How to become a firefighter in Barrie

Verified GuideModel B: Come pre-certifiedDepartment-specific

Not accepting applications

The firefighter career opportunities page states: "The City of Barrie is not currently hiring Firefighters. Please check back for future opportunities."

Checked August 10, 2026 against the department's own page. Intake dates change without notice, so confirm there before you plan around this.

Where are you starting from?

What you need

The credentials and documents Barrie requires before you can apply.

How hiring works here

Every stage Barrie publishes, and how to do each one well.

Build your plan

Two minutes: see which requirements you already meet, and what to start first.

At a glance

Entry model: Model B: Come pre-certified
Fire certification before applying: NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level I and II (IFSAC or Pro Board); NFPA 472 Hazardous Materials Awareness (IFSAC or Pro Board) or equivalent
Medical requirement: Valid Standard First Aid and CPR Level HCP certificates
Driver requirement: Valid and unrestricted Ontario Class D licence with Z endorsement (required at conditional job offer)
Written test: Department-specific
Physical test: None published
Last verified: July 2026 · sources monitored daily for changes

A summary of this record. The full detail is below, and the official posting governs.

Barrie recruits firefighters based on need and subject to budget approval, and the City's careers page currently states it is not hiring. In its most recent documented recruitment, applications required NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level I and II and NFPA 472 Hazardous Materials Awareness certificates from IFSAC or Pro Board accredited programs, valid Standard First Aid and CPR Level HCP certificates, and proof of education, with OFAI Candidate Testing Services certificates (Stages One, Two, Three and the swim test) submitted if valid and completed. Selection runs through a rapid assessment session and two interviews, and conditional offers require a criminal record and vulnerable sector check, an unrestricted Ontario Class D licence with Z endorsement and a clean abstract, a pre-employment medical, and a psychometric assessment.

NFPA 1001 Firefighter I and II plus HazMat Operations are required before applying. Budget for fire school before you can compete.

How their intake usually runs

Initiated based on need and subject to budget approval

Requirements

Required at application

NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level I and II (IFSAC or Pro Board)
Certified from an accredited program from a recognized institution, accredited by IFSAC or the Pro Board.
Prepare with roadmap step 5
NFPA 472 Hazardous Materials Awareness (IFSAC or Pro Board) or equivalent
Prepare with roadmap step 5
Valid Standard First Aid and CPR Level HCP certificates
Prepare with roadmap step 3
Proof of education

Required at conditional job offer

Criminal record check and vulnerable sector check
At the candidate's expense, conducted no earlier than 30 days from the employment offer.
Valid and unrestricted Ontario Class D licence with Z endorsement
A driver's abstract dated no earlier than 30 days from the conditional offer is required; candidates with six or more demerit points are ineligible.
Prepare with roadmap step 4
Pre-employment medical examination
Completed by a medical practitioner designated by the City of Barrie.
Psychometric assessment
Conducted by a registered professional designated by the City of Barrie.

Preferred assets

OFAI Candidate Testing Services certificate (Stages One, Two, Three and swim test)Preferred asset
Submitted with the application if valid and completed.
Prepare with roadmap step 8

