Prince George, British Columbia Hiring guide
Prince George Firefighter Recruitment: Requirements, Salary & Hiring Process
A practical guide to a full-time firefighting career in Prince George: qualifications, pay, online testing, CPAT and what to submit with your application.
Annual pay · CAD
$117,396First-class firefighter (fourth year) — published 2024 rate · effective January 1, 2024
Department size
4 fire stations
Serving Prince George
Operations firefighter recruitment
Actively hiring · on our boardCloses Nov 13, 2026
Board listings update from our recruitment dashboard; they may not include every City opening.
Last official-source review: November 3, 2026 · Career recruitment open — applications due November 13, 2026. This review is separate from board availability.
How to become a Prince George firefighter
- 1
Start with the City’s package
Download the current application form and checklist. Prince George asks for the completed form and supporting documents together in one PDF, in the checklist’s order. A resume on its own is not the full application.
- 2
Write down your completion dates
If NFPA training, first aid or Class 3 is still in progress, provide the expected completion date requested on the form. Work back from the interview deadline for Class 3 and the offer deadline for outstanding qualifications.
- 3
Plan for testing and travel
The current written stage is online. CPAT, interviews and medical appointments still require planning. Budget for testing and travel, keep certificates current and watch for City updates.
The department at a glance
Prince George recruits career firefighters through an eligibility list. The process includes online aptitude and psychometric testing, CPAT, an interview and employment checks. You can apply with some training still in progress, but the City sets deadlines for completing it. This guide explains those deadlines, the application package and the pay you can verify before committing to the process.
More than firefighting
Prince George Fire Rescue Service operates four fire halls around the clock. Its work includes fires, medical calls, vehicle collisions, river and wilderness emergencies, and technical rescue. Specialty teams cover hazardous materials, water and ice rescue, and high-angle and confined-space rescue. Career firefighters also take part in fire prevention, public education and ongoing training.
Pay & working pattern
First-class firefighter (fourth year) — published 2024 rate · $117,396 per year
Effective January 1, 2024
The City-hosted agreement lists $9,783/month for first class from January 1, 2024, equal to $117,396/year (monthly pay × 12). The 2026 recruit posting advertises $6,848/month, or $82,176 annualized. Confirm newer negotiated rates before relying on these figures for a future start.
Suppression firefighters average 42 hours a week under the published agreement. It also contains a trial compressed schedule of two 24-hour shifts separated by 24 hours off, followed by 120 hours off. Confirm the schedule that applies to your recruit training and assigned platoon when an offer is made.
Current Prince George recruitment: 2026–27 dates
Reviewed November 3, 2026: the City’s live recruitment page lists November 13, 2026 as the application deadline. The downloadable posting still carries the original October 30 date. Use the updated recruitment page and confirm submission arrangements with City HR. This competition is building an eligibility list for regular full-time positions.
- Application deadline shown on the live City page: November 13, 2026.
- Candidates selected for testing can expect contact by December 18, 2026.
- Online written testing: January 9, 2027.
- Interviews: February 8–26, 2027. Complete CPAT beforehand.
- Process expected to finish by April 2027; potential first recruit group in spring 2027. Actual starts depend on vacancies.
Minimum qualifications
Separate the basic eligibility requirements from qualifications the City allows you to finish later. The current checklist asks for expected completion dates where courses or licences are in progress. Class 3 with air brakes has an earlier deadline: before the interview.
- 01Work eligibility and education
- Be legally entitled to work in Canada and have completed high school. Include proof with the application, along with an accurate employment history showing satisfactory performance.
- 02NFPA 1001 Levels I and II
- The City asks for NFPA 1001 Levels I and II from an accredited program. Its application form and checklist accept IFSAC or Pro Board seals. If training is underway, state the expected completion date; all qualifications must be obtained by the official offer.
- 03Class 3 with air brakes
- Hold a valid BC Class 3 licence with air brakes, or obtain it before the interview stage. Include your licence and driver’s abstract. Out-of-province applicants must provide BC equivalency documentation; an Ontario DZ should not simply be described as a BC licence.
