How to become a firefighter in Fredericton

Verified GuideModel B: Come pre-certifiedDepartment-specificDepartment-specific

Not accepting applications

The City of Fredericton moved to a new careers system, and its full listing shows nine open positions with no firefighter among them. One of the nine is "Executive Assistant - Fredericton Fire Department", which is not a firefighter role. Fredericton publishes no statement about when it recruits firefighters, so watch the careers listing rather than the fire department page.

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

Working language

Both official languages. Fredericton lists the ability to communicate in both official languages among its requirements. New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province, so departments there can and do treat French as part of the job rather than an asset.

Published by the department.

Where are you starting from?

What you need

The credentials and documents Fredericton requires before you can apply.

How hiring works here

Every stage Fredericton 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: Fire training institution graduation, or IFSAC and Pro Board Firefighter Level 1 and 2
Medical requirement: None listed
Driver requirement: None listed
Written test: Department-specific
Physical test: Department-specific
Last verified: July 2026 · sources monitored daily for changes

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

Fredericton hires full-time firefighters into the suppression unit under IAFF Local 1053, working a 42-hour week on a four-platoon system of 24 hours on and 72 hours off. The city's posting asks for graduation from a recognized fire training institution, with career firefighters holding equivalent IFSAC and Pro Board Firefighter Level 1 and 2 certifications also considered. Candidates must meet departmental medical and physical standards and obtain a security clearance. A Class 3 licence with air endorsement is an asset at application and must be completed within the probationary period. Selection includes written aptitude testing with a candidate-paid test fee, a panel interview, physical testing, and a suitability interview.

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

Requirements

Required at application

Fire training institution graduation, or IFSAC and Pro Board Firefighter Level 1 and 2
The posting states: Graduation from a recognized Fire Training Institution. Career firefighters with equivalent certifications (IFSAC and PROBOARD FF Level 1 & 2) may be given consideration. Proof must be included with the application.
Prepare with roadmap step 5
Meet departmental medical and physical standards

Required before hire

Security clearance
Prepare with roadmap step 7

Preferred assets

Class 3 licence with air endorsementPreferred asset
An asset when applying; must be completed within the probationary period as a condition of employment.
Prepare with roadmap step 4
First aid and CPR certificationPreferred asset
Listed as an asset alongside years of volunteer firefighter service and first responder experience.
Prepare with roadmap step 3
Ability to communicate in both official languagesPreferred asset
Listed on the posting as an asset.

The hiring process

Fredericton takes applications in writing to hr@fredericton.ca, and everything must arrive as one complete document. In the most recent posting, competition 1011.24, that document had to contain proof of graduation from a recognized Fire Training Institution, or proof of equivalent IFSAC and Pro Board Firefighter Level 1 and 2 certifications for career firefighters, plus a resume of no more than 4 pages.
The resume must show current contact information, complete employment history, education and qualifications, specialized training, and 2 professional references. Only candidates chosen for testing are contacted, and the city contacts them by email, so put your email address on the resume itself.
Strong applications also show the assets the posting names: a Class 3 licence with air endorsement, years of volunteer firefighter service, First Responder experience, first aid and CPR certification, and the ability to communicate in both official languages. None of these are required to apply, but they are what the posting says gets weighed.
No firefighter posting is open right now, so watch the city's online careers portal for the next competition. A new posting could change these instructions, so read it closely and confirm details with the department before you submit.
Department source for this stage
Read roadmap step 7 Review your Gap List Certification tracker
Only candidates selected from the application review are invited to written testing, and the invitation comes by email. The posting states that the written test fee is the applicant's responsibility, but it does not publish the amount, so confirm the fee with the department when you are invited.
Testing happens in Fredericton, and the posting warns that applicants must be prepared to make multiple trips over a short period at their own cost. If you live out of town, plan your travel and time off before the invitation arrives.
Fredericton does not name a test provider or publish the test content. Prepare for the areas most firefighter aptitude tests cover, which are reading comprehension, basic math, mechanical reasoning, and spatial problems, and practise under timed conditions.
Department source for this stage
Read roadmap step 8 Drill the question banks Sit a timed mock
The city does not publish the interview format, but the posting tells you what the job demands, and that is your preparation map. It lists fire suppression, protecting lives and property, hazardous material control, emergency medical assistance, assistance at accident scenes, and equipment maintenance as core duties.
The posting also names the traits it wants: the ability to work effectively under pressure, to follow verbal and written instructions, and to work under arduous conditions as part of an active firefighting and rescue team. Build one or two real examples from your training or work history for each of these, and practise telling them in under two minutes.
Answer with specific situations, what you did, and what happened, rather than general claims about yourself. If you speak both official languages, say so, because the posting lists that ability as an asset and New Brunswick is officially bilingual.
Department source for this stage
Read roadmap step 11 Run a mock panel interview Interview playbook
Fredericton does not publish its physical test protocol. The posting only says candidates must meet departmental medical and physical standards, so ask what the test involves when the department contacts you rather than assuming it matches another city's test.
Train for the common demands of firefighter physical tests: loaded carries, hose drags, ladder work, stair climbs, and victim drags, backed by grip strength and steady cardio. These tests measure your ability to work hard through a sequence of tasks, not just once.
The test happens in Fredericton and travel is at your own cost, so treat every trip as one you cannot afford to waste. Arrive rested, and bring whatever clothing or documents the invitation asks for.
Department source for this stage
Read roadmap step 13 Start a fitness program
The posting does not describe what the suitability interview covers, but it is the final listed stage. The posting separately requires candidates to obtain a security clearance and meet departmental medical and physical standards before employment.
Be completely straight about your history. A record check surprise at this point ends candidacies that were otherwise strong, so if there is anything in your past, raise it yourself and explain what has changed.
Expect this conversation to focus on fit rather than technical knowledge: your motivation for Fredericton specifically and how you will handle the realities of the job. Fredericton hires full-time firefighters into its suppression unit under IAFF Local 1053, on a four-platoon system of 24 hours on and 72 hours off, so showing you understand shift work and crew life matters.
Department source for this stage
Read roadmap step 11 Run a mock panel interview Interview playbook

Worth knowing

Requirements are from City of Fredericton competition 1011.24 (March 2024), the most recent posting verified against the official PDF.
The city now posts jobs through its online careers portal; no firefighter posting was open as of July 2026.
Applicants should be prepared to make multiple trips to Fredericton over a short period; transportation costs are the applicant's responsibility.
Compensation follows the IAFF Local 1053 collective bargaining agreement.

Official sources

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

Semparo is not affiliated with or endorsed by Fredericton Fire Department or any testing vendor. This guide is independent preparation content.

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