The Recruitment Process

The following stages outline the key steps involved in applying for the role of Wholetime Firefighter with Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service. This guide is designed to help you understand what will be required and how you will be assessed:

• Online Application
• Recruitment Day
• Job Related Tests
• Confidence in Water
• Assessment Centre
• Medical/fitness
• Pre appointment checks

Stage 1 – Online Application

The first step in the recruitment process is completing an Online Application. You’ll need access to a laptop or suitable device to complete this stage.

What You’ll Need to Submit

To ensure your application is considered, please upload all required documents. Incomplete applications will not progress to the next stage.

Required documents include:

• Valid UK passport or UK birth certificate
• Full UK manual driving licence
• GCSE results in English and Maths (grades A*-C / 9-4) or equivalent qualifications

If you are not a British citizen, you must provide valid Right to Work documentation confirming your Indefinite Leave to Remain status.

You will also need your National Insurance number.

Please note:
Failure to provide all required documentation will result in your application not progressing to the next stage.

If you experience any issues uploading your documents, please contact FireHRRecruitment@northants.police.uk and include your application number in the email.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be 18 years old or older at the start of training
• Hold a full, valid manual UK driving licence
• Have the right to live and work in the UK without restrictions
• Be able to pass an enhanced DBS check (including barred lists)
• Hold GCSEs (or equivalent qualifications) in English and Maths at grades A-C (9-4), or be a competent Firefighter.

Local Prioritisation Statement

All candidates must meet the essential criteria. Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds available places, we will prioritise invitations in the following order:

1. Applicants living within Northamptonshire. In line with the Armed Forces Covenant, members of the armed forces community will be prioritised within this category.
2. Applicants from neighbouring or surrounding areas
3. Applicants from across the wider UK

The prioritisation criteria outlined above are subject to organisational discretion. We reserve the right to define, amend, or apply boundaries as necessary to ensure fair and effective allocation of available places.

Tattoos: All tattoos must align to our Service Core Values and the Equality Act 2010.  They must not be offensive in nature including, but not limited to, any sexist, homophobic, racist or violent references. Where necessary, tattoos will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Important Notes

• The system will communicate with you using the email address you provide during registration. Please ensure it is accurate, as incorrect details will prevent you from receiving important updates.
• You will only be able to register once during this recruitment campaign. Make sure all information is correct before submitting, as changes cannot be made afterwards.
• If you do not complete the Online Application, you will not be able to access the remaining stages of the recruitment process.

 

Stage 2 – Recruitment Day

If your online application is successful, you will be invited to attend a Recruitment Day during the week commencing 3rd November 2025. This stage includes a series of assessments designed to evaluate your suitability for the role of Wholetime Firefighter.

This includes:

• Multistage Fitness Test
• Group Exercise
• Written Assessment

Multi-stage Fitness Test

This test measures your aerobic fitness, which is essential for safe and effective firefighting. You’ll run back and forth along a 20-metre track in time with a series of beeps that increase in speed.

• Required standard: Level 8, Shuttle 8
• This is equivalent to an aerobic capacity of 42.3 ml O₂/kg/min
• You can find practice versions of this test on YouTube, Spotify, and the App Store

This test helps us assess your ability to sustain physical activity over time, a critical factor in operational safety and endurance.

If you progress to the medical stage, you will also undertake the Chester Step Test, which further evaluates your cardiovascular fitness.

Group Exercise

You’ll take part in a group activity assessed against the NFCC Leadership Framework. This exercise focuses on behaviours such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.

Written Assessment

This assessment looks at key skills needed in the fire service, including working with numbers, understanding written information, showing awareness of different situations, and recognising the importance of equality, diversity, and inclusion. Tasks are based on everyday examples and aim to reflect real-life challenges.

 

Stage 3 – Job Related Fitness Tests

The Job-Related Tests will take place week commencing week 1^st December 2025

They will consist of the National Firefighter Selection practical tests which include:

• Equipment carry
• Confined space exercise
• Casualty evacuation exercise
• Ladder climb
• Ladder lift (simulated)
• Equipment assembly

The components of the Physical and Practical Assessment are:

 Enclosed Space Test

You will need to combine confidence, agility and flexibility while negotiating a crawl way to pass the test successfully. There is only one way through the crawl way, forward, right, left, up or down and there are no doors to open. You will start the test wearing a face mask which allows clear vision. However, on completion of the test, your mask will be obscured, and you will be required to return along the same route. You should be able to complete these tests without jeopardising your safety and well-being within a specified timeframe.

