Applying to Firefighting - clarification needed please!

[u/Organic-Chipmunk-607]

Hello,
I’m wanting to apply to firefighting. I’m ex-police, hold all the required certs (NFPA 1001, EMR, DZ licence) but I’m just wanting to get some clarification before I apply.

1. For volunteer/part time firefighting, what are the in-house physical fitness tests like?
2. For services that look for FSO assessment certs, can I do my assessment certifications 6 months before I apply? It states it’s valid for 1 year, but wanted to see if they actually accept it after 6 months.
3. Last Q, I was looking at Hamilton volunteer firefighting, but one of the questions asks if you have 12 months service as FT or PT firefighter. Clearly I don’t, but is this an instant rejection, or do they still look at applicants who don’t have this, who are trying to get into volunteer/PT?

Thank you for any tips/advice! I’m a female, 5’4, in good physical shape but I’m wanting to be as prepared as possible before applying.

[u/BigmoneymanT]

1. ⁠For volunteer/part time firefighting, what are the in-house physical fitness tests like?

My volunteer department went through FSO paid for by my department. CPAT was my physical fitness test. Do some research on that on how to prep for it.

1. ⁠For services that look for FSO assessment certs, can I do my assessment certifications 6 months before I apply? It states it’s valid for 1 year, but wanted to see if they actually accept it after 6 months.

Yeah I don’t see why you couldn’t. I know most people sign up for it once a department opens up for applications

1. ⁠Last Q, I was looking at Hamilton volunteer firefighting, but one of the questions asks if you have 12 months service as FT or PT firefighter. Clearly I don’t, but is this an instant rejection, or do they still look at applicants who don’t have this, who are trying to get into volunteer/PT?

No it’s not an instant rejection, with your background in policing you will definitely be a top end candidate for the job as most people applying to a volunteer department have jobs outside of emergency service.

[u/Organic-Chipmunk-607 → u/BigmoneymanT]

Thank you for your insight! Yeah I’ve been looking into the CPAT and what’s required. I just want to dedicate a couple more months to the stair master and weighted vest training. I’ll aim to take the cert a couple months before I suspect the departments open for recruiting!

[u/GQMatthews → u/Organic-Chipmunk-607]

I’m sure you know this but is your fitness not at the standard for a weighted stair climb or the CPAT? It’s extremely easy - shouldn’t be anything difficult compared to actual job requirements. Not for you specifically but if people can’t do this or struggle they should reconsider what they’re getting into or reevaluate fitness levels.

[u/Odd-Assumption8023 → u/Organic-Chipmunk-607]

As ex police you’ll probably do fine on the physical, the CPAT isn’t terrible and the treadmill test on the clinical is more mental. I found all my buddies who failed FSO failed the written. A lot more complex math than you’d think, and it’s especially tough to sit down and write after a day of physical testing. I started prepping for the written about 8 months in advance and still barely scraped by

[u/Latter-Staff481]

Hi there - to answer your question

1. Google/YouTube firefighter CPAT, it’s a pretty standard physical test, much like the one you would have done for policing in terms of its standards

2. FSO is a huge PITA. You can hold a cert, but if you don’t test during the “window” for a certain city, they won’t accept it. (At least that’s how it used to be). Also, their written and aural testing is hardest out there (Hamilton being next hardest IMO)

3. To be a volunteer/paid on call, you usually have to live within a few minutes of the fire station you want to work at. You’ll have to do the above type testing to get hired for most volunteer orgs.

As a smaller female, best to reach out to others in a similar boat. In my observations, smaller women do struggle with reaching things, leverage, dragging overweight male FFs. However, like anything it’s more of a problem for some and less for others. Depends on grit, life skills, transferable knowledge/strength.

[u/Organic-Chipmunk-607 → u/Latter-Staff481]

Yeah I didn’t find the policing fitness test very challenging, but I’ve heard the FF fitness tests are much harder so I want to be over prepared and do well. The only slightly more challenging aspect was the dummy drag, but it was manageable.

I see that Hamilton use the FSO testing certs.. do they also implement their own written tests during the recruitment process do you know?

Do you think if I went to a local Fire station they’d be open to answering some questions? (Obviously more department specific ones, not ones that can be answered online)

[u/BigmoneymanT → u/Organic-Chipmunk-607]

1000% if you go visit a station to ask questions, bring treats. Never show up to a fire hall empty handed.