Recruitment and selection process

Your journey to becoming an on-call firefighter

The recruitment process is designed to give you the best chance to show us what you can do - and we’ll support you every step of the way. Most people can achieve a positive outcome with the right preparation and mindset.

Step 1: Apply online

Click the link below to start your application - it only takes a few minutes!
If you need help our recruitment team is happy to assist.

Once submitted, we’ll review your details and invite you to meet the crew and your local station and do a basic fitness assessment at a time that is convenient to you.

Step 2: Meeting and fitness test

Meet the crew and discuss your availability – this means the times you’ll be on-call and ready to respond to emergencies. You can fit this around other work, family life, or commitments, as long as you can respond within five minutes of your local fire station when on duty.

Complete a 12-minute treadmill walking test to assess your fitness level. You don’t need to be a triathlete - just have a good, achievable level of fitness. Our team will provide guidance and tips to help you prepare.
We’ll also give you advice on training and next steps.

Step 3: Written aptitude tests

You’ll complete three multiple-choice tests:

• Understanding Information – Checking how well you process written details
• Working with Numbers – Basic maths used in firefighting
• Situational Judgement – How you would react in real-life scenarios.

These tests are straightforward and most people can succeed with a little preparation. If you do need any adjustments – please let us know before you are due to take the tests.

Step 4: Physical assessment day

This is the most exciting part of day where you’ll get a real insight into what a firefighter does and demonstrate your ability to work in real-life fire scenarios.

Hands-on tests designed to reflect real firefighting tasks, including:

• Ladder climb (confidence at height)
• Casualty evacuation (dragging a weighted dummy)
• Equipment carry (moving fire kit safely)
• Enclosed space test (working in dark, confined areas).

You’ll be provided with protective gear, and our team will guide you through each step. So you know what to expect on the day – check out these videos.

Step 5: Medical and eye test

A medical check to assess overall health, hearing, vision, and fitness for the role.

If you wear glasses, make sure your eyesight meets firefighter standards. Get in touch if you need to know more information.

Step 6: Training course allocation

If you pass all the stages, you’re in!

We’ll assign you to the next available training course, starting in January, April, July, or October.

Before you start, we’ll complete some final employment checks, including a DBS check and references.

Ready to get started?

Apply now and take your first step towards becoming an on-call firefighter!