SEMPARO

City Guides / Ontario

How to become a firefighter in Windsor

Pattern-mapped
Model A: We train you
CPS
CPAT

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.

Windsor is one of the few large Ontario departments that does not require NFPA 1001 to apply: NFPA certification and courses are listed as an asset, not a requirement, and recruits complete a basic training program during a twelve-month probation. At application you need to be 18 or older and legally entitled to work in Canada, hold an Ontario Secondary School Graduation Diploma or Ministry equivalency, a valid Class D (or higher) Ontario licence with Z endorsement, and a valid Standard First Aid and Basic Life Support certificate or equivalent. Screening runs through Firefighter Services of Ontario and includes a written aptitude examination, the CPAT physical ability test, a tread water test, an acrophobia assessment, and medical and clinical evaluations, followed by two interview rounds and clearance checks.

Entry-level hiring with no fire certifications required. The department trains recruits in-house. Medical certifications and driver licensing are the differentiators.

Application window

2026/2027 recruitment: July 6 to September 21, 2026

Requirements

Required at application

Required before hire

  • Firefighter Services of Ontario written aptitude examination

    FSO screening also includes a tread water test, an acrophobia assessment, and clinical, medical, and emotional stability evaluations.

    Prepare with roadmap step 8
  • Physical ability test (CPAT) through Firefighter Services of Ontario
    Prepare with roadmap step 13

Required at conditional job offer

Preferred assets

  • NFPA certification and courses
    Preferred asset

    Listed as an asset only. Post-secondary education in firefighting, medical emergency training, or technical trades may also help an application.

    Prepare with roadmap step 5

The hiring process

  1. 1

    Online application

    2026/2027 window: July 6 to September 21, 2026.

  2. 2

    Firefighter Services of Ontario testing

    Written aptitude examination, CPAT physical ability test, tread water test, acrophobia assessment, and clinical and emotional stability evaluations; to be completed by September 20, 2026 for the current cycle.

  3. 3

    Resume and administrative fee submission($55)

    Submitted after passing the testing phase.

  4. 4

    Shortlisting and application review

  5. 5

    First-round interviews

  6. 6

    Assessments and second-round interviews

  7. 7

    Clearance and employment offer

    Police vulnerable sector clearance, references, medical exam, and driver's abstract verification, with offers for the current cycle in early January 2027.

  8. 8

    Hire and basic training

    Training for the current cycle starts March 8, 2027; recruits complete a mandatory Basic Training Program within a 12-month probationary period.

Worth knowing

  • NFPA certification is an asset, not a requirement; Windsor trains recruits through its Basic Training Program.
  • Testing is administered by Firefighter Services of Ontario at the candidate's arrangement, with a $55 administrative fee after the testing phase.
  • Probation is 12 months.

Official sources

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

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

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