing Workshops are designed to help your organization create valid items aligned to your program's test objectives, test blueprint, and job analysis. We will assist you in developing a test blueprint to ensure content validity and, with our expert test development staff, your new items will meet or exceed industry item development standards. In addition to our face-to-face workshop services, our psychometrically trained staff are experienced in conducting virtual item writing workshops, which eliminate the time and financial expense associated with travel and accommodations for your item writers.
Our workshops begin with a training session, during which our test development experts orient the item writers to the characteristics of valid test items, particularly emphasizing alignment to your test blueprint to ensure content validity. Training includes a thorough review on how to write grammatically correct, clear items that conform to industry test standards, as well as the importance to reference each item to the blueprint and job analysis (or other material as deemed relevant). Together, the group reviews a training set of items and discusses whether the items meet industry standards and whether they exhibit all the characteristics of a "good" item. Item writers then practice writing a few items, which are then critiqued by the group. Once training ends, based on each item writer's area of expertise, item writing assignments are distributed. Face-to face item writing workshops generally last 3 to 5 days, while our virtual item writing workshops accommodate essentially any schedule. Once the new pool of items are generated, each item is psychometrically reviewed by our team of item writing experts.
  • Generate a pool of items that are content valid, aligned with your test blueprint, meeting industry item writing standards, ready for piloting
  • Access to secure, online, virtual item writing tools to empower your item writers to perform tasks at home, thereby eradicating substantial travel and business expenses incurred with face-to-face item writing workshops
  • Create items directly into the online item bank, thereby removing back-end work of re-entering items into a new system
  • Assign work flow tasks such as item writers, item reviewers and item approvers
  • Easily generate item bank reports to find gaps, item status (draft, in review, approved), and other pertinent item related data
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Promotional Oral Assessments

Overview
Description
Benefits
Our promotional police and firefighter structured oral interview assessments are systematically and objectively designed to measure the knowledge, skills, and abilities that a written test can't accurately nor reliably measure. Promotional oral assessments are the industry standard in evaluating test candidates in the areas of leadership skills, decision-making, verbal communication, adaptability, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
McCann's promotional structured oral interview assessments focus on the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) necessary for successful performance in managerial and supervisory positions. The content of our promotional oral exams focus on critical incidents encountered on the job and are developed in conjunction with subject matter experts (SMEs). Members of our oral board panels are experienced SMEs, with decades of public safety service at the highest ranks, and are well-trained in objectively and impartially applying promotional oral assessment rating scales. For each promotional oral exam, our expert panelists, many of whom are former Police Chiefs and Firefighter Chiefs, receive specific training each rank that is being assessed including -- training on the job description for the rank under evaluationde, specific department organizational chart, the oral exam procedures, interview techniques, criteria for rating job candidates against the relevant domains, and critieria for scoring job candidates.
  • Superior content and predictive validity and reliability for knowledge, skills, and abilities that are integral to successful managerial and supervisory job performance
  • Procedures that are fair to EEOC protected groups, such as minorities and women
  • Expert evaluators that have years of supervisory experience and often have previously held the rank of Chief
  • 50 years of experience in designing, developing and administering structured oral interviews
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Assessment Centers

Overview
Description
Benefits
Assessment centers are designed to assess skills and abilities that paper/pencil tests simply can't measure as accurately. Assessment centers are ideal for the promotional selection process, in which areas such as critical thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills are key. Assessment centers provide standardized and objective ways to evaluate job candidates on these and other knowledges, skills, and abilities, using realistic scenarios or job simulations
Assessment center exercises can include: role playing, leaderless discussions, fact-finding and in-basket exercises. Candidates participate in these activities, and are rated on their performance by a panel of highly trained subject matter experts (SMEs). Our SMEs bring years of experience, usually all of whom have previously held the rank of Chief. As a promotional selection procedure, assessment centers have a high degree of content and predictive validity and can be the perfect compliment to our written promotional exams.
Research shows assessment centers:
  • more accurately predict successful performance for supervisors and managers than alternate methods
  • are fair to EEO protected groups, including minorities and women
  • can also be used to identify training needs
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