City Guides / Manitoba
How to become a firefighter in Winnipeg
Winnipeg recruits into two streams, Firefighter and Firefighter-Paramedic (PCP), both requiring full pre-certification: NFPA 1001 I and II, HazMat Awareness and Operations, ICS 100, Standard First Aid, and CPR/BLS. The PCP stream adds a Manitoba College of Paramedics licence and a 12-year commitment to maintaining it. The process is unforgiving on fitness: the University of Manitoba assessment allows exactly one attempt, followed by a WFPS practical with an aerial ladder climb and a confined space confidence maze. Conditional-offer checks include a chest X-ray and Manitoba abuse registry checks.
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
- Grade 12Prepare with roadmap step 2
- Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residencyPrepare with roadmap step 2
- IFSAC/ProBoard NFPA 1001 I and IIPrepare with roadmap step 5
- IFSAC/ProBoard NFPA 472 or 1072 HazMat Awareness and OperationsPrepare with roadmap step 5
- ICS 100Prepare with roadmap step 5
- Standard First AidPrepare with roadmap step 3
- CPR/BLSPrepare with roadmap step 3
- Manitoba College of Paramedics PCP licence (FF-PCP stream)
Required for the Firefighter-Paramedic stream only. Out-of-province licences must transfer before recruit training. Members commit to maintaining PCP for 12 years per the collective agreement.
Prepare with roadmap step 3
Required at conditional job offer
- Police Information Check with vulnerable sector, Manitoba Child Abuse Registry check, and Adult Abuse Registry check
All within 30 days of start.
Prepare with roadmap step 14 - Chest X-ray
Chest X-ray is standard at the Occupational Health medical.
Prepare with roadmap step 14 - Healthcare-worker immunization requirementsPrepare with roadmap step 14
Preferred assets
- NFPA 1002 (pump operations, EV driving, hydraulics)Prepare with roadmap step 5Preferred asset
- NFPA 1006 surface water rescuePrepare with roadmap step 5Preferred asset
- NFPA 1035Prepare with roadmap step 5Preferred asset
- NFPA 1031Prepare with roadmap step 5Preferred asset
- Vehicle extrication trainingPreferred asset
- Post-secondary educationPrepare with roadmap step 2Preferred asset
- French or additional languagesPreferred asset
The hiring process
- 1
Application
- 2
Step 2 assessments($121 + GST)
Written assessments.
- 3
University of Manitoba Firefighter Physical Fitness Assessment
Pass/fail, ONE attempt, no exceptions.
- 4
WFPS practical assessment
Aerial ladder climb plus confined space confidence maze.
- 5
Occupational Health medical
Chest X-ray standard; healthcare-worker immunization requirements.
- 6
Background checks
Police Information Check with vulnerable sector, Manitoba Child Abuse Registry check, and Adult Abuse Registry check, all within 30 days of start.
Worth knowing
- The University of Manitoba fitness assessment allows one attempt only, no exceptions.
- An 80% pass standard applies to each WFPS written exam during recruit orientation.
- Salary bands (December 2025): Firefighter $66,836 to $111,393; Firefighter-Paramedic $71,292 to $118,077.
- FF-PCP members commit to maintaining their PCP licence for 12 years per the collective agreement.
Official sources
Last verified 2026-07. Requirements change: the official posting always governs.
Semparo is not affiliated with or endorsed by Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) or any testing vendor. This guide is independent preparation content.
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