- 04First aid and medical credentials
- The recruitment page names Occupational First Aid Level 3 or First Responder Level 3. The checklist also provides for EMR and paramedic credentials, and asks for completion dates if training is underway. Confirm acceptance of a differently named or out-of-province credential with HR before paying for a course.
- 05Driving record and background
- Show responsible driving; the City says more than six points in the previous three years may remove a candidate from consideration. The process includes police and vulnerable-sector checks, and the City identifies job-related criminal convictions as a screening concern.
- 06Fitness and medical suitability
- Pass CPAT before the interview and complete the City’s firefighter medical examination as a condition of offer. The City names the NFPA 1582 standard. Keep all required licences and certificates valid while waiting on the eligibility list.
Prince George firefighter salary and progression
The City’s 2026 posting advertises a recruit wage of $6,848 per month. Its published collective agreement provides the fuller progression below, effective January 1, 2024. Annual figures are the listed monthly rates multiplied by 12. These are base wages; overtime and other earnings are additional.
- First six months: $6,848/month — $82,176/year.
- Fourth class, second six months: $7,337/month — $88,044/year.
- Third class, second year: $7,826/month — $93,912/year.
- Second class, third year: $8,805/month — $105,660/year.
- First class, fourth year: $9,783/month — $117,396/year.
The recruit figure matches the 2026 advertisement, but we have not verified a newer first-class wage schedule. Use January 2024 as the date for this progression, and confirm any later negotiated increase and the wage applicable to your start date with the City.
What strengthens your application
Use your application to show what you have done with your training and experience. List dates and responsibilities, and attach the supporting certificates or transcripts the City requests.
Emergency response and technical rescue
Previous career or volunteer firefighting is an asset. Technician-level hazmat, rope, confined-space, swift-water and ice-rescue training are also listed. Describe your level of training and the work you were authorized to perform.
Education, trades and additional courses
The City lists at least one year of post-secondary study (30 credits) or two years of a recognized apprenticeship. Fire instruction, public education, inspection, ICS, technical rescue and wildland courses can also support your application.
Higher medical licensing and community service
A BC EMR licence or PCP qualification is preferred. Out-of-province candidates should show that they have started the EMA licensing equivalency process. The form also asks about community volunteering, including your duties and typical hours.
Aptitude & physical testing
The City’s current process uses online written aptitude and psychometric testing, followed by CPAT and an interview. BL Associates lists Prince George in its firefighter score-transfer program. Use your invitation to confirm the exact assessment arrangements and any accepted transfer.
Online aptitude and psychometric testing
The City confirms online delivery for the current competition. BL Associates lists Prince George in its score-transfer program; BLA testing combines timed problem-solving questionnaires with character and interest measures. Read the invitation for your exact test arrangements. A transfer request must meet the provider’s timing rules and the receiving department’s threshold.
CPAT before the interview
Prince George requires CPAT before the interview stage and accepts certificates issued within 12 months of the interview date. If you remain on the eligibility list and more than 12 months pass since CPAT, you must retest at your own expense before hiring. Track both dates when planning a test booking.
Prepare your examples and appointment logistics
The City shortlists using qualifications and test results, then conducts interviews, reference checks and an offer-stage medical examination. Its public process does not specify an MMI or a separate swim test. Prepare examples of teamwork, safe judgment, learning and community service, and follow the invitation for any added assessment instructions.
Written test preparation
Build your general aptitude skills
Our FACT practice can help you work on reading, math and other general aptitude skills. It is a different assessment from BL Associates testing. Use the provider’s candidate guidance and your City invitation for the actual format and computer requirements.
Explore general FACT practiceThe recruitment process
These are the seven steps listed by the City. Shortlisting happens along the way, and a place on the eligibility list does not guarantee an immediate start. The current competition dates appear separately above.
- 1
Application review
Submit the City’s completed application form and supporting evidence in the required package. Applications are reviewed for minimum and preferred qualifications and completeness.
Include realistic completion dates for any qualifications still underway.
- 2
Online written testing
Selected applicants complete aptitude and psychometric testing online. Check the invitation for registration, equipment, fees and any score-transfer option.
BLA lists Prince George in its firefighter score-transfer program.
