SEMPARO

City Guides / British Columbia

How to become a firefighter in Kamloops

Pattern-mapped
Model B: Come pre-certified
Department-specific
Department-specific

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.

Kamloops hires pre-certified: NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level 2 with IFSAC or ProBoard accreditation is mandatory, along with senior secondary completion plus a further education or experience block (30 post-secondary credits, a 2nd-year trades apprenticeship, 3 years of post-secondary work experience, 2 wildfire seasons, or 2 years of military service). Applicants need FR III, EMR, PCP, or ACP licensing at application and a BC EMA licence by hire, plus a Class 3 or 1 licence with air brake. The 2024 process ran a paid written test, VidCruiter video interviews, an in-town physical performance test with a swim component, and a job fit assessment before second interviews and an eligibility list.

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

  • Canadian citizen or legal entitlement to work in Canada
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  • Completion of senior secondary school
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  • Additional education or experience block

    One or more of: 3 years of post-secondary work experience; completion of a 2nd-year trades apprenticeship; 30 post-secondary credits; two full seasons as a provincial wildfire firefighter; or 2 years of military service.

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  • Valid BC Class 3 or Class 1 licence with air brake endorsement

    Applicants without it must show proof of a licensing appointment at application and hold the licence before the first interview stage. A record with more than six points in the last three years eliminates an applicant.

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  • NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level 2 (IFSAC or ProBoard)

    Certificate must display the IFSAC or ProBoard seal; a fire school completion letter is accepted while awaiting the certificate.

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  • FR III, EMR, PCP, or ACP licence

    Valid (within one year) or licensed in the applicant's province, maintained throughout the process. A valid BC EMA licence is required by the time of hire.

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  • Current driver's abstract

    Must demonstrate responsible and safe driving. More than six points in the last three years is considered excessive and excludes the applicant.

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Required before hire

  • Vision and hearing standards per NFPA 1582

    Far visual acuity at least 20/30 binocular corrected and 20/100 uncorrected, peripheral vision of 140 degrees in the horizontal meridian in each eye, and normal unaided hearing. Tested for candidates who make the final eligibility list.

The hiring process

  1. 1

    Online application

    Through the City's career portal with a checklist of supporting documents including citizenship proof, transcripts, certificates, abstract, and three supervisory references.

  2. 2

    Written test($280 plus GST)

    Moderated online assessment by Trainor Vocational Consulting Corp covering verbal, numerical, spatial, and mechanical reasoning plus an English literacy test. Prior scores are not accepted.

  3. 3

    First interviews (VidCruiter)

    Recorded video interview with two minutes to prepare and two minutes to answer each question.

  4. 4

    Physical performance test($25 (VO2 max testing))

    Held in Kamloops. Components include a swim test, cardiorespiratory (VO2 max) testing, ladder raise, 10.7-metre ladder extension, aerial climb, and tower climb.

  5. 5

    Prevue job fit assessment

    Completed online.

  6. 6

    Second interviews

    Held in Kamloops.

  7. 7

    Eligibility list, references, medical exam, and Police Information Check

    The eligibility list fills vacancies as they arise.

Worth knowing

  • At the time of research (July 2026) the City stated that current firefighter recruitment opportunities were not available; the posted material describes the 2024 competition, which ran August 1 to 31, 2024.
  • Preferred qualifications include related work experience, post-secondary education, an EMR licence, fire service courses, a BC Class 4 licence, emergency services volunteering, community involvement, a Pleasure Craft Operator Card, and a demonstrated fitness lifestyle.
  • A CPAT result may be submitted with the application if available, but the department runs its own physical performance test.

Official sources

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

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

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