Surrey, British Columbia Hiring guide
Surrey Firefighter Recruitment: Requirements, Salary & Hiring Process
What it takes to become a career firefighter in Surrey, from BC medical licensing and starting pay to physical testing, BL Associates screening and the panel interview.
Annual pay · CAD
$128,811Fourth-year suppression firefighter — 2026 base pay · effective January 1, 2026
Department size
15 fire stations
Serving Surrey
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 3, 2026 · Career firefighter applications closed as of November 3, 2026; no next application window confirmed. This review is separate from board availability.
How to become a Surrey firefighter
- 1
Check what must already be issued
Put your driving and BC EMA licence issue dates and expiry dates beside the application deadline. Course enrolment and an exam booking do not count as holding the licence.
- 2
Prepare the online application first
Have your resume and cover letter ready, with accurate answers about your work and qualifications. The manual says the application must be finished in one sitting and warns that Safari is not supported.
- 3
Read Surrey’s physical test instructions
Study the City’s physical assessment guide, arrange the required medical-clearance paperwork and prepare for the skills assessment as well. Follow the instructions in your invitation if its timing differs from the general manual.
The department at a glance
Surrey’s career process asks for more than a written test and an interview. Candidates complete the City’s own physical abilities and skills assessments, BL Associates psychometric screening and a panel interview. The basic knowledge course also gives candidates without NFPA 1001 certification a route through the process. Start by checking your BC medical licence, commercial driving qualification and completed work experience.
More than firefighting
Surrey Fire Services works across a large urban and suburban community, with emergency response, inspections, HomeSafe visits and fire prevention all part of the job. Its recruitment page describes a service of just over 500 people, and the City’s hall directory lists 15 locations. This guide covers career firefighter recruitment; paid-on-call recruitment follows a separate route.
Pay & working pattern
Fourth-year suppression firefighter — 2026 base pay · $128,811 per year
Effective January 1, 2026
Schedule A sets fourth-year pay at $10,734.28/month from January 1, 2026, or $128,811.36 annualized (monthly × 12). First-six-month pay is $7,514.71/month, or $90,176.52 annualized. These are base rates before overtime.
The February 2026 applicant manual describes 24 hours on, 24 hours off, another 24 hours on, then five days off. Suppression payroll is based on an average 42-hour week. Recruit training has its own schedule, so confirm reporting times and the assigned shift pattern with the City.
Is Surrey hiring firefighters?
Reviewed November 3, 2026: the City is not accepting career firefighter applications. No next application window was confirmed. The recruitment page still includes assessment dates and a November–December 2026 recruit class for the existing cycle. For a new application, wait for an advertised opening on the City careers portal and use that competition’s updated instructions.
Minimum qualifications
Complete the required driving and BC EMA qualifications before applying. Surrey checks issue dates and does not accept a promise to finish those licences later. The basic knowledge course is the stated exception: candidates who need it can complete it during selection.
- 01Work eligibility, education and English
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident/landed immigrant legally entitled to work in Canada, with Grade 12 or equivalent. Surrey also requires fluency in written and spoken English.
- 02Two years of work experience
- Have at least two years of accumulated work experience after completing high school. Make the dates and responsibilities clear on your resume rather than expecting the reviewer to infer them.
- 03Commercial licence and safe driving
- Hold Class 3 or Class 1 with air brakes, or the equivalent for vehicles with more than two axles. Automatic transmission is accepted. The licence must be issued before applying, and a driver’s abstract is reviewed later in selection.
- 04BC EMA medical licence
- Hold a current BC EMA Licensing Board First Responder licence or higher, such as EMR, PCP or ACP. Surrey does not accept OFA as a substitute. Out-of-province applicants need the BC licence before applying; a course certificate alone does not meet this requirement.
- 05Basic firefighting knowledge
- Complete Surrey’s Basic Firefighting Knowledge Course if needed during the process. The public qualification list accepts IFSAC or Pro Board NFPA 1001 Level I or II as course equivalency. Check how your certification is recorded in the current application.
- 06Fitness, medical and background screening
- Be physically and psychologically suitable for the role and willing to work 24-hour shifts, nights, weekends, holidays and extra shifts. Selection includes the City’s physical test, police and vulnerable-sector checks, a medical evaluation and First Responder Suitability Assessment.
- 07Where you can live
- Surrey’s public page sets a residence area covering Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley Regional District, with limits at Hope, Squamish, the US border and the Metro Vancouver coast. Check your proposed address and any relocation deadline with HR; do not assume living anywhere in BC meets the rule.
Surrey firefighter salary and progression
Fourth-year suppression firefighters earn $128,811.36 annualized under the signed 2025–26 agreement. New hires start below that rate and progress through the steps shown here. All figures use the January 1, 2026 monthly rates multiplied by 12, before overtime and other earnings.
