City Guides / Alberta
How to become a firefighter in Calgary
Calgary hires entry-level candidates and trains them in-house, so no fire certifications are needed to apply. The differentiators are medical and driving credentials: before the Selection Committee stage you need an 80-hour Advanced First Aid certificate, CPR HCP or BLS, and an Alberta Class 1, 2, or 3 licence with air brake (Q) endorsement. The 10-step process is one of the longest in the country and includes a polygraph, a BDI panel interview in Calgary, and a CPAT, with roughly 1 in 10 applicants completing the full process.
Entry-level hiring with no fire certifications required. The department trains recruits in-house. Medical certifications and driver licensing are the differentiators.
Requirements
Required at application
- 18 years of age or olderPrepare with roadmap step 2
- Eligible to work in CanadaPrepare with roadmap step 2
- No criminal activity in the past 3 years
No criminal activity in the past 3 years; a pardon (record suspension) is required for any prior convictions.
Prepare with roadmap step 2 - High school diploma, equivalent, or journeyman certificate
High school diploma, equivalency, or a journeyman certificate. International schooling requires a Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) evaluation.
Prepare with roadmap step 2 - Alberta Class 5 licence (non-GDL)
Full (non-graduated) Class 5 licence with fewer than 6 demerits.
Prepare with roadmap step 4
Required before hire
- 80-hour Advanced First Aid or equivalent
Required before the Step 9 Selection Committee stage.
Prepare with roadmap step 3 - CPR HCP or BLS
Required before the Step 9 Selection Committee stage.
Prepare with roadmap step 3 - Alberta Class 1, 2, or 3 licence with air brake (Q) endorsement
Required before the Step 9 Selection Committee stage.
Prepare with roadmap step 4 - Immunizations current
Immunization records must be current before the Selection Committee stage.
Prepare with roadmap step 14
Required at conditional job offer
- New 5-year driver's abstractPrepare with roadmap step 14
- Criminal record check with vulnerable sectorPrepare with roadmap step 14
The hiring process
- 1
Online application
- 2
NTN FireTEAM aptitude test($55 USD)
- 3
Document submission and Recruitment Officer assignment
- 4
Personal History Statement (PHS) review
Includes a Process Preparation presentation.
- 5
BDI panel interview
In-person behavioural-descriptive panel interview in Calgary, STAR format.
- 6
Polygraph($500 + GST)
Conducted in Calgary.
- 7
CPAT($200 + GST)
Two orientations and two timed trials offered.
- 8
Reference check
Three professional references, which must include your current employer.
- 9
Selection Committee and eligibility list
- 10
Conditional job offer
New 5-year abstract, criminal record check with vulnerable sector, medical and fitness assessment including a treadmill VO2 minimum of 12 minutes 30 seconds, uniform fitting, and a full-day orientation with original documents.
Worth knowing
- Roughly 1 in 10 applicants completes the process.
- Medical standard: NFPA 1580.
- No relocation expenses are provided.
- The conditional-offer fitness assessment includes a treadmill VO2 minimum of 12 minutes 30 seconds.
Official sources
Last verified 2026-07. Requirements change: the official posting always governs.
Semparo is not affiliated with or endorsed by Calgary Fire Department (CFD) or any testing vendor. This guide is independent preparation content.
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