Firefighter Aptitude Test Canada: Free Practice Tests for Every Exam (FACT, CPS, OS, NFST, FireTEAM)
Every fire department in Canada screens candidates with a written aptitude test — but which test depends entirely on where you apply. This hub explains the five exam families used across the country, links you to a full free guide for each one, and lets you start practising right now with 15 free questions.
Not sure which test you need? Contact us and we can point you in the right direction.
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Reading, math, mechanical and judgment questions in the style of the Canadian firefighter exams, with instant scoring. No signup, no email wall — just press start.
The 5 Firefighter Aptitude Tests Used in Canada
Here’s a quick orientation to each exam family. Each summary links to a full guide with format details, free sample questions and section-by-section strategy.
FACT — Firefighter Aptitude and Character Test (OFAI)
Stage One of OFAI’s candidate testing, written at a proctored computer lab at FESTI in Mississauga. Per OFAI, it’s 110 multiple-choice questions in a single sitting of up to 3 hours: Reading (15), Mathematical Reasoning (15), Map Reading (10), Writing (10) and Personal Characteristics (60). Scoring weights 45% aptitude and 55% character, and the result is pass/fail only — no numeric score is released. The fee is $75 + HST, certificates are valid 24 months, and the retake wait is 15 days after a first fail (30 after subsequent ones). Toronto and Ottawa both require the OFAI Stage One certificate.
OFAI FACT test — full guide with free sample questions
CPS — Cooperative Personnel Services Test (FireOntario)
Administered in Ontario by Firefighter Services of Ontario (FireOntario). FSO names four content areas: understanding oral information, reading comprehension, mathematical ability and mechanical aptitude — multiple choice, no calculators or phones, with an official 70% pass mark. The $90 fee buys results valid for one year. According to CPS HR Consulting’s 2026 test catalog, every metric (Canadian) version of the entry-level exam is 100 questions with a 2-hour limit — FireOntario doesn’t publish the count itself. Candidates consistently report the listening passage is played once, with no replay, which is why audio practice matters here more than anywhere.
CPS firefighter test — full guide with free audio practice
FSO / “OS” Test (formerly Gledhill Shaw)
If a posting mentions the “OS test” or Gledhill Shaw, the live process today is run by Firefighter Services of Ontario. Gledhill Shaw no longer has any web presence; FSO’s written exam is the CPS aptitude test above, with the same official 70% pass mark. What makes FSO different is the rest of the pipeline: it also administers the CPAT, clinical and medical assessments, acrophobia and tread-water tests, and an online ESR assessment — with a “Core Four” option that packs the big-ticket stages into one testing day. Fees for the full sequence add up fast, so knowing the order matters.
FSO firefighter test (formerly Gledhill Shaw) — fees, stages and prep guide
NFST — National Fire Select Test (FPSI)
Published by FPSI — the same company behind the FACT — and used by Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency, while Vancouver uses the NFST-CFT variant that adds technical questions from IFSTA’s Essentials of Fire Fighting. Officially it has two parts: a general aptitude test (reading, mathematical reasoning, map reading, writing, human relations and reasoning skills) and a personality inventory, weighted 45% cognitive / 55% human relations and personality. FPSI doesn’t publish the total question count or time limit — it’s announced on test day. Don’t confuse it with Stanard & Associates’ similarly named US-only test.
NFST firefighter test — full guide including the Vancouver NFST-CFT
FireTEAM — National Testing Network (ErgoMetrics)
The video-based exam used by departments that test through the National Testing Network — in Canada, most notably Calgary Fire ($65 USD, virtually proctored, applications open June 1–30 annually). Four sections: a video human-relations section built around recurring characters, an animated mechanical-reasoning section, video-presented mental math (no calculator or scratch paper) and fill-in-the-blank reading. The full sitting runs about 2.5 hours. There is no universal pass mark — each department sets its own cut scores — and per NTN’s FAQ, scores are valid 12 months with a 3-month wait to retest (retesting deletes prior scores).
FireTEAM test (NTN) — video format explained, with practice scenarios
Wondering which specific departments use which exam? See our department-by-department test directory, verified as of July 2026.
Firefighter Written Test Ontario: Which Exam Will You Face?
The firefighter aptitude test in Ontario is almost always one of two written exams, and they are not interchangeable:
OFAI FACT route. Toronto and Ottawa require an OFAI Stage One certificate, and many other municipalities accept or require OFAI certification. You book directly through ofai.ca and test at FESTI in Mississauga. Start with our OFAI FACT test guide.
