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City Guides / Newfoundland and Labrador

How to become a firefighter in St. John's Regional

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.

The SJRFD serves St. John's, Mount Pearl, Paradise, and neighbouring communities and recruits roughly every two years, hiring Temporary Firefighters who move to full-time roles as permanent members retire. Its published recruitment guide is one of the most detailed in Atlantic Canada: candidates need Firefighter II certification from an IFSAC or ProBoard certified training facility, high school completion, a first aid or paramedic credential, a Class 05 Newfoundland and Labrador licence with the 09 air brake endorsement, a criminal record screening with vulnerable sector check issued within six months, and proof of a job-related physical test (York, CPAT, or the Canadian Forces Fire Marshal's FPFE) with a VO2 max of at least 42.5 ml/kg/min, all at the candidate's expense. Selection is a weighted five-stage process: application, a written exam on IFSTA Essentials of Fire Fighting, a cognitive ability assessment, an interview, and a fit/non-fit pre-employment medical.

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

Application window

Recruitment roughly every two years; a posting was anticipated in early September 2026

Requirements

Required at application

  • NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level II (IFSAC or ProBoard)

    Firefighter II certification from an IFSAC or ProBoard certified Fire Service Training Facility; candidates must quote their IFSAC seal number or ProBoard number.

    Prepare with roadmap step 5
  • High school completion or equivalent
    Prepare with roadmap step 2
  • Advanced First Aid, First Responder, or active paramedic certification

    Advanced First Aid with St. John Ambulance, Rescue 7; First Responder with Red Cross; or an active paramedic certification as recognized in Newfoundland and Labrador.

    Prepare with roadmap step 3
  • NL Class 05 licence with 09 air brake endorsement

    Or out-of-province equivalents for non-residents. A copy of the front and back of the licence showing endorsements must be submitted. A Class 3 licence is no longer a minimum requirement but must be obtained within 24 months of hire at the employee's own cost.

    Prepare with roadmap step 4
  • Criminal record screening with vulnerable sector check (within 6 months)

    Issued by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary or RCMP within the last six months.

    Prepare with roadmap step 7
  • Job-related physical test with VO2 max of at least 42.5 ml/kg/min

    Accepted tests: York Test, CPAT, or the Canadian Forces Fire Marshal's Firefighter Pre-Entry Fitness Evaluation (CFFM's FPFE). The certificate must be dated within 6 months of the competition closing, must document the VO2 max result, and is at the candidate's expense.

    Prepare with roadmap step 13
  • Three references from previous supervisors
    Prepare with roadmap step 7

Preferred assets

  • ICS 100 and ICS 200 (online not accepted)
    Preferred asset

    Listed in the guide as a desirable asset, not required at application.

    Prepare with roadmap step 5
  • NFPA 1002 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator
    Preferred asset

    Listed in the guide as a desirable asset.

    Prepare with roadmap step 5
  • Other desirable assets
    Preferred asset

    College or university programs, a current Fall Protection course, NFPA 1041 Fire Service Instructor certification, work term or previous firefighter experience, and an OHS committee level course.

The hiring process

  1. 1

    Stage 1: Application

    Worth 25% of the overall rating. Missing documents screen candidates out; applications are only accepted once the Notice of Employment Opportunity is released.

  2. 2

    Stage 2: Written exam

    Worth 25%. Based on chapters 3 to 20 of the 7th edition of IFSTA Essentials of Fire Fighting: 100 multiple choice questions in 90 minutes; a minimum of 70% is required to continue.

  3. 3

    Stage 3: Cognitive ability assessment

    Worth 10%; completed online by emailed link.

  4. 4

    Stage 4: Interview

    Worth 40%; situational and behavioural questions.

  5. 5

    Stage 5: Pre-employment medical

    Fit/non-fit. Includes chest X-ray, blood work, urinalysis, pulmonary function testing, fitness assessment, audiogram, stress EKG for candidates over 40 or with risk factors, visual acuity with depth perception and peripheral vision, and psychological health screening.

Worth knowing

  • Hires start as Temporary Firefighters, recalled as needed, primarily covering summer and Christmas holiday periods; full-time positions open as permanent firefighters retire.
  • The probationary period is 12 months, calculated as 2,184 hours worked for temporary firefighters.
  • Salary starts at $62,301.74 (55% of the firefighter rate) and reaches $113,275.54 (100%) after 37 months of service.
  • There is no waiting list between competitions; unsuccessful candidates must reapply to future postings.

Official sources

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

Semparo is not affiliated with or endorsed by St. John's Regional Fire Department (SJRFD) or any testing vendor. This guide is independent preparation content.

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