Firefighter Recruitment Process

A Message from the Recruitment Team

Thank you for taking the time to consider joining Oshawa Fire Services as a Firefighter. Built on tradition, yet innovating for the future, we continually work toward being leaders in our field, our Fire Service contributes to the quality of life and safety of our community.

Given our visibility in the community, the vital work we do and the amount of trust the public places on our profession, we expect our staff to act with integrity and demonstrate a strong work ethic. We are looking for employees who strive for excellence, exhibit a selfless sense of duty, and continually look for ways to improve themselves and the department.

Please review this recruitment guide carefully and familiarize with the process and expectations at each stage. The selection process not only tests your physical and technical skills, it also looks at how your personal values fit with the organization.

The City of Oshawa believes one of the key elements of an engaged and innovative workforce is providing employees with a work environment that is supportive, inclusive and respectful. We want Oshawa Fire Services staff to feel a sense of pride and dedication in the work that we do.

We challenge you to look within yourself to see if you have what it takes to meet the expectations of this career. It is a competitive field, before embarking on the process you should ask yourself the following questions:

What unique skills can you offer our department?
What sets you apart from the other candidates?
Can you work in an environment that follows a strict code of conduct and chain of command?
Can you work twenty-four hour (24) shifts including evenings, weekends, and holidays, and function in an environment where you live and work together in close quarters?
Can you work in strenuous situations under pressure?

Good luck in the process.

Mission Statement

"To promote and protect the health and well-being of the community through adaptable and progressive education, prevention, and emergency services."

Vision Statement

"To continually pursue and advance a level of professional excellence recognized as the model for the fire service."

Our Values

Authenticity
Courage
Trust

General Information

Career firefighters provide emergency response to a wide variety of occurrences including fires, emergency medical calls, motor vehicle accidents, and alarm system activations. Firefighters are also required to respond in three highly specialized areas of expertise:

Hazardous materials;
Technical rescue; and
Ice/water rescue.

Other duties include, but are not limited to, delivering fire safety public education, performing station duties such as tours, cleaning, maintaining grounds, and call-taking and dispatching duties. You are expected to follow Standard Operating Guidelines and directions to complete tasks as assigned. Maintaining both physical and mental wellness is a key in fulfilling your job requirements.

As a firefighter you will receive extensive and continuous in-service training. This education not only provides knowledge of the latest developments in firefighting and rescue techniques but also covers a wide array of topics such as emergency communications and dispatch, emergency medical procedures, vehicle extrication, firefighter survival skills and fire prevention legislation. Firefighters also use acquired skills to pass knowledge on to the public, promoting fire prevention and safety awareness.

In addition to frequent contact with the public, firefighters also spend periods of time living and working together. Whether it is sharing routine maintenance chores or providing back up at the scene of an emergency, firefighters must be able to take direction without question and work effectively as members of a team of professionals.

Firefighters are members of the Oshawa Professional Firefighters’ Association, Local 465 of the International Association of Firefighters.

Firefighters currently work a twenty-four (24) hour shift schedule, with an average of seven (7) shifts in a twenty-eight (28) day cycle.

Selection Process

Step One: Posting

When a recruitment campaign opens, the opportunity will be posted in the employment section of the City’s website (www.oshawa.ca/careers). Interested applicants should sign up for the talent network to be notified of future postings when they occur.

Step Two: Mandatory and Preferred Qualifications

Applicants shall be eighteen (18) years of age or older and be legally entitled to work in Canada. Applicants should have a secondary school diploma or academic equivalent and have successfully completed the following:

Successful completion of N.F.P.A. 1001 Level I/II from an accredited institution, prior to the date of application submission. Note: Institutions within Ontario should be accredited by the O.F.M., institutions outside of Ontario or Canada, should be accredited by I.F.S.A.C. or ProBoard)
Successful completion of all seven (7) test components through Firefighter Services of Ontario. All tests, excluding the Emotional Stability and Resiliency Assessment, must be completed in one (1) day. For more information, please see Firefighter Services of Ontario (fireontario.com). All costs associated with these tests are the responsibility of the applicant
To be considered all applicants must apply online and register with Firefighter Services of Ontario for screening by 11:59 pm E.S.T. on March 8, 2024. If applicants have already completed screening please reach out directly to Firefighter Services of Ontario to confirm if this testing is still valid