FSO / FireOntario route. Dozens of Ontario departments recruit through Firefighter Services of Ontario, whose written exam is the CPS aptitude test with its official 70% pass mark. Start with our CPS firefighter test guide.
A certificate from one stream doesn’t transfer to the other, so always confirm the requirement in the job posting before you pay a testing fee — or look your department up in our department-by-department test directory.
How to Prepare for Any Firefighter Aptitude Test
The five exams differ in format, but the preparation fundamentals are the same. Your application fee, your certificate window and months of waiting all ride on one sitting — so train the way you’ll be tested:
- Identify your exam first. Studying map reading for a test that doesn’t include it wastes the weeks you need for the sections that do. Confirm the test in the posting, then follow the matching guide above.
- Practise under real constraints. No calculator on any of these exams — do timed math drills in metric units, on paper or mentally, until the pace feels normal.
- Don’t skip the character and judgment sections. On the FACT, Personal Characteristics is 60 of 110 questions and 55% of the result; the NFST weights human relations and personality at 55% too. These sections decide outcomes more often than the math does.
- Train single-pass listening for the CPS. Candidates consistently report the oral passage plays once with no replay. Reading transcripts doesn’t build that skill — practise with audio you’re only allowed to hear one time.
- Drill your weak areas, not your comfort zone. Take a scored practice test, find your lowest section, and put most of your study time there. Retake rules (15–30 day waits at OFAI, 3 months at NTN) mean one weak section can cost you an entire recruitment cycle.
Practice for All 5 Canadian Firefighter Tests in One Place
Our firefighter test prep bundle: 1,200+ practice questions written for the Canadian exams — with worked explanations for every answer, single-play audio listening practice for the CPS oral section, and a full exam simulation. $97 CAD, one payment, 365 days of access — not a 7-day clock in US dollars.
Firefighter Aptitude Test FAQ
Which firefighter aptitude test does my department use?
It depends on the department. Toronto and Ottawa require the OFAI FACT (Stage One certificate); many other Ontario departments test through Firefighter Services of Ontario using the CPS exam; Calgary tests through the National Testing Network (FireTEAM); Halifax uses FPSI’s online firefighter test, and Vancouver uses the NFST-CFT. Always confirm in the job posting, or check our department-by-department test directory, verified as of July 2026.
Are there free firefighter practice tests?
Yes. This page includes a free 15-question practice quiz with instant scoring and no email required (it also lives on its own page as a free firefighter aptitude practice test), and each of our five test guides (FACT, CPS, FSO, NFST, FireTEAM) includes free sample questions with worked explanations for that specific exam.
What score do I need to pass a firefighter aptitude test?
It varies by exam. Firefighter Services of Ontario publishes an official 70% pass mark for its CPS aptitude exam. The OFAI FACT is pass/fail only — OFAI releases no numeric score and publishes no cutoff, so any “70% to pass” claim you see for the FACT is unofficial. FireTEAM has no universal pass mark; each department sets its own cut scores. FPSI doesn’t publish a pass mark for the NFST.
How much do the firefighter tests cost?
As of July 2026, per the official testing bodies: the OFAI FACT is $75 + HST with a certificate valid 24 months; the FSO/FireOntario CPS aptitude exam is $90 with results valid one year (with further FSO stages such as CPAT and medical assessments billed separately); and Calgary’s NTN FireTEAM sitting is $65 USD. Fees change — always confirm on the official site before booking.
Can I retake a firefighter aptitude test if I fail?
Yes, but waiting periods apply and you pay the fee again. OFAI requires a 15-day wait after a first FACT fail and 30 days after subsequent attempts. Per NTN’s FAQ, FireTEAM retesting requires a 3-month wait and deletes your prior scores. Those waits can push you past a recruitment deadline — which is exactly why practising before your first attempt matters.
FACT and NFST are trademarks of FPSI; FireTEAM and National Testing Network are trademarks of ErgoMetrics/NTN. firerecruitment.ca is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any test publisher, OFAI, NTN, FSO/FireOntario, CPS HR Consulting, or any fire department. Our practice materials simulate the format and skills tested; they are not actual exam questions. Format details verified July 2026 against official sources where available; specifications marked “reported” come from third-party prep providers and are not publisher-confirmed. No pass mark is published for the FACT or NFST; we make no pass-rate or hiring guarantees.