What You Need To Know: Permanent Firefighter Recruitment Process

This is one of the largest firefighter recruitment drives in NSW—Fire and Rescue NSW is now hiring new permanent firefighters to join their team.

In this article, I’ll break down the entire Permanent Firefighter Recruitment Process, so you know exactly what to expect.

If you’re ready to apply, don’t miss my expert tips on how to submit a strong application for a permanent firefighter role.

Timeline For FRNSW Permanent Firefighter Recruitment Process

If you want to become a firefighter this year, you need to know these key recruitment dates for the 2025 permanent firefighter process:

Step One: FRNSW Online Application

To apply and start the Permanent Firefighter Recruitment Process, you need to log on the FRNSW careers page.

You can check out this guide on how to complete your online application.

Make sure you start getting your documents together now, as applications for 2025 will close on 17 March 2025. You will receive a confirmation email once you have submitted your application.

Step Two: Firefighter Online Assessments

After applications close all candidates will receive an invitation to complete a series of online psychometric assessments. These assessments provide information about core skills and attributes required in the role, and you will have four days to complete these,

These assessments include:

• Cognitive Ability Test: This assessment includes questions about verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning, and measures your ability to acquire, retain, organise, and apply information. This is a timed assessment.
• Emotional Intelligence Test: This assessment will require you to complete interactive assessments that ask you to correctly identify emotions based on facial expressions, and to understand the emotions people feel in different situations. This is a timed assessment.
• Mechanical Reasoning Test: This assessment measures mechanical aptitude and reasoning ability, and the ability to learn how to operate equipment and machinery. This is a timed assessment.

To prepare for the FRNSW online assessments, you can try online practice tests, like this one here. Just search for “cognitive ability test” online to find more free tests.

Note that you aren’t expected to have sufficient time to answer all of the questions.

If you are one of the highest scoring candidates, you will progress through to the next stage.

Step Three: FRNSW Online Video Interview

The next stage in the recruitment will be an online video interview.

This involves answering a series of pre-recorded questions which focus on things like understanding of the firefighter role and motivation for becoming a permanent firefighter.

This works with an online app, and you need to video record and submit your answers. You’ll be shown a question and then have just two minutes to think about your answer. Then your camera will automatically start recording. You need to answer in a tight timeframe, as your camera will automatically stop recording and submit your video answer.

Here are some practice interview questions:

• Why did you apply to become a firefighter?
• How do you cope in stressful situation?
• What actions have you taken to prepare to be a firefighter?

If you pass the the interview stage, you’ll progress through to the next step.

Step Four: FRNSW Supervised Online Assessment

Candidates will be invited to undertake supervised verification assessments to confirm their online assessments test (psychometric) results. The verification tests are completed at the FRNSW headquarters at Greenacre in a supervised environment, and ensures that all candidates completed the online assessments themselves.

Step Five: Physical Aptitude Test for FRNSW Firefighters.

The Physical Aptitude Test (PAT) is conducted at the FRNSW Emergency Services Academy at Orchard Hills. Candidates will be required to complete a mandatory induction session before attempting the PAT.

This is a physical test, making sure you are fit enough and can perform the physical tasks required.

The PAT is performed as a circuit, and candidates should note the criteria and requirements for each task. Candidates must not run at any point during the PAT. Rest can be taken between tasks but this will increase the overall time of the PAT completion.

These assessments include:

• Stage 1 – This stage is not timed
  • Reduced visibility search
  • Ladder simulation
• Stage 2 – Firefighters generally complete this stage in under 15 minutes.
  • Single-sided jerry can carry
  • Stair climb with single-sided jerry can carry
  • Rescue tool static holds
  • Repeated hose drag

Candidates will not progress to stage 3 before 15 minutes so they are encouraged to pace themselves throughout this part.
If you complete this stage before the 15 minutes is up, you may use this time for recovery before stage 3

• Stage 3 includes fire attack simulation and firefighter rescue

To prepare for this physical testing, check out these video guides:

• Stage one FRNSW Physical Aptitude Test
• Stage two Physical Aptitude Test
• Stage three Physical Aptitude Test

Step Six: Fire And Rescue NSW Assessment Centre

An assessment centre is a series of activities designed to assess critical skills and behavioural capabilities required in the role. The assessment centre sessions will be held at the FRNSW headquarters at Greenacre.

Candidates will be asked to complete an online Work Style Assessment prior to attending the assessment centre. This assessment explores behavioural traits and preferred ways of working.

The interviews on site will include a two-person panel and a series of behavioural based questions.

You will also complete group activities and be asked to discuss a shared scenario. This activity explores the ability to work in a team and communicate effectively with others.

Candidates who meet requirements at the assessment centre will be recommended for placement into the pool of successful candidates. This government talent pool will be drawn from to fill recruit training classes in 2025 and beyond (dependent on final number of successful candidates).

Medical and Criminal Checks and Letters Of Offer

The assessment is the final stage of comparative evaluation for candidates. If you pass this stage and enter the recruitment pool, you are no longer competing for a position—you’re simply waiting for an offer to join a training class.

Before starting, you’ll need to work with Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) to complete medical tests and a criminal history check.

Candidates who accept an offer of employment will undertake a 13-week recruit training program, with schedules varying throughout. During this period, recruits are paid at the Recruit Firefighter level.

Upon successfully completing the 13-week program, you will graduate as a Level 1 Firefighter and be awarded a Certificate II in Public Safety at the official graduation ceremony.