How to become a firefighter in BC
Career Firefighter (Municipal Fire Service) · British Columbia
Fight fires, help at medical calls and rescue people. You need fire academy training, first aid, fitness testing and city fire department hiring.
THE ROUTE
The route at a glance
Emergency Medical First Aid Certification
Complete EMR or First Responder 3 with CPR-HCP / BLS
NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level I & II Academy
Complete NFPA 1001 Firefighter I & II certification program at JIBC or recognized academy
Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)
Pass proctored CPAT physical endurance and strength examination
Municipal Fire Department Competitive Hiring Process
Compete in municipal fire recruit competitions across BC cities
Paid Municipal Recruit Academy & Probationary Year
Graduate from department recruit academy and complete probationary operational year
Emergency Medical First Aid Certification
Complete EMR or First Responder 3 with CPR-HCP / BLS
NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level I & II Academy
Complete NFPA 1001 Firefighter I & II certification program at JIBC or recognized academy
Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)
Pass proctored CPAT physical endurance and strength examination
Municipal Fire Department Competitive Hiring Process
Compete in municipal fire recruit competitions across BC cities
Paid Municipal Recruit Academy & Probationary Year
Graduate from department recruit academy and complete probationary operational year
This is the overview. For the courses to take, the entry rules, the exams and the schools, open the full route.
See the full route, step by step →THE JOB
What the job is like
Pay and outlook from WorkBC.
Work takes place in municipal fire halls operating on 24-hour rotating shift schedules (such as two 10-hour days, two 14-hour nights, followed by four days off), as well as active emergency response scenes including burning structures, vehicle crashes, medical distress scenes, and hazardous material spills.
Be mindful of exposure to superheated toxic smoke gases, carcinogenic combustion byproducts, and structural collapse risks requiring full scba discipline and follow all required safety procedures.
Lead a hall engine company or ladder crew after passing company officer promotional exams.
Inspect commercial buildings, enforce provincial fire codes, and investigate fire causes.
JOBS
Find jobs
Live postings on the big job boards, searched for this job in British Columbia.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Common questions
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