- First six months: $7,514.71/month — $90,176.52/year.
- Second six months: $8,051.32/month — $96,615.84/year.
- Second year: $8,587.89/month — $103,054.68/year.
- Third year: $9,661.10/month — $115,933.20/year.
- Fourth year: $10,734.28/month — $128,811.36/year.
The agreement also provides later service increments, including $11,378.34/month at the 15th-year rate. Those increments help explain broader advertised salary ranges. Use the fourth-year figure when comparing fully qualified base pay between departments, and confirm the wage schedule applicable to your start date.
What strengthens your application
Surrey considers more than emergency-service experience. Hospitality, volunteering, coaching and team activities are all useful when you can explain your responsibilities and give examples of how you worked with people.
Service and practical experience
Surrey lists emergency services, health care, military, search and rescue, lifeguarding, wildfire work and hospitality among relevant backgrounds. Explain how you handled responsibility, helped people and worked under pressure.
Education, trades and teaching
The manual lists 30 post-secondary credits or at least a year of trade apprenticeship as preferred, with transcripts requested. Coaching, instruction and computer skills also count. Post-secondary education is an asset, rather than a universal entry requirement.
Community work and teamwork
Give concrete examples of volunteering, team activities, communication and languages beyond English. The February 2026 manual also lists a firefighter physical/skills workshop as preferred and flags a possible future requirement. Check the current posting before treating workshop attendance as mandatory.
Aptitude & physical testing
Prepare for Surrey’s own physical and skills assessments as well as the written stage. A CPAT certificate or an online test taken for another department should not be treated as a replacement unless Surrey specifically accepts it.
BL Associates psychometric assessment
Surrey currently requires in-person testing unless an eligible score is transferred. The City describes roughly three to four hours of questionnaires covering problem-solving, aptitudes such as mechanical reasoning, character and interests. There is a candidate-paid, non-refundable testing fee; the invitation supplies the amount and payment instructions.
Surrey’s nine-station test
The manual lists confined space, aerial climb, sled drag, 10.67-metre ladder extension, tower climb, hose-roll raise, hydrant-kit carry, hose advance and Storz-roll carry. Each station has a time limit, and the manual says there are no rest periods between stations. Bring the completed medical-clearance forms specified by the City.
Communication, learning and teamwork
The skills assessment takes about an hour and can include a short interview and fire-hall drills involving first aid, hydrants, knots, hose, ladders and communication. Surrey assesses how you follow instructions, learn, contribute and work with others. Bring the footwear, clothing and other items listed in your invitation.
Medical evaluation and FRSA
The City’s medical evaluation and First Responder Suitability Assessment are both in person. The public recruitment page estimates the candidate-paid medical at about $800; confirm the current charge when invited. FRSA includes written assessments and a clinical psychologist interview, with no candidate fee stated. Surrey does not accept another department’s medical in place of its own.
Written test preparation
Practise general aptitude skills
Our FACT practice offers exercises in reading, math and other general aptitude skills. FACT is a different test from Surrey’s BL Associates assessment. Use BLA’s official candidate guidance for the assessment format, and answer character and interest questionnaires honestly.
Explore general FACT practiceThe recruitment process
The City’s detailed manual divides recruitment into several screening, testing and appointment steps. The outline below groups the related steps so you can see what to prepare and when. Use your invitation for the order and dates that apply to your competition.
- 1
Online application
Apply through the City careers portal while the posting is open. Upload the requested resume and cover letter, and answer the screening questions completely.
The manual says to complete the form in one sitting. Required licence issue dates are checked.
- 2
Driver’s abstract review
Candidates who pass the initial screening are asked to submit a driver’s abstract for review against the City’s safe-driving policy.
Use the date range and submission instructions in the request.
- 3
Physical abilities and skills assessments
Complete Surrey’s physical test and practical skills assessment. Arrange the medical-clearance paperwork before attending.
The latest invitation controls the assessment dates and whether the activities are scheduled together or separately.
- 4
BL Associates screening
Complete the in-person psychometric assessment or arrange an accepted score transfer through BLA. Pay the required fee before testing.
Bring photo identification and proof of payment when instructed.
- 5
Basic knowledge course, if required
Candidates who need the Surrey Fire Basic Knowledge Course complete it during selection before interview. NFPA certification can provide equivalency under the City’s rules.
Complete the course by the deadline issued to you.
- 6
Panel interview
Surrey uses behavioural questions about past experience. The panel includes fire management, HR and IAFF Local 1271 representatives.
Bring the requested supporting documents and enough copies for the panel.
- 7
References and police checks
Provide professional references, including current and previous managers or supervisors. Complete the City’s police-information and vulnerable-sector check process.
