Required Fire and Rescue Service qualifications
This list of required qualifications is current and complete as of 1 September 2011.
General application requirements
If you are interested in becoming a Vancouver firefighter, you should be:
- Physically fit and well coordinated.
- Highly motivated.
- Willing to work cooperatively as part of a team.
- Committed to continuous learning.
- Dedicated to helping others.
Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services members serve a diverse population. The ability to speak languages in addition to English and socialize within different cultures is helpful.
Minimum application requirements
Applications will be screened to ensure the following requirements and qualifications have been met before the applicant advances to the next step:
- Transcripts demonstrating high school or GED completion. Do not submit your diploma.
- Transcripts demonstrating 30 post secondary credits or a transcript demonstrating one year minimum approved apprenticeship. NFPA 1001 Level I and Level II and the first 44 hours of the required First Aid credentials will not be considered as part of the minimum application requirements.
- Current driver's abstract (dated no more than 30 days prior to the VFRS application closing date).
- Driving record that demonstrates responsible and safe driving behaviour. A current record with more than 6 points may eliminate an applicant from further consideration.
- Two years of accumulated work experience after the completion of high school.
- No job-related conviction of a criminal or summary offense for which you have not received a pardon.
- Legal entitlement to work in Canada.
- Colour vision safe.
- Normal hearing without artificial aids.
- 20/30 corrected binocular vision or 20/100 uncorrected binocular vision or better.
- A valid Standard (2 day) first or course or higher First Aid certification. OFA Level 1 will not be accepted.
Required licenses and certifications
This section lists the licenses and certifications required as conditions of employment at the time of hiring.
- Valid Class 3 driver's license with air brake endorsement or equivalent for vehicles with more than 2 axles
- One of the following certifications with license must be kept current through the application process:
- B.C. First Responder Level III
- Emergency Medical Responder
- Primary Care Paramedic (PCP)
- Canadian Red Cross First Responder
Preferred qualifications
Our interview panel gives special consideration to the following skills, over and above required qualifications:
- Completion of NFPA 1001, Level I and II or an authorized equivalent. For a list of accredited fire academies, see:
- Past experience in another related Emergency Services area:
- Fire
- Police
- Coast Guard
- EMS
- Military
- Nursing
- Search and Rescue
Transferable practical experience
- Building construction, plumbing, electrical, sprinkler fitter, welding, mechanics or other trades
- Heavy equipment operator
- Coaching, teaching or instructional experience
- Truck driving tandem axle vehicles with a class 1 or 3 license
- Knowledge of different cultures
- Fluency in languages other than English
- Ability to swim and related life saving and rescue certificates
- Valid British Columbia Class 4 driver's license
- Advanced medical training (Paramedic PCP/ACP, EMT, EMR, Nursing)
- Volunteer experience and community involvement
- Demonstrated athletic or physical capabilities and achievements
- Knowledge and ability to work effectively with computers and computer programs and software
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a team environment
- Completion of other fire service related courses or programs
Where you live matters
Due to the on-call nature of our work, Fire and Rescue Service members must reside within the Lower Mainland, with the following boundaries:
- The City of Vancouver in the west.
- The Municipality of Chilliwack in the east.
- The Canadian/U.S. border in the south.
- The Municipality of Squamish in the north.
These residency restrictions come into effect at the time of hiring.