Equipment Assembly Test

This test is designed to assess manual dexterity.  You will need to assemble and then disassemble a piece of equipment. Before you commence the test, an instructor will demonstrate the correct assembly of the equipment. You will also have a diagram illustrating correct assembly.  This test is to be completed within a specified timeframe.

Equipment Carry Test

You will be required to carry standard firefighting equipment over a set 25 metre course for a total distance of 550 metres. You will need to combine aerobic endurance, upper and lower body strength and muscular endurance.     This test is to be completed within a specified timeframe.

Ladder Climb

You will be shown how to climb the ladder and how to apply a ‘leg lock’. You will then be allowed to practice the leg lock. You will climb the ladder to the specified height.  At that point, you will use the leg lock to secure yourself to the ladder, remove your hands from the ladder and lean back, looking over your shoulder to identify an object which is being held by the instructor at ground level. When you have identified the object, you will be told to put your hands back on the ladder and release the leg lock. You will then be instructed to descend the ladder.  You will need to show confidence and apply the correct technique to climb the ladder.

Ladder Lift Simulator Test

You will need to combine upper and lower body strength and co-ordination to lift a ladder over your head to the required height and lower it safely and under control. The approximate weight of the ladder is 26-30kg.

Casualty Evacuation Test

You will be required to drag a 55kg mannequin/dummy simulating a casualty evacuation for a distance of 30 metres. This test is to be completed within a specified timeframe.

 

Ladder Extension Fitness Test

You will carry out a test that simulates extending a standard 13.5 metre Fire and Rescue Service ladder from the first to the second floor of a building. This will be performed by pulling down on a rope. To complete this test successfully, you will need to combine upper body strength, grip strength and co-ordination. This test is to be completed within a specified timeframe.

 

Stage 4 – Confidence in Water

As part of the recruitment process, candidates will be required to complete a Confidence in Water assessment after the job-related tests. This assessment is designed to ensure candidates are comfortable working in or around water environments. It involves:

• Swimming a minimum of 50 metres without assistance.
• Demonstrating basic water safety skills and confidence in the water.

This assessment helps us ensure all team members can operate safely and effectively in roles that may involve water-based activities.

 Stage 5 – Assessment Centre

If you are successful in the earlier stages, you will be invited to attend an Assessment centre during the week commencing 19th January 2026.

What to Expect

Panel Interview

You will take part in a structured interview with a panel who will assess your suitability for the role based on your values, behaviours, and experiences.

Safe and Well Exercise

This will form part of the assessment and is designed to evaluate your ability to analyse information, communicate effectively, and make sound decisions.

Stage 6 – Medical/Fitness

Firefighters may be exposed to extreme physical and psychological demands in hostile and dangerous environments. In order to comply with relevant statutory provisions, the medical screening for Firefighters is rigorous. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Fire and Rescue Service must reduce risk so far as is reasonably practicable. This means a medical condition giving rise to reasonably foreseeable occupational risk would not be acceptable.

Medical suitability is determined by an individual assessment. For practical reasons, this cannot be undertaken until the later stages of the recruitment process. The nature and effect of medical conditions may vary. It is therefore not possible to confirm medical conditions that would be unacceptable prior to an individual medical assessment. However, if you have a medical condition or a history of a medical condition which might present problems, the following general guidance should help you consider your medical suitability before applying.

A medical condition or functional limitation which, despite any reasonable adjustments, gives rise to significantly increased occupational risk of the following is unacceptable:

• Sudden collapse or sudden incapacitation
• Impaired judgement
• Altered awareness
• Substantial physical or psychological injury/ill health
• Any other effect which would pose a substantial health and safety risk to yourself and othe

The individual assessment will involve due consideration of any opinions or medical reports you may wish to submit. However, the decision on the significance of any risks identified will rest with the Fire and Rescue Service.

A fitness assessment will be carried out to determine aerobic fitness.  The minimum requirement for candidates to pass at recruitment is 42.3 mls/O2/kg/min

Please note that the medical involves both drug and alcohol tests.

Appointment

The earliest possible start date for successful candidates will be May 2026.

If you successfully complete all stages of the recruitment process, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service will contact you regarding an offer of employment. Offers will be made based on the number of current and anticipated vacancies. All offers are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced DBS checks. If any reference or DBS check is deemed unsatisfactory, the offer of employment will be withdrawn.

Initial Training

Successful candidates will be required to attend an 8-week residential training course (Monday to Friday) at the Fire Service College in Gloucestershire. This course is designed to equip you with the essential skills and knowledge needed to begin your career as a firefighter.