Ask referees in advance and make sure their contact details are current.
- 8
Conditional offer, medical and FRSA
An offer remains conditional on the City’s medical evaluation and First Responder Suitability Assessment. HR coordinates the appointments and requirements.
These assessments are in person. Budget for the medical charge and travel.
- 9
Confirmation and recruit training
After the conditions are satisfied, the City confirms employment and arranges uniform, gear and fit-testing appointments. Recruit training then prepares you for shift duties.
The latest published cycle used six weeks of recruit training; use your offer for your class schedule.
Your application checklist
Use this preparation checklist alongside the current posting. Checking an item does not confirm eligibility.
Get notified when Surrey hiring opens
We’ll email you when a new SFS recruitment appears on our board. No account needed.
By subscribing, you agree to receive emails from Firefighter Academy about Surrey Fire Services hiring updates, plus occasional firefighter test-prep tips and offers. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy.
Common questions
Guidance for Surrey applicants. Confirm details with the referenced official sources and current posting.
Is Surrey hiring career firefighters?
As of our November 3, 2026 review, the City says it is not accepting career firefighter applications. No next application window was confirmed in the sources reviewed. Dates shown for testing, interviews or a recruit class can belong to an existing competition; they do not mean applications are open.
How much do Surrey firefighters make?
Fourth-year suppression pay is $10,734.28 a month from January 1, 2026, or $128,811.36 annualized. First-six-month pay is $7,514.71 a month, or $90,176.52 annualized. Later service increments raise the base rate further: the 15th-year rate is $136,540.08 annualized. This helps explain why a job advertisement’s upper range can exceed fourth-year pay.
Do I need NFPA 1001 certification to apply?
Surrey provides a Basic Firefighting Knowledge Course during recruitment for candidates who need it. The public qualification list names NFPA 1001 Level I or II with IFSAC or Pro Board certification as course equivalency. Confirm the current application’s treatment of your certificate. The driving and BC EMA licence requirements still have to be met before applying.
Does Surrey accept OFA or an EMR course certificate?
Surrey requires a current BC EMA First Responder licence or a higher BC EMA licence, such as EMR, PCP or ACP. The City explicitly says OFA is not accepted. Completing a course and holding the required BC licence are different steps; have the licence issued before submitting your application.
Can I apply from Ontario or another province?
Check your commercial licence equivalency and obtain the required BC EMA licence before applying. Surrey also sets a residence area for firefighters across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, with stated geographic limits. Confirm the address and relocation timing with HR. Budget for in-person assessments even if you submit the application from another province.
Does Surrey use CPAT or require a swim test?
The current career process names Surrey’s own nine-station physical abilities test and a separate skills assessment. It does not list CPAT as a substitute or a separate swim test. Use Surrey’s current guide and invitation; another BC department’s CPAT or swim requirements should not be carried over automatically.
What written test does Surrey use, and can I transfer a score?
Surrey uses BL Associates psychometric screening, covering problem-solving, character and interests. Testing is currently in person unless an eligible score is transferred. A result from within 12 months must meet Surrey’s threshold and BLA’s transfer rules. Request it early; a passing result for another department does not automatically qualify for Surrey.
Is Surrey’s interview an MMI?
The manual describes a panel interview using behavioural questions about your past experience. The panel includes fire management, HR and union representatives. Prepare examples showing teamwork, leadership, initiative, communication and adaptability. The skills assessment also includes a short interview, so there is more than one opportunity to demonstrate how you work with people.
What does Surrey recruitment cost?
Candidates pay for psychometric testing and the City’s medical evaluation. The public page estimates the medical at about $800, with the actual amount confirmed when invited. The First Responder Suitability Assessment has no candidate fee stated. Also budget for licence renewals, medical-clearance paperwork and travel. The City does not publish one complete recruitment-fee total.
What documents should I prepare for the interview?
The manual requests copies of your current resume, EMA licence, education transcripts, applicable NFPA certificate and anything HR specifically asks for. Prepare enough copies for the panel on plain white paper, stapled rather than in a binder. It says to leave out photos, call logs, reference letters, driver’s abstracts and unrelated certifications from that panel package. Follow any updated invitation instructions.
Is a firefighter workshop mandatory?
The February 2026 manual lists a physical/skills workshop as preferred and says it may become a future requirement. That wording does not establish that every current applicant must have attended. Read the live posting before booking or claiming the workshop as a mandatory qualification.
Go straight to the source
Reviewed against official Surrey 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 Surrey Fire Services, the City of Surrey or BL Associates. The City’s current posting and candidate instructions govern applications.
Your next step
Plan your application to Surrey Fire Services
Confirm the City’s current requirements and application dates. Preparing for the written test? Start with independent practice.
Browse recruitment postings