How to become a firefighter in Gatineau

Pattern-mapped

Model B: Come pre-certified

The requirements below were researched against the official sources linked at the bottom of this page and are pending final verification. Always confirm against the current official posting.

Gatineau recruits temporary firefighters through eligibility-list competitions. The city's most recent verified posting (2023) requires the DEC en techniques de sécurité incendie, a valid CPR and first aid certificate, and the pleasure craft operator competency card, with a Class 3 truck licence (Québec) or an Ontario licence with the F and DZ mentions required at hiring. Medical standards are explicit: NFPA 1582 hearing norms and uncorrected vision of at least 20/40 in both eyes, with glasses and contact lenses not permitted. Candidates must also pass a security screening and any qualification tests.

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

DEC Techniques de sécurité incendie
Stated on the posting: Détenir un diplôme d'études collégiales (DEC) en techniques de sécurité incendie.
Prepare with roadmap step 5
CPR and first aid certificate
Stated as: Détenir un certificat du cours de réanimation cardiorespiratoire (RCR) et premiers soins, valid through the competition period.
Prepare with roadmap step 3
Pleasure craft operator competency card
Stated as: Détenir la carte de compétence de conducteur d'embarcation de plaisance.
Prepare with roadmap step 4
Medical standards: NFPA 1582 hearing norms and 20/40 vision in both eyes
The posting requires the physical capacity and health compatible with the position, hearing that meets NFPA 1582, and minimum uncorrected vision of 20/40 in both eyes with no ocular pathology. Glasses and contact lenses are not permitted.

Required before hire

Class 3 truck licence (Québec) or Ontario licence with F and DZ mentions
Required at hiring: À l'embauche être détenteur d'un permis de conduire valide de camion porteur de classe 3 (Québec) ou avec la mention F et DZ (Ontario).
Prepare with roadmap step 4

Preferred assets

Heavy vehicle driving experience
Preferred asset
Listed on the posting as an asset.
ENPQ Profil 2 / Officier 1
Preferred asset
Listed on the posting as an asset.

The hiring process

1
Application to a posted competition
2
Qualification tests
The posting requires passing the qualification tests where applicable (réussir les épreuves de qualification, le cas échéant).
3
Security screening
Candidates must satisfy a security screening (tri sécuritaire).

Worth knowing

Requirements come from the 2023 temporary firefighter eligibility-list competition posted by the city on the RIMQ municipal job network; confirm the current competition when one opens.
The 2023 posting listed an hourly rate of $24.40 to $44.36 on the 2023 salary scale.

Official sources

Last verified 2026-07. Requirements change: the official posting always governs.

Semparo is not affiliated with or endorsed by Service de sécurité incendie de Gatineau (SSIG) or any testing vendor. This guide is independent preparation content.

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