In an emergency always call 999

The firefighter recruitment process

White male Firefighter climbing ladder in full kit

The wholetime firefighter recruitment process is a structured, multi-stage journey designed to be fair, consistent and accessible for everyone. From initial registration through to final assessment, each stage helps us understand your strengths, potential and suitability for the role. It also gives you the chance to learn more about what it’s like working for Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) as a wholetime firefighter. This process can take between four and eight months.

We understand that the recruitment process may seem daunting, but we’ll be with you every step of the way.

When recruitment opens, you will begin by registering your interest and completing a series of online sifting stages. These stages are straightforward and designed to help us manage high volumes of applications efficiently while ensuring every candidate is assessed fairly and consistently. You will receive clear instructions at each step, along with information on how to access support if you need it.

All online stages can be completed using a computer, laptop or tablet. Please note that they are not compatible with smartphones. If you do not have access to suitable IT equipment, you can contact our recruitment team at [email protected] for support.

Please check your email regularly, so you do not miss any updates or deadlines.

We wish you the best of luck in your application to become part of the next generation of wholetime firefighters at AF&RS.

Stage 1: Eligibility and registration

Once recruitment opens, you will be able to access the registration and eligibility screening stage. The registration form will take up to 15 minutes.

You must:

Update:

As of our wholetime firefighter recruitment campaign launching in August 2026, the requirement to reside in the Service area is no longer applicable.

All applicants must complete the online registration and eligibility screening stage to formally start your application. 

You will need to register your name, address, contact number, email address (please use the same email address throughout the process as all communication will be sent via email) and National Insurance Number.

As part of the registration, there will be an option to answer questions relating to equality and diversity. We encourage you to complete this accurately as it provides us with useful information on the diversity statistics for all applications received.

As part of this role, you will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check. This will identify any spent and unspent convictions and cautions, a review of any police intelligence and barred list. Please contact our HR Team if you have any questions: [email protected].

If you do not meet all the criteria, you are not eligible and will not be allowed to proceed with your application. The criteria are applied strictly and consistently: no exceptions will be made. Therefore, please do not contact us to query the criteria or seek to apply if you do not meet the basic eligibility requirements.

If it is found at a later stage that you do not meet the essential criteria, you will be automatically removed from the process.

Please contact our HR Team if you have any questions about the registration and eligibility screening stage: [email protected].

Stage 2: Online questionnaires

Behavioural Styles Questionnaire

If eligible, you will receive an email with a link to the Behavioural Styles Questionnaire and confirmation of the closing date and time. Please regularly check your emails, including spam and junk folders, to make sure you don’t miss the strict deadline.

This is not a timed assessment and will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. If successful, you will receive an email to tell you that you’ve passed and invited to complete an online Situational Judgement Test. If you have failed, your application will not be considered further.

Download our Behavioural Styles Applicant Guide.

Situational Judgement Test

If you pass the Behavioural Styles Questionnaire you will receive an email link to the Situational Judgement Test. Again, please ensure you check your emails so you do not miss out on this opportunity.

This is not a timed assessment and will take you approximately 30 minutes to complete. If you have passed you will be progress to the online ability tests. If you have failed, your application will not be considered further.

Download our Situational Judgement Applicant Guide

Stage 3: Online ability tests

These consist of two tests that are designed to measure your ability to understand, interpret and logically evaluate numerical and written information.

All the online stages should be completed by yourself, alone and unassisted on a computer, laptop or tablet. They are not compatible with a smartphone. You should ensure that you have a stable internet connectionwhen accessing and completing all the online stages.

Checks may be undertaken at a later stage in the selection process to verify that you have completed these tests without assistance.

  • The numerical test comprises of 18 questions, and you will have 18 minutes to complete the test.
  • The verbal test comprises of 20 questions, and you will have 15 minutes to complete the test.
  • Time extensions will be given for candidates who inform us that they have dyslexia (checks will be made at a later stage of the process to validate this).
  • You can familiarise yourself with the ability tests by completing the practice tests below. These tests will not be recorded as part of your application.

Follow these links to access the practice tests:

Verbal practice tests and numerical practice tests.

Stage 4: Online application form

There are two sections to the application form.

First section

In this section, you will need to provide your contact details. It is important that the information you provide is accurate or it may affect your application.

Second section

This section of the form is about you. This is your opportunity to tell us about the skills and experience you would bring to the role; providing examples and evidence to demonstrate how you meet our Service values.