The hiring process

Barrie is not currently hiring firefighters, and recruitments open based on need and subject to budget approval. Watch the Firefighter Career Opportunities page, because the last documented posting (PB-21-03 in 2021) accepted electronic applications only through that page, with a hard deadline. Hardcopy or late applications were not considered.
In the 2021 recruitment a complete application included a cover letter, resume, proof of education, professional qualifications, and community involvement. It also required NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level I and II and NFPA 472 Hazardous Materials Awareness certificates from IFSAC or Pro Board accredited programs, plus valid Standard First Aid and CPR Level HCP certificates. Failure to submit all required documents can result in disqualification, and you cannot modify or reapply once you submit.
OFAI Candidate Testing Services certificates (Stages One, Two, Three and the swim test) were requested with the application only if valid and completed, not as a strict prerequisite. If you want them in hand, ofai.ca currently posts Stage One FACT at $75.00 plus HST with a certificate valid for 24 months, Stage Two encapsulated treadmill at $110.00 plus HST, Stage Three FPAT at $212.00 plus HST valid for 12 months, and the Stage Three Technical Skills assessment at $270.00 plus HST. Confirm the next posting's exact OFAI expectations with the department, since requirements can change between recruitments.
Do not include proof of your driver's licence or abstract with the initial application; Barrie asks for those only at the conditional offer stage. Submit well before the deadline, because the City is not responsible for applications delayed or lost electronically, and watch for the electronic message confirming receipt.
Department source for this stage
Read roadmap step 7 Review your Gap List Certification tracker
The Selection Committee reviews every eligible application against both the minimum and the preferred qualifications, and only the top ranked candidates are invited to the interview process. Your evaluation is determined by the information you provided on the application, so complete every section in detail.
The evaluation and ranking of each application is confidential and will not be released to you, and there is nothing to submit at this stage. Direct questions to the recruitment email in the posting rather than phoning Human Resources or the fire department, which Barrie asked applicants not to do.
Strong applications read like evidence, not adjectives. Give concrete dates, certificate details, and specific community involvement so the committee can score you without guessing.
Department source for this stage
Read roadmap step 7 Review your Gap List Certification tracker
A select number of candidates are invited to a 20 minute assessment with the Selection Committee, and no alternate dates will be scheduled. Treat the date in your invitation as fixed and plan around it.
Twenty minutes is short, so prepare a concise account of who you are, why Barrie, and what your certifications and experience prove. Practise answering out loud in two minutes or less per question so one answer never eats the clock.
Interviews in the 2021 recruitment ran in a combination of virtual and in-person formats, and Human Resources provides the date, time, location, and related details. Confirm the format in your invitation, and test your camera, audio, and connection before any virtual session.
Department source for this stage
Read roadmap step 13 Start a fitness program
Candidates selected from the rapid assessment sessions are invited to a formal interview with the Selection Committee, and again no alternate dates will be scheduled. Human Resources will send the date, time, location, and related details.
Barrie does not publish its interview questions. Sound preparation is behavioural: have specific stories ready about working under pressure, resolving conflict, and owning a mistake, and anchor each story in what you did rather than what the team did.
Know your own application cold, since the committee scored it to get you here. Be ready to speak in concrete terms about your fire certifications, your first aid currency, and your community involvement.
Department source for this stage
Read roadmap step 11 Run a mock panel interview Interview playbook
A select number of candidates from the first interviews are invited to a second interview with the Selection Committee, with no alternate dates. All candidates who are interviewed will be contacted to confirm their status in the process.
At the final interview, the Human Resources representative will ask you for your work reference information. Arrive with at least three references prepared, including at least one current and one past supervisory reference, with correct contact details.
The Selection Committee conducts both interview rounds, so stay consistent with your earlier answers. Expect this round to probe deeper on judgment, teamwork, and why you want a career with Barrie specifically.
Department source for this stage
Read roadmap step 11 Run a mock panel interview Interview playbook
You must submit at least three references, including at least one current and one past supervisory reference. Barrie only contacts references for candidates the Selection Committee wants to consider further.
With your authorization, an electronic reference check platform contacts your past and present employers about your work record, and the results are used to assess your suitability for the firefighter role. Tell your referees to expect an electronic request and ask them to respond promptly so your file keeps moving.
Choose supervisors who can speak to reliability, safety, and how you take direction, not just people who like you. Brief each referee on the role so their answers are specific.
Department source for this stage
Read roadmap step 10 Draft your PHS Build your experience logbook
A conditional offer requires a satisfactory criminal record check and vulnerable sector check, at your expense, conducted no earlier than 30 days from the employment offer. Order it only when asked, because an older check will not meet the 30 day rule.
You must show a valid and unrestricted Ontario Class D licence with Z endorsement, plus a driver's abstract dated no earlier than 30 days from the conditional offer date. Candidates with six or more demerit points are ineligible, so know what your abstract says before you ever apply.
The offer is also conditional on a pre-employment medical examination by a medical practitioner designated by the City and a psychometric assessment by a registered professional the City designates. Failure to meet any condition results in the conditional offer being withdrawn.
Once every condition is met, a formal employment offer follows with details on start date, orientation, and training. In the 2021 recruitment, successful candidates then attended a uniform and bunker gear fitting before employment began.
Department source for this stage
Read roadmap step 14 Academy preparation guide Start a fitness program

Worth knowing

The City of Barrie careers page states it is not currently hiring firefighters.
Requirement details are drawn from the City's published FAQ for its most recent documented recruitment (2021, posting PB-21-03); confirm against the next posting.
OFAI Candidate Testing Services certificates were requested with the application if valid and completed rather than listed as a strict prerequisite.

Official sources

Last verified July 2026. Requirements change: the official posting always governs.

Semparo is not affiliated with or endorsed by Barrie Fire and Emergency Service or any testing vendor. This guide is independent preparation content.

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