BC has no provincial firefighter licence. Each fire department hires its own firefighters, and most expect you to arrive with training you paid for yourself.
JIBC FFTC trains to the NFPA Firefighter I and II standard and awards an 'NFPA 1010 Certificate' (IFSAC, Pro Board); NFPA 1010 is the standard VFRS lists as NFPA 1001. NFPA has merged 1001 into 1010; VFRS still writes 1001 (JIBC; VFRS).
CPAT at Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service: $350 + tax per attempt; pass/fail; pass valid 1 year; PAR-Q and medical certificate needed; refundable up to 3 days before, minus $50 (source). Abbotsford CPAT sessions listed: Nov 7 2026 and Jan 7 2027, $350; minimum 8 participants (source).
How it’s offered: Next start dates listed: Jan 11 2027, Mar 1 2027 and Apr 26 2027 (online then campus phases) (source)
Next sessions: JIBC Firefighting Technologies upcoming intakes: R61 online start November 30, 2026, on-campus start March 1, 2027; R62 online start January 18, 2027, on-campus start April 26, 2027 (source)
| Detail | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements · Education | Transcripts showing high school or GED completion (VFRS) | source |
| Requirements · Experience | Two years of accumulated work experience after completing high school (VFRS) | source |
| Requirements · Licence | Valid Class 3 (or higher) driver's licence with air brake endorsement, plus a driver's abstract dated no more than 45 days before the application closing date (VFRS) | source |
| Requirements · Medical | Valid BC EMALB licence: First Responder with schedule two endorsements, EMR, PCP or ACP (VFRS) | source |
| Requirements · Certification | NFPA 1001 Level I and II with IFSAC or Pro Board seals (VFRS) | source |
| Requirements · Timing | Applications without the Class 3 licence, EMALB licence or NFPA 1001 are accepted, but these must be obtained by the time of official job offer or time of hire, at the department's discretion (VFRS) | source |
| Who hires | Hired by each municipal fire department; no provincial licence | source |
| Hiring tests | VFRS uses its own Vancouver Physical Assessment Skills Test (VPAST), not CPAT | source |
| Hiring tests | VFRS written exam covers NFPA 1001 Level I and II content | source |
| Hiring tests | CPAT at Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service: $350 + tax per attempt; pass/fail; pass valid 1 year; PAR-Q and medical certificate needed; refundable up to 3 days before, minus $50 | source |
| Hiring tests | Abbotsford CPAT sessions listed: Nov 7 2026 and Jan 7 2027, $350; minimum 8 participants | source |
| Training | VFRS: 9-week recruit training, then 1-year probation | source |
| Where training happens | Department-specific | source |
| Cost to you | Applicant pays own NFPA 1001 pre-employment training (see providers) | source |
| Starting pay | Not published on an official VFRS page. See the VFRS posting or ask the department. | |
| How to apply | Official page | source |
| Name and city | Program / status | Cost | Notes | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justice Institute of British Columbia Maple Ridge | Fire Fighting Technologies (FFTC), NFPA 1010 Firefighter I/II IFSAC and Pro Board accredited | About $10,568 domestic 2026-27 plus fees source | Official page | |
| College of the Rockies Cranbrook | Fire Training Certificate Program Pro Board accredited NFPA 1001 I/II | $16,095.44 domestic 2026/27 source | Official page | |
| FireMedix Training Surrey | FireMedix Fire Academy Per provider; accreditation not verified | $9,850 + GST source | Official page |
Both names are in use. NFPA has merged 1001 into 1010, and JIBC now awards an NFPA 1010 certificate for Firefighter I and II. Vancouver Fire Rescue still writes NFPA 1001.
About 5 months (12 weeks online plus 7 weeks on campus), about $10,568 tuition for 2026-27 plus fees. 2027 starts listed: January 11, March 1 and April 26.
Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service runs CPAT for $350 plus tax per attempt; a pass is valid for 1 year. Vancouver does not use CPAT.
No provincial licence. Each department sets its own requirements. Vancouver Fire Rescue (VFRS) requires NFPA 1001 Firefighter I and II with IFSAC or ProBoard seals by the time of offer.
Grade 12 or GED, 2 years of work experience, a BC Class 3 or higher licence with air brakes, and a valid EMR licence.
No. VFRS uses its own Vancouver Physical Assessment Skills Test (VPAST).
You pay it yourself. Published examples: JIBC about $10,568 (2026-27, plus fees), College of the Rockies $16,095.44 (2026/27), and FireMedix $9,850 plus GST.
We could not find the starting salary on an official VFRS page. Check the current VFRS posting or ask the department.
This page relies on the official pages below. Rules, fees and processes change, so check the authority before you apply or spend money.
Links checked November 1, 2026. Found an error or a broken link? Report it.