- 3
CPAT
Provide a CPAT certificate issued within 12 months of your interview date. Complete the assessment before the interview stage.
A later retest is required before hiring if the certificate has passed 12 months.
- 4
Interview
Qualifications and test scores are used to shortlist candidates for interview. Prepare clear examples from work, volunteering and training.
Explain your role, what you did and what changed as a result.
- 5
References
Provide three references, with at least two former supervisors from employment or a volunteer organization, as requested on the form.
Include each person’s organization and relationship to you, and confirm their contact details.
- 6
Medical examination
At the offer stage, attend a firefighter medical examination with an approved physician. The City identifies NFPA 1582 as its medical standard.
Budget for competition costs and follow the City’s appointment instructions.
- 7
Eligibility list and hiring
The City creates a list to fill anticipated vacancies. The list’s size, duration and start dates are set by the City.
Keep qualifications current. Successful new employees begin a 12-month probationary period.
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 Prince George applicants. Confirm details with the referenced official sources and current posting.
Is Prince George hiring full-time firefighters?
Yes. The City’s career posting is for regular full-time firefighters and is building an eligibility list for anticipated vacancies. Its live recruitment page lists November 13, 2026 as the current deadline, with a potential first recruit group in spring 2027. A place on the list does not guarantee a start date.
How much do Prince George firefighters make?
The City-hosted agreement’s January 2024 schedule lists first-class firefighter pay at $9,783 a month, equal to $117,396 annually. The 2026 posting advertises recruit pay of $6,848 a month, or $82,176 annualized. The guide labels the older first-class rate because a newer wage schedule was not verified. Confirm the rate applicable to your offer.
Can I apply while my qualifications are in progress?
Yes. The City says applications without all qualifications may be considered. Its form and checklist ask for expected completion dates. All qualifications must be obtained by the official offer, and Class 3 with air brakes must be obtained before the interview. This flexibility does not guarantee shortlisting.
What written test does Prince George use?
The current City page confirms online aptitude and psychometric testing. BL Associates lists Prince George Fire Rescue in its firefighter score-transfer program. Follow the City’s invitation for the exact assessment and registration details; do not assume FACT, CPS or NTN is the exam being used.
Can I transfer a BL Associates result?
Prince George appears on BLA’s participating-department list. BLA generally requires a result from within 12 months that meets the receiving department’s threshold, with enough processing time between competitions. Contact BLA early and confirm acceptance with the City before skipping a scheduled assessment.
How long is CPAT valid for Prince George recruitment?
The City accepts CPAT certificates issued within 12 months of the interview date. CPAT must be completed before interview. If more than 12 months have passed while you wait on the eligibility list, the City requires another CPAT at your expense before hiring.
Does Prince George require a swim test?
The current public career recruitment steps name CPAT and a firefighter medical examination. They do not list a separate swim assessment. Follow your invitation for the requirements of your competition rather than carrying over a swim test from another department.
Can I apply from Ontario or another province?
The package includes instructions for out-of-province applicants. Provide documentation of your driver’s licence equivalency in BC, and evidence of starting the BC EMA equivalency process where applicable to your medical credentials. Plan for the BC Class 3 deadline before interview and any travel required.
Can an experienced firefighter transfer directly?
The City’s FAQ says applicants from other departments must apply at entry level. Prior paid or volunteer firefighting is an asset, but the recruitment page does not offer a direct lateral transfer. Successful new employees have a 12-month probation.
How do I submit the application, and what costs should I expect?
Use the City’s official form and combine it with the requested evidence in one PDF, in checklist order. The posting directs applications to City HR; use the current recruitment page for submission instructions and the updated deadline. Candidates are responsible for competition testing and travel costs. The City does not publish a complete fee total on the recruitment page.
Go straight to the source
Reviewed against official Prince George sources on November 3, 2026. Requirements, certificate validity and intake dates can change.
Independent guide from Firefighter Academy, reviewed November 3, 2026. Not affiliated with the City of Prince George or its testing providers. Follow the City’s current posting, application documents and assessment invitations.
Your next step
Plan your application to Prince George Fire Rescue Service
Confirm the City’s current requirements and application dates. Preparing for the written test? Start with independent practice.
Browse recruitment postings