The Firefighter Test 2024: How to Become a Firefighter

A List of Firefighter Tests Available for Practicing in 2024

• Idaho Firefighter Test
• Illinois Firefighter Test
• EB Jacobs Fire Service Aptitude (FSAB)
• McCann Firefighter Test
• Morris & McDaniel Firefighter Test
• Louisiana Firefighter Test
• MA Firefighter Exam
• New Jersey Firefighter Exam
• California Firefighter Test
• Los Angeles Firefighter Test
• Ohio Firefighter Test
• Oklahoma Firefighter Exam
• Texas Firefighter Exam
• Virginia Firefighter Exam
• Washington Firefighter Test
• North Carolina Firefighter Test
• New york Firefighter Test
• Canadian Firefighter Exam

Are you looking to join the fire service?

If so, to become a firefighter, you will have to undertake a thorough application process.

After all, it is a high-energy position that requires a lot of attention to detail.

Within the interview process, you might be asked to complete a psychometric test so the hiring manager can see whether you are appropriate for the role.

This saves time for the hiring organization to ensure they can filter out applicants that might not work.

If you have not taken a psychometric test before, this article will cover National Firefighter Ability tests and the firefighter physical test.

Why Are Firefighter Tests Not Standardized?

The journey to becoming a firefighter is lengthy and varies between departments and states.

Most departments require a written test, as well as physical and medical **examinations. However, the written test is not standardized, making it a challenge to prepare for.

The fire departments in some states, such as California, have created a more standardized test. They can do this because their interests and budgets are all similar.

In larger states with smaller, more isolated communities, each fire department deals more with certain types of emergencies than others. It is therefore not possible for a standardized test to be created.

States like California will be more focused on wildfire threats, while New York’s priority is coping with fires in densely populated cities.

Luckily, there are some similarities between the tests and general preparation tips you can follow.

What Can I Expect On The Firefighter Personality Test?

On most firefighter exams, you can expect to find some or all of the following:

• Mathematics – High school level, focusing on geometry and algebra
• Reading and oral comprehension – Texts and questions measuring how you interpret information
• Spatial reasoning – Measures your ability to visualize and navigate maps and floorplans
• Memory – Maps, diagrams or texts that you have a short time to memorize and questions that follow
• Mechanical aptitude – Understanding of tools and simple machines
• Written expression – Grammar, punctuation and spelling
• Reasoning – How you respond to work-related scenarios

It is multiple-choice and can last anywhere from two hours to a full day.

In addition to the written test, you will also need to complete a physical exam. This will include:

• Running up flights of stairs
• Dragging a hose
• Carrying equipment
• Raising and extending a ladder
• Forcible entry
• Search and rescue
• Ceiling breach and pull

Being a firefighter is an exceptionally physically demanding job.

In addition, your team and the people you may have to rescue depend on you to be at your physical best.

Firefighter State and County Tests

While it is not possible to give a detailed description of what every fire department puts on its test, it is possible to detail the bigger states and general guidelines.

From the following state and county tests, you will see that there are common competencies in each one.

This will help you better prepare for your firefighter test in your state in 2024.

McCann Firefighter Test

One of the tests you may be faced with is the McCann firefighter test. This computer-based exam consists of 100 questions and has a two-hour time limit.

The test areas include:

• Verbal Reasoning
• Mathematics – Areas tested are percentages, decimals, fractions, formulas, basic sums, algebra
• Information ordering – Place parts of a statement or procedure in the correct order
• Situational judgement – Assessment of your behaviors and how you are likely to react to firefighter scenarios
• Reading comprehension – Recall information from a text and draw conclusions
• Deductive reasoning – How you apply a rule to a situation or circumstance
• Inductive reasoning – Find the connection between people, objects, or events
• Mechanical understanding – How well you understand equipment and tools

Morris and McDaniel Firefighter Test

Morris and McDaniel Inc. have developed a series of firefighter and police tests known as S.H.I.E.L.D.

For firefighters, there are four tests altogether – Reading Test for Fire, Candidate Self Report for Fire, Entry-Level Fire Test and Structured Oral Presentation.

For states and departments that use Morris and McDaniel, you will sit the Entry-Level Fire Test during your recruitment.

Your recruitment officer will notify you if you need to take any of the other tests. But be mindful that you may sit them later on in your recruitment or during your training.

The assessment areas on the Morris and McDaniel firefighter test are:

• Memorization
• Numerical skills
• Spatial aptitude
• Reading comprehension
• Mechanical skills

EB Jacobs Firefighter Test

Some of the cities you can expect to find this exam are:

• Buffalo
• Omaha
• Rockville
• Saint Charles
• Saint Croix Falls
• Takoma Park
• Washington

The EB Jacobs Firefighter Test is far more comprehensive than others and is often referred to as FSAB (Fire Service Assessment Battery).

It consists of three sections:

1. The Ability Test – 75-80 questions that measure written comprehension and expression, deductive and inductive reasoning, problem sensitivity and information ordering.

2. Work Style Questionnaire – Traditional personality test with 200 questions measuring if your behaviors and values match that of the fire department you are applying to.

