Benefits of a Pre Service Firefighter Program Ontario

A pre-service firefighter program is designed to provide students with basic knowledge and skills in

• Fire suppression
• Rescue operations
• Environmental protection
• Emergency patient care
• Fire prevention
• Community education
• Special rescue operations

Individuals considering building a career in firefighting may enrol in this program before taking up a more advanced course at college or university. This helps them

• Explore various career paths in firefighting
• Meet knowledge and skills outcome required by the OFM (Ontario Office of the Fire Marshall) curriculum in diverse firefighting areas
• Obtain practical and live training at the Toronto Fire Academy and other fire services training facilities
• Meet minimum legal, safety and ethical requirements to pursue a career in firefighting
• Learn to use fire equipment, apparatus and tools
• Develop basic employment skills

They also come to know about

• The level of commitment that the job of a firefighter requires
• The level of physical fitness firefighters need to actively and quickly perform their job
• The level of emotional stability the professionals need to deal with devastating situations
• How quickly they need to act in emergency situations to confine environmental hazards
• How challenging and demanding the job of a firefighter is

The one-year program gives students an in-depth understanding of basic fire science and job duties of firefighters, so that they can choose the right career path for themselves. It combines in-class learning, simulation training under the guidance of qualified instructors, and group-teaching scenarios.

Enrolling in a Firefighter Program

Not only the job of a firefighter is challenging, but enrolling in a course is equally tough. In order to apply for a pre-service firefighter course, you will need:

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma
• English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent
• Mathematics Grade 11 M or 12 C or University or equivalent
• One Science Grade 11 or 12 (Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Exercise Science)
• To complete a self-identifying questionnaire

After admission, you will need to submit:

• Clear police check with vulnerable sector screening
• Clear medical report
• Proof of immunization
• Complete CPR and First Aid Training
• Class DZ driving licence

In addition, you should also have 20/30 vision in each eye without corrective lenses and normal unaided hearing.

Choosing the Right College

A number of colleges in Ontario offer pre-service firefighter courses. However, before applying with a college, make sure that the program

• Curriculum is approved by the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC) and the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshall (OFM)
• Provides field placement
• Includes real-life work experience
• Teaches you to communicate effectively using verbal, non-verbal, written and electronic methods
• Incorporate practical and live fire training
• Makes you eligible to write the Ontario Fire Marshall Provincial Testing
• Is taught in partnership with Toronto Fire Services

Centennial College's one year pre-service firefighting education and training program fulfills all these criteria and provides extensive real-life training to students, allowing them apply principles, practices and procedures of fire science into practice.