You can prepare for this section by making a start on your personal statement. Starting it now could help give you more time to capture information which could help with your application.

We encourage you to look through our website and YouTube channel to find out more about what the role of a firefighter encompasses and advice for your application. You can also sign up to our mailing list to be notified on any upcoming recruitment events where you’ll be able to meet and chat to our firefighters and staff.

It is best to present the information in a clear and logical format using headings and bullet points ensuring your skills, experience and evidence appear clearly against each of our Service values.

It’s important you support your statement with evidence and examples throughout. For instance, ‘I work well within a team’ will not help us to assess your skills unless you have provided specific examples of how you have worked well within a team in previous roles.

Stage 5: Shortlisting

If your application is successful, we will email you. Please check spam and junk folders regularly. 

We will be extremely busy during this stage of the process and ask that you do not contact us for updates. Due to the high number of applications we receive, we are unable to provide individual feedback.

Stage 6: Fitness and strength tests

For those that have been successfully shortlisted, you will be invited to demonstrate that they can meet the fitness and strength requirements of the role. You can book a date and time slot for the fitness and strength tests on our online booking system and details for this will be sent by our Recruitment Team.

The test will comprise of:

To find out how to prepare, visit practical physical tests.

If you pass the initial fitness test (a 1.5 mile run in timed conditions), you will then proceed to the strength tests (upper body strength tests).

If you score sufficiently, you will be invited to the next stage of the selection process – the practical physical tests.

Stage 7: Practical physical tests

For those that have passed the fitness and strength tests, you will be invited to attend the practical physical tests.

You will be able to book the date and either a morning or afternoon session using our online booking system. These tests will be conducted in small group sessions by our training team.

These tests will include:

Ladder climb
Ladder lift and extension
Crawl through a small tunnel wearing breathing apparatus
Dummy drag
Equipment carry
Equipment assembly test

These tests replicate the type of tasks you would be expected to undertake on the training school and within the role of a firefighter. They are designed to test practical ability and the ability to follow instructions. Some of the tests are conducted to set time constraints. To find out how to prepare, visit practical physical tests.

All tests must be passed to move forward to the next stage of the process. You will not be advised of the results on the day. The Recruitment Team will email you to advise if you have passed or failed these tests.

Stage 8: Interview

The interview lasts one hour and will comprise of six set questions which are the same for all candidates.  

Your interview will be conducted by a panel of two members of our staff. You will be able to book the date and time slot for your interview via our online booking system. The link to this will be sent to you by our Recruitment Team.

If you meet the set pass mark, we will advise you by email and you will progress to the next stage. We will not advise you of your interview score. This will be used at the end of the process to select the best performing candidates for the limited number of places available on the training course.

The interview panel will endeavour to help you relax and enable you to perform to the best of your ability. They will ask a range of questions to obtain as much information within the hour as possible.

This is your opportunity to provide further details, examples and evidence of your skills, experience and values and how these make you one of the best candidates for the role. You will also be expected to know about the role of a firefighter and AF&RS. It is recommended that you familiarise yourself with our website, attend recruitment events and learn all about the work we do. This will assist you at the interview stage.

Stage 9: Job offer decisions

The Recruitment Team will review how many people have passed all stages of the process.

We will also assess any criminal conviction declarations at the start of the process at this stage.

The top scoring candidates will be invited to attend a medical with our Occupational Health (OH) nurse. You must pass the medical. If there are any medical queries these will be escalated to our OH doctor. Their decision is final. If further medical advice is required to confirm your medical fitness for the role, this may prevent a job offer being made as we must confirm job offers quickly in order to complete the final stages of checks and uniform fittings in time for the training school start date.

If you are aware of a medical condition which may require further evidence, you must contact your GP/Specialist to obtain this as early as possible. Any delays at this stage could affect our ability to offer you a post.

All job offers are made on a conditional basis, subject to receipt of an Enhanced DBS and Barred List check, satisfactory references and other pre-employment checks.

Visit our FAQs page for answers to common questions around our recruitment process including those regarding health conditions and requirements.

Stage 10: Firefighter training

Following your job offer, you will be invited into a 13-14-week intensive firefighter training course. You will also be enrolled into a Level 3 Operational Firefighter Apprenticeship which will take around 24 months to complete.

You will find out more about the firefighter training course at job offer stage. Please be aware that we cannot accommodate any annual leave during training school for any reason due to the intense nature of the course.

Also in this section

Page last updated