FRNSW

Overview

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is the New South Wales Government agency that provides urban fire and rescue services across the state. It hires full-time (permanent) firefighters through periodic recruitment campaigns. There is no single written exam; instead, applicants move through a seven-step selection process that combines online psychometric tests, a video interview, a Physical Aptitude Test (PAT), an in-person assessment centre, a medical assessment and employment checks. Successful candidates are offered a place in a recruit training class.

FRNSW also recruits On-call (part-time) firefighters through a separate, station-based process. This page covers the permanent firefighter process.

Who can apply

To apply for a permanent firefighter role, you need all of the following:

• Driver licence: a current Australian motor vehicle driver licence, at least a Provisional P2 (green) licence, or an overseas equivalent that can be transferred to an Australian licence.

• Driving record: no more than 7 demerit points on a full licence, or no more than 1 demerit point on a provisional licence.

• Education: one of the Higher School Certificate (HSC), a Certificate III in any field, a trade qualification, three years of service as a retained (on-call) firefighter with FRNSW, or a higher qualification. Overseas qualifications must show their Australian equivalent.

• Work rights: Australian citizenship, Australian permanent residency, or New Zealand citizenship, each backed by documents.

A Medium Rigid (MR) truck licence is not needed to apply. Candidates who succeed must get one, at their own cost, before they can be placed in a recruit class and accept an offer.

Exam pattern

Each stage is a gate: you must succeed at one step to be invited to the next.

Syllabus

Step 2: Psychometric tests and video interview

The online tests cover cognitive aptitude, emotional intelligence and mechanical reasoning. You also record spoken answers to set questions on a video interview platform. The whole stage is proctored, meaning webcam, microphone and screen-sharing are used to confirm your identity and flag behaviour such as another person in the room or switching screens. FRNSW has removed the separate in-person verification test that earlier campaigns used.

Step 3: Physical Aptitude Test (PAT)

The PAT checks whether you can safely handle the physical demands of firefighting: strength, endurance, coordination and working under heat stress while carrying loads. You wear FRNSW-supplied firefighting protective clothing over gym gear, with running or gym shoes and ankle weights to mimic the weight of firefighting boots. You must complete each stage to move to the next.

Because you cannot move on to Stage 3 early, there is no benefit in rushing Stage 2; FRNSW advises pacing yourself.

Step 4: Assessment Centre

Held in person at FRNSW in Greenacre, the assessment centre uses structured activities to judge job-related skills and behaviour. These include an individual interview, a group exercise in which a team of four works through a scenario together, and other work-related tasks.

Step 5: Medical assessment

The medical is also held in person at Greenacre. You undergo a standardised pre-employment health assessment with an FRNSW Occupational Physician, who uses a risk-based approach to decide whether you are medically suited to the role.

Step 6: Employment checks

These include reference checks with supervisors or managers, conduct and service checks (for current NSW Government employees only), a driving history check (requested at interview) and a criminal record check (requested after medical clearance).

Important dates

FRNSW opens permanent firefighter applications in campaigns rather than year-round. For 2026, applications opened on 9 March 2026 and closed on 20 March 2026. FRNSW said it planned 20 recruit classes in 2026. Check the FRNSW careers site for the next campaign.

Fees

FRNSW's recruitment pages do not list an application fee. Candidates do pay their own costs along the way, including internet access, travel and accommodation to attend in-person stages, medical clearances and reports (such as pathology, ECG and specialist reports), a driving log book from Service NSW, and the Medium Rigid licence needed before placement.

How to apply

Apply online through the FRNSW careers site while a campaign is open. Use the exact name shown on your driver licence, answer every question, and upload the documents that prove your work rights, education and driving record. Once your application is complete, you are invited to the online assessments. If you have trouble submitting, contact the FRNSW recruitment team by email (the address is on the application page) before applications close.

After the exam

Candidates who pass every stage receive a letter of offer and join a recruit class at FRNSW's Emergency Services Academy. Training runs for 13 weeks and mixes practical and theory work in areas such as safety, gaining entry to buildings, structural firefighting, hazardous materials, operational training and rescue. Recruits are paid at the Recruit Firefighter rate while training. Accommodation is not provided during the course. On graduation, new firefighters are placed on a platoon at a fire station.

Preparation tips

• Start physical training early. FRNSW's Fire Fit Training Guide sets out a structured programme and strongly recommends at least 12 months of structured training before your PAT.

• Build general cardiovascular fitness, strength and endurance rather than only rehearsing individual PAT tasks, and use the guide's monthly check-in workouts to track progress.

• Practise online aptitude tests (cognitive, mechanical reasoning) beforehand so the format is familiar; FRNSW's test provider is Criteria Corp.

• Get your driving record and documents in order before the campaign opens, and plan for the Medium Rigid licence if you progress.