Applicants should also meet the following requirements:

Minimum one (1) year of prior full-time work experience. Fire suppression, construction, trades, mechanical, emergency medical, large vehicle operation or fire prevention related experience is an asset
Possession of a current and valid minimum level C.P.R. B.L.S./H.C.P. Certificate or higher (e.g., E.M.R.) issued prior to the date of application submission
Possession of a current and valid minimum level Standard First Aid Certificate, issued by a W.S.I.B. approved First Aid Trainer prior to the date of application submission
Possession and maintenance of a valid unrestricted Ontario Driver’s License, minimum class D or higher with a Z endorsement. Applicants with more than six (6) demerit points are ineligible for consideration
Ability to work twenty-four (24) hour shifts, including days/nights, weekends and holidays
Must be physically fit and able to handle the sustained, intense physical and psychological effort required to perform duties of this position
Ability to work effectively as part of a team, strong interpersonal and customer service skills for interacting with the public and internal staff
Demonstrated initiative, mechanical aptitude and problem solving skills
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively under demanding conditions

Step Three: Pre-Registration

Applicants must register for the seven (7) components of testing through Firefighter Services of Ontario by 11:59pm EST on Friday, March 8, 2024. To register for testing, please go to the Firefighter Services of Ontario (fireontario.com) website.

The seven (7) pre-employment screening assessments with Firefighter Services of Ontario are:

Clinical Evaluation
C.P.S. Aptitude Examination
Candidate Physical Ability Test (C.P.A.T.)
Tread Water Test
Medical Assessment (Vision and Hearing Screening)
Acrophobia Test
Emotional Stability and Resilience Test (E.S.R.)

Step Four: Applicant Assessment at Firefighter Services of Ontario

All seven (7) assessments, excluding E.S.R., must be completed on the same day, on or after April 7, 2024. Valid test dates are listed below. Inquiries regarding candidate eligibility can be directed to Firefighter Services of Ontario ([email protected]). The costs associated with this testing will be the responsibility of the applicant. For further information, visit Firefighter Services of Ontario (fireontario.com).

Candidates are required to bring their cover letter, resume, and proof of mandatory qualifications to their appointment at Firefighter Services of Ontario. Firefighter Services of Ontario will forward all provided documents and test results to the City of Oshawa.

Testing and documentation screening will be completed by Sunday, April 7, 2024.

Candidates who have already successfully completed the core four (4) tests in one day (Clinical, C.P.A.T., Tread Water and Aptitude), on or after April 7, 2023, would be required to successfully complete:

Clinical Assessment – if expired, valid for six (6) months
Medical, Acrophobia, and/or Emotional Stability and Resiliency Assessment – if expired, valid for one (1) year

Please contact [email protected] to confirm that you have successfully completed the required assessments.

Step Five: Job Interview

The interview panel may consist of City of Oshawa Fire Services and Human Resources Representatives. The questions are situational and behavioural based and will probe your professional experiences in areas related to past experiences, the core competencies of an Oshawa firefighter and our core values.

Step Six: Job Offer

Successful candidates will receive a job offer that is conditional upon:

Pre-employment medical
Reference checks
Providing:
- A Vulnerable Sector Check that has been obtained within the last six (6) months
- A Ministry of Transportation Driver’s Abstract dated within the month previous to the date of conditional offer

Employment Commencement

New recruits will undergo in-house training prior to being placed on shift.

There is a twelve-month (12) probationary period in which extensive in-service training will continue. New recruits not meeting performance expectations during this training period may be terminated.

Additional Information

Please ensure you read the information in this guide closely before reaching out with additional questions to Human Resource Services at [email protected]. Due to the high volume of applications received for this position, please refrain from calling to inquire about the status of your application.