Career Firefighter — VFRS (2026)
- Salary
- $123,265 at start of fourth year; $86,290 first six months (City-published 2026 annual rates)
- Closing date
- —
- Employment type
- Full-time, permanent
- Openings
- —
Job overview
- Vancouver Fire Rescue Services is accepting career firefighter applications until vacancies are filled. The 2026 posting describes a service of more than 920 employees and 21 fire halls, with duties spanning fire suppression, medical response, vehicle and marine rescue, hazardous materials and public education.
- This is a rolling application process. Assessment invitations are tied to hiring classes, so candidates should use the City’s current instructions for their next steps. Reviewed November 2, 2026.
Qualifications
The City lists education and work-experience requirements, citizenship/permanent-resident evidence, commercial driving and air brakes, BC EMA licensing, NFPA 1001 I and II, driving history and medical suitability. Its web checklist and applicant PDF differ on when some qualifications are due. Read the linked Vancouver hiring guide and confirm your competition’s requirements before relying on an exception.
Recruitment process
- Application screening
- written exam
- panel interview and references
- police information check
- VPAST
- suitability and psychological assessments
- candidate ride-along
- second interview
- medical screening
- final review and Fire Chief’s meeting. Assessment scheduling can vary by class.
Vancouver written exam and fire knowledge
VFRS links to FPSI’s NFST orientation material and includes a fire-knowledge component. The City’s applicant guide specifies IFSTA Essentials of Fire Fighting, 7th edition. This is a different exam from FACT or CPS.
Preparing for Vancouver’s written exam
Study aptitude skills and fire knowledge separately. The City’s guide identifies FPSI NFST orientation material and IFSTA Essentials of Fire Fighting, 7th edition. Use the exam invitation to confirm the instructions for your assessment.
Understand the full hiring process
Our Vancouver hiring guide explains the published recruitment stages, qualification deadlines, salary rates and practical preparation. FACT and CPS are different exams and are not Vancouver NFST simulations.
Applications close soon. Confirm all requirements on the official posting before submitting.
Official source: Vancouver Fire Rescue Services. Firefighter Academy provides preparation resources only and does not screen, hire, or process applications.