Take the drill

This is the first stage of the application process – it’s called ‘Take the drill’. It’s intended to help you understand whether this is the right career for you. If it does look like a good fit you can move onto stage 2. Please check eligibility requirements before completing.

Applications opening soon! Recruitment isn’t open just yet, but we encourage you to look around the website and learn more about working at the Brigade.

Please note, you can only ‘Take the drill’ once every 24 hours, it will take you approximately 15 minutes.

Begin

Firefighters don’t choose which emergencies they’ll face.

Fires. Floods. Serious road traffic collisions. Medical emergencies. Terrorism.

This experience offers an honest picture of the role, including challenges most people will never face.

We want everyone to feel welcome to apply, but you need to know what you’re saying yes to.

It looks like this might be a great career for you!

You’ve passed the drill, now you’re ready to take the next step in your application. Please copy and paste the below code into the MS form at the next stage as you need this to continue your journey.

Start your application

CONGRATULATIONS! You passed the drill.

Looks like firefighting could be for you but there are currently no vacancies available.

A driving licence is necessary for all firefighters.

You will have to obtain a full UK or EU driving licence, either manual or automatic. Once you have one, you are welcome to apply.

You can also learn more about getting your UK driving licence on the official GOV.UK website below.

Head to Visit GOV.UK’s driving licences page

PATIENCE IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ROLE.

Treating people fairly and adapting to their needs is essential.

Not everyone can be on the frontline.

It takes the whole Brigade to make rescues happen. Explore other roles below.

Other roles

Selection process

Our rigorous, nine-step selection process is designed to determine if it’s the right job for you. It can take between four and twelve months to complete.

Take the drill

You’ve started it. Look carefully through our site: read about training school, the eligibility criteria, skills and behaviours. Before progressing, you must complete Take the Drill, our online firefighter challenge.

Register & apply

After you’ve taken the drill, you’ll fill out a registration form with a unique code, which will be used to verify you. Following this, you’ll be sent a link to the full application, which must be completed within 7 days.

Please note:

Registration forms are limited per month
Do not share your unique code. Registration forms using the same code will be deleted.

Online tests

If you get to this stage, you’ll be asked to complete online tests. There will be a practice round for each.

Tests will include:

English
Mechanical comprehension

Operational readiness day

You’ll be invited to and sent instructions for an in-person assessment at a fire station. This is built to see how ready you are to be a firefighter – from your physical fitness to how your values align with our organisation. Progressing further is dependent on passing this stage.

Baseline fitness test

We’ll invite you to an in-person evaluation of your baseline aerobic fitness. Alongside a blood pressure test, you’ll be able to choose between Chester Treadmill test or a 1.5-mile run, both are timebound. This is a pass/fail stage that must be completed to progress.

Assessment Centre

At our assessment centre, you’ll complete a wide range of activities. These will include:

Interview
Group exercise
Written test
Observation test
Process mapping
Math test
English Verification

Work Related Fitness Test

The following tests will focus more on your physical aptitude for the job:

Resilience
Working From height
Dummy Drag
Dexterity test
Equipment Carry
Assimilated Ladder Lift
Confined space test

Medical checks

We want to be sure that you’re medically fit to be a firefighter, so you’ll be examined by Optima Health. As firefighters can experience potentially traumatising incidents, you’ll be screened for mental health conditions. Your GP will also need to sign you off.

Preemployment checks

You’ll be asked to provide:

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
3-year history including proof of study, travel and unemployment
If you’re self-employed, approximately 5 references will be requested
No personal references are allowed (unless you have worked in a family business)

Offer

If employment checks go smoothly you will be sent a conditional offer.

The Level 3 Operational Firefighter Apprenticeship, totalling 15 weeks, is yours to start.

After successful completion, you’ll have your pass out ceremony, move into a fire station, and continue training on-the-job.

Take the Drill

Firefighter sprays water through smoke-filled industrial corridor.

Firefighter
training school

Learn more about training

Your Eligibility

When applying, you must:

Be at least 17-and-a-half years old. There is no upper age limit.  
Be a UK or EU citizen, or a permanent UK resident with no work restrictions.

Have a full UK or EU driving licence, manual or automatic. (Visit the GOV.UK driving licence page).
Be free from unspent criminal convictions.

After joining, you must:

Get an LGV driving licence with 12 months of joining.
Be prepared to be clean shaven to safely wear breathing apparatus.

No specific qualifications are required.

If you do not have GCSE English and Maths at Grade C/4 (or equivalent), you’ll need to complete Functional Skills as part of your apprenticeship.

Behaviours and values:

We are looking for people who demonstrate behaviours that we value. You:

Put the public first.
Act professionally at all times.
Find the facts before acting.
Ask for help and seek feedback.
Challenge poor language, behaviour and performance.
Apply your training to incidents.
Show compassion.
Do the right thing when no one is looking.
Look for opportunities to learn and grow.

As part of a team, you:

Build trust and keep everyone safe.
Celebrate the achievements of others.

Values:

Service – We put the public first.
Integrity – We act with honesty.
Teamwork – We work together and include everyone.
Equity – We treat everyone fairly according to their needs.
Courage – We step up to the challenge.
Learning – We listen so that we can improve.

Career Progression

As a Trainee Apprentice Firefighter, you’ll start on a £36,302 salary. Once you’re a Competent Firefighter, it will go up to £46,234. Here’s what your career trajectory could look like at London Fire Brigade.