City Guides / Ontario
How to become a firefighter in Hamilton
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.
Hamilton recruits through the Firefighter Services of Ontario stream rather than OFAI: candidates complete the FSO Firefighter Entry Level Test and then the FSO Applicant Assessment, which bundles a clinical assessment, the CPAT occupational assessment, a 30-foot ladder acrophobia test, a 15-minute tread water test, and the written CPS Firefighter Entry-Level aptitude examination. At the time of application you need a valid Class DZ licence with zero demerit points, an Ontario high school diploma or approved equivalent, Standard First Aid plus a Basic Rescuer or Level C CPR certificate dated within 12 months of applying, relevant provincial certifications under Ontario's firefighter certification legislation, and no criminal convictions without a pardon. A conditional offer adds a police vulnerable sector check, a City-paid medical, references, and a driver's abstract, followed by 18 weeks of recruit training.
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
- Valid Class DZ licence with 0 demerit points
Must be satisfactory to the City of Hamilton at time of application; a driver's abstract check satisfactory to the City is required at the conditional offer stage.
Prepare with roadmap step 4 - Ontario High School Diploma or approved equivalent
International educational certificates require evaluation through ICAS, WES-Canada, or the Comparative Education Service of the University of Toronto.
Prepare with roadmap step 2 - Basic Rescuer or Level C CPR certificate (Heart and Stroke)
Dated no more than 12 months before the date of application and valid throughout the process until time of hire; the original must be presented at the interview.
Prepare with roadmap step 3 - Standard First Aid certificate
Canadian Red Cross, Canadian St. John's Ambulance, or WSIB-approved training is acceptable, dated no more than 12 months before the date of application and valid until time of hire.
Prepare with roadmap step 3 - Relevant provincial certifications under Ontario's firefighter certification legislation
The posting requires relevant Provincial Certifications as per the Province's Firefighter Certification legislation (O. Reg. 343/22), without listing specific NFPA levels.
Prepare with roadmap step 5 - Vision at least 20/30 corrected or 20/40 uncorrected, both eyes tested together
Normal depth perception and colour vision are also required. At the conditional-offer medical, the acceptable vision is 20/30 in each eye without corrective lenses plus a colour vision test.
Prepare with roadmap step 14 - No criminal convictions for which a pardon has not been grantedPrepare with roadmap step 2
- Able to communicate in English both orally and in writingPrepare with roadmap step 2
Required before hire
- Firefighter Services of Ontario Applicant Assessment
Completed upon request at the candidate's expense: clinical assessment (body composition, maximal aerobic fitness, trunk flexibility, 60-second sit-up test), occupational assessment (CPAT), acrophobia test, and tread water test.
Prepare with roadmap step 8
Required at conditional job offer
- Police Vulnerable Sector Check satisfactory to the City
Obtained at the candidate's own expense from the police service where you live.
Prepare with roadmap step 14 - Medical assessment administered by the City physician
The cost of the medical assessment is covered by the City.
Prepare with roadmap step 14 - Employment-related reference checksPrepare with roadmap step 14
The hiring process
- 1
Online application
Mandatory online questionnaire with resume attached, submitted during the recruitment window.
- 2
Firefighter Entry Level Test (Firefighter Services of Ontario)
Multiple choice, video-based test completed at the candidate's expense; the passing score is 70 percent or higher in the Human Relations section.
- 3
FSO Applicant Assessment
At the candidate's expense: clinical assessment, occupational assessment (CPAT: stair climb, hose drag, equipment carry, ladder raise and extension, forcible entry, search, rescue, ceiling breach and pull), 30-foot ladder acrophobia test, and 15-minute tread water test.
- 4
Written aptitude examination
Firefighter Services of Ontario administers the Cooperative Personnel Services (CPS) Firefighter Entry-Level aptitude examination.
- 5
Psychological assessment
Required for applicants who pass the practical agility testing.
- 6
In-person interview
Bring the original and one copy of the education diploma, CPR certificate, and Standard First Aid certificate; missing documents disqualify the candidate.
- 7
Conditional offer
Police Vulnerable Sector Check, City-administered medical with vision testing, reference checks, and a valid Class DZ licence with 0 demerit points including a driver's abstract check.
- 8
Recruit training
Successful candidates start 18 weeks of training on their employment start date.
Worth knowing
- Full-time Probationary Firefighter recruitment was closed as of the July 2026 research date.
- The tread water test requires 15 consecutive minutes of unassisted vertical treading with the head completely above water.
- The acrophobia test involves climbing a 30-foot ladder, anchoring with one leg through the rung, connecting two hose couplings, and looking down for 10 seconds.
Official sources
Last verified 2026-07. Requirements change: the official posting always governs.
Semparo is not affiliated with or endorsed by Hamilton Fire Department or any testing vendor. This guide is independent preparation content.
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