Niagara Falls, Ontario Hiring guide
Niagara Falls Firefighter Recruitment: Requirements, CPS Testing & Salary
Get ready for Niagara Falls career recruitment with a clear breakdown of FSO testing, swimming, CritiCall, interviews, qualifications and firefighter pay.
Aptitude test
CPS aptitude test through FSOCPS is named in the 2026 career recruitment guide. Check the current invitation for exam instructions and the FSO screening package you must complete.
Department size
7 fire stations
Serving Niagara Falls
Operations firefighter recruitment
No active postings on our boardBoard listings update from our recruitment dashboard; they may not include every City opening.
Last official-source review: November 4, 2026 · 2026 career competition closed. This review is separate from board availability.
How to become a Niagara Falls firefighter
- 1
Plan the full FSO screening day
Leave time to train for the physical and water components, arrange travel and gather your documents. Check FSO’s current instructions before booking.
- 2
Keep the two deadlines separate
In 2026, FSO registration closed before testing and application submission. A future intake may use different dates; put every deadline in your calendar.
- 3
Prepare for CritiCall as well as interviews
The City’s last guide included multitasking testing on the first interview day. Build interview examples and practise following instructions accurately under time pressure.
The department at a glance
Niagara Falls recruits career firefighters through a process that combines Firefighter Services of Ontario screening with City interviews and assessments. The 2026 competition is closed. Use the last recruitment guide to prepare for the next intake, while checking the City’s employment page for new dates and instructions.
More than firefighting
This is a composite department with four career stations and three volunteer stations. Career crews serve residential neighbourhoods and a busy tourism district, with responsibilities that include fire suppression, medical assistance, vehicle extrication, water and ice rescue, and gorge and high-angle rescue. Equipment readiness, public education and ongoing training are part of the work between calls.
Pay & working pattern
First-class firefighter — July 2023 base · $108,331 per year
Effective July 1, 2023
Article 8 of the filed 2018–23 agreement lists $108,331 annually for first class and $72,582 for a probationer from July 1, 2023. These are verified historical base rates, not a confirmed newer settlement. Overtime, recognition pay and other additions are excluded. The City’s guide describes four years of progression to first class.
The filed agreement limits work to an average of 42 hours a week, with the shift system agreed between the City and union. Confirm the current rotation and recruit training schedule in the posting or offer. The 2026 guide describes four years of progression from probationary to first-class firefighter.
Minimum qualifications
These are the core requirements in the City’s 2026 career guide and application checklist. Check the next competition for changes, especially document issue dates and testing validity.
- 01Work eligibility and education
- Legal entitlement to work in Canada and a high school diploma or equivalent.
- 02Firefighter certification
- NFPA 1001 Firefighter I and II certification. The current posting determines any updated standards or additional certifications.
- 03DZ licence
- A valid Ontario Class D licence with Z endorsement, or an accepted equivalent. Keep proof with your application documents.
- 04First aid and CPR
- Current Standard First Aid and CPR at the HCP / Health Care Professional level specified by the City. Check accepted course wording before renewing.
- 05Driving and criminal record documents
- The last checklist required an original three-year uncertified driver’s abstract. The criminal record check was due at first interview, rather than with the application. Issue-date rules change with each intake.
- 06FSO screening and employment conditions
- Complete the required FSO assessments and resiliency assessment. Be prepared for the City’s later medical examination and other employment conditions.
What strengthens your application
The City’s guide gives weight to relevant education, practical knowledge and the ability to work well with others. Explain where you gained each skill and how you have used it.
Relevant education and practical knowledge
The guide lists postsecondary fire service or medical education and knowledge of firefighting practices. Give clear details of your training and experience.
Buildings, tools and equipment
Construction knowledge and familiarity with pumps, hydraulic tools, breathing apparatus and communications equipment are preferred. Explain your level of experience honestly.
Leadership and working with others
Use real examples of communication, organization and team decisions. Describe your own contribution and what the team achieved.
Aptitude & physical testing
Niagara Falls named CPS aptitude testing through FSO in its 2026 guide. The process also included physical, clinical, swimming, heights and resiliency assessments. Plan for the full screening package, not just the written exam.
CPS through FSO
The 2026 guide names CPS. Prepare with timed practice and review your reasoning. The City later uses CritiCall as another assessment; passing the CPS exam does not replace it.
