Education · 1 of 4
The path
Get certified, get fit, then compete. Quebec sets its own required training by city size: tap Quebec route to add it.
- 1
High school diploma
Grade 12
The minimum. Sciences and phys ed help.
- 2
NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) certification
1 year
Outside Quebec, most candidates take a one-year pre-service firefighter program at a college (Seneca, Durham, Lambton, the Justice Institute of BC (JIBC), Lakeland in Alberta). It includes NFPA 1001 Firefighter I and II, 1072 hazmat and often DZ (heavy truck) licence training.
- 3
Medical and fitness certifications
Weeks
Emergency medical responder or higher, CPR, and the physical test (CPAT or similar).
- 4
Apply and compete
Up to 3 years or more
Departments hire in rounds, and far more people apply than there are spots. Many candidates apply for a few years before getting hired.
- 5
Recruit training and probation
About 1 year
Department academy of 8 to 16 weeks, then a probationary year.