3. Life Experience Survey – A 45-minute survey exploring your work history. A question might be, ‘How many days have you taken off because you didn’t feel like working?’

It is important to remember that if you are dishonest during your firefighter personality test, you will be disqualified from the recruitment process.

Massachusetts (MA) Firefighter Exam 2024

The MA Firefighter exam uses the FSAB test, meaning you will sit the:

• Ability Test
• Work Style Questionnaire
• Life Experience Survey

For those living in Boston, the Boston Fire Department Test is the same, except their focus is on hiring the best person for the job that reflects the city’s diversity.

It is recommended that you give yourself five hours to complete the assessment battery.

Louisiana Firefighter Civil Service Test

The Louisiana Firefighter Civil Service Test consists of 100 questions, and you have two hours and ten minutes to complete it.

There are two sections.

The first is oral directions, which measures your ability to follow instructions and structure.

The second is a written exam assessing eight different competencies:

1. Lecture notes – You will take notes on a lecture and use them to answer questions later on in the exam. Make sure your notes are detailed and accurate.
2. Learn and memorize – You will have seven minutes to memorize symbols, pictures or codes. After, you will need to answer questions about what you saw.
3. Reading – For this competency, you will answer questions that need some analysis or conclusion based on the material provided.
4. Problem-solving – You will need to select the best option or top priority for a series of firefighter-related situations.
5. Human relations – How well you resolve problems
6. Mathematics – High school level calculations
7. Mechanical aptitude – How well you understand the equipment, tools, machinery and basic building constructions
8. Spatial reasoning – Identifying the shortest routes to locations, finding locations and identifying your location in relation to buildings and objects.

The minimum pass score is 75.

California Firefighting Exams

The California Firefighting Exams differ slightly between districts.

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) uses a five-part test called the Firefighter Candidate Assessment (FCA). The first three sections ask questions based on videos you have watched.

The fourth is a mixture of reading, reasoning and mathematics. The fifth is an employment history survey, similar to the Life Experience Survey in the EB Jacobs test.

The exams for Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco all test for:

• Mechanical reasoning
• Mathematics
• Reading
• Spatial reasoning
• Human relation
• Written and verbal comprehension

Los Angeles County Firefighter Test

The LA County Firefighter Exam takes a full day to complete and, on some occasions, may fall over two days.

The LA County Fire Department (LACoFD) is the 6th busiest department in the country and employs more than 4,500 firefighters, so their recruitment process is thorough.

You will need to complete:

Work Orientation Personality Test

It will assess how trustworthy you are, how well you work under pressure, if you work well in a team and if you can handle stress.

Mechanical Comprehension

For example, if you can set up a ladder to make it stable and if you can operate the levers you will need to use in real-life emergencies.

Report Interpretation

How well you read and understand information regardless of whether it is written or in graphs, bars or charts.

Reading Comprehension

How well you can read and understand LACoFD procedures and equipment maintenance.

Language Skills

As a member of the community, you are expected to be well-educated and use the correct vocabulary for the role.

Mathematics

This will include simple sums focused on firefighter problems, such as assessing how much water is left in the tank and which size ladder to use.

Firefighter Test - A Physical Ability Test

To embark on the journey to become a firefighter, you must be in good physical health before you undertake the job because it is a very physical job.

Therefore, there is a physical section of the testing process, this is known as PAT (Physical Ability Test).

The PAT consists of several tasks designed to test the physical abilities required to be an effective firefighter.

Each task you will receive will represent real-world situations to give you an idea of the type of moments you will encounter on the job.

The tasks do not require training and will be based on an individual’s physical ability.

The selection process for firefighters is extremely competitive; therefore, do your research before you take the examination for preparation.

What Are the Components of the Physical Ability Test?

For the PAT you will partake in eight work-related situations that are timed.

They are the following:

• Charged hose line drag simulation
• Charged hose line reel simulation
• Ladder heel (raise)
• Forcible entry simulation
• Equipment carry simulation
• Stair climb with equipment
• Dummy drag
• Ceiling breach and pull (overhaul) simulation

All eight parts of the Physical Ability Test will be timed in a series.

The test has a cut-off score and failure to complete the course, and if you do not complete the course in the allotted time you will be disqualified.

As it is a physical exam, you will be required to wear appropriate footwear. You will be provided with safety wear on the day of the test.

Now that you understand the type of questions you are likely to find on your firefighter exam, you can begin to prepare.

Below are 10 ways you can get ready for your recruitment process and improve your test score.

If you are looking for assistance on how to best prepare for the test for firefighters, there is a lot of content available to guide you, including practice questions and information booklets.

Passing this test is a big part of the application process, and sadly, if you do not pass you will not go to the next stage.

As there are different Firefighter exams, each has different requirements to pass. Here are some ways in which you can prepare for the test:

Final Thoughts

Being a firefighter is a wonderful job. It requires a lot of bravery and dedication, and only a select few have the willpower to do it.

The firefighter test is your first obstacle in the recruitment process, and the fact that there is no standardized exam can make it that much more stressful.

Before submitting your application, start preparing by:

• Gathering as much information as you can
• Identify your strong and weak areas
• Work through practice papers
• Believe in yourself and know that you can pass the tests.