CPAT, clinical and heights assessments
The screening package includes the Candidate Physical Ability Test and acrophobia testing. Train from official candidate instructions and read the required forms before assessment day.
15-minute tread-water test
The City’s guide specifies this assessment through FSO. Practise regularly and check the current protocol, including permitted equipment and technique, rather than relying on another department’s swim test.
One-day screening and separate ESR instructions
The last guide required the listed in-person tests in one day, with Emotional Stability and Resiliency completed by FSO’s separate deadline. Previous results may qualify for reuse, but FSO must confirm eligibility and expired components.
Written test preparation
Build a steady CPS practice routine
Work through timed practice, review why answers are wrong and return to weaker topics. Firefighter Academy provides independent practice material; it does not administer the FSO recruitment assessments.
Explore CPS practice testsThe recruitment process
The sequence below follows the 2026 City guide. Dates and instructions belong to that competition; a future posting can change them.
- 1
Read the posting and register with FSO
Confirm the requirements before paying for testing.
For the 2026 intake, registration closed March 27 and testing/application submission closed April 26. These are past dates, not the next recruitment schedule.
- 2
Complete screening and submit the package
Follow FSO’s instructions for tests, ESR and documents.
The 2026 checklist listed a $40 application processing fee in addition to assessment and travel costs. FSO accepted packages in person or by mail; emailed packages were not accepted.
- 3
First interview and CritiCall
Expect a panel interview and multitasking assessment.
The last guide also included a five-minute written response before the interview. Prepare to write a clear, direct answer, then explain your experience aloud with specific examples.
- 4
Second interview and references
Have two supervisory references ready.
Choose people who can discuss your work and reliability in detail. Ask them in advance and check their current contact information.
- 5
Medical examination
Complete the City’s requested medical assessment.
The guide names NFPA 1582 and a Hepatitis B vaccination requirement. Use the City’s current medical instructions and ask about any required documentation early.
- 6
Employment offer and progression
Review the offer and prepare for department training.
The guide says successful applicants, including experienced firefighters, start at the probationary classification. It describes four years to reach first class, subject to the applicable requirements.
Your application checklist
Use this preparation checklist alongside the current posting. Checking an item does not confirm eligibility.
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Common questions
Guidance for Niagara Falls applicants. Confirm details with the referenced official sources and current posting.
Is Niagara Falls hiring career firefighters now?
FSO lists the reviewed 2026 Niagara Falls career competition as closed. Check the City’s employment opportunities for a new posting; no next intake date was verified.
Does Niagara Falls use CPS or FACT?
The City’s 2026 career guide names the CPS aptitude test through Firefighter Services of Ontario. It does not describe an OFAI FACT requirement for that competition.
What is the swim requirement?
The last career guide specifies a 15-minute tread-water test through FSO. Follow the next competition’s instructions for the exact protocol and whether previous results can be accepted.
What is CritiCall doing in a firefighter recruitment?
The City says it uses CritiCall to assess multitasking. In the 2026 process, it was scheduled on the same day as the first interview, separately from the FSO aptitude exam.
Can I reuse my FSO results?
Possibly. The 2026 guide allowed qualifying previous results, with updated assessments where needed. Ask FSO to confirm your eligibility, certificate dates and required renewals before booking or assuming you are exempt.
What is the firefighter salary?
The verified July 2023 schedule lists $108,331 for first class and $72,582 for a probationer annually. These are historical base rates. A newer settlement was not verified, and overtime and recognition pay are additional.
Does volunteer hiring follow the same process?
The City publishes separate career and volunteer recruitment information. Volunteer stations are in Chippawa, Willoughby and Crowland. A volunteer recruitment notice should not be treated as an opening for a full-time career position.
How often does Niagara Falls hire?
The City says career recruitment typically occurs every one to two years as needed, with no fixed schedule. Prepare your qualifications and monitor official notices rather than counting on a particular month.
Go straight to the source
Reviewed against official Niagara Falls sources on November 4, 2026. Requirements, certificate validity and intake dates can change.
Independent guide from Firefighter Academy, not affiliated with the City of Niagara Falls, its Fire Department, FSO or CPS. Current official postings and candidate instructions take priority. Historical dates, requirements and salary rates are identified in the text.
Your next step
Plan your application to Niagara Falls Fire Department
Confirm the City’s current requirements and application dates. Preparing for the written test? Start with independent practice.
Browse recruitment postings