While being a firefighter/paramedic is exciting, this is also a dangerous job. Strathcona County has a rigorous recruitment process to ensure successful candidates can perform the physical and mental requirements of the job. If you are a problem solver and team player who wants to help those in need, we encourage you to start the application process.
The firefighter/paramedic recruitment period is March 1 to 31, 2026.
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Before you submit your firefighter application, familiarize yourself with the job tasks and the different steps in the selection process. You will be assessed on numerous skills throughout the process. Travel may be required to complete various recruitment testing events.
As part of this role, be prepared to:
Job fit is one of many factors in hiring decisions. Successfully completing all steps in the recruitment process does not ensure a job offer. This process is subject to change as per operational requirements.
You must already meet ONE of the following minimum qualifications when you submit your application.
If you are a paramedic outside of Alberta, visit the Alberta College of Paramedics to learn about how to register in Alberta. The registration process is straightforward and may only take a couple of months to complete. Applicants who received education in Ontario will be required to successfully complete the COPR exams OR provide validation of employment within the Base Hospital system. Visit the Canadian Organization of Paramedic Regulators (COPR) website to see a list of exam dates.
Additional requirements:
Preferred qualifications (not mandatory):
Resumes are only accepted during an open recruitment period. Recruitment for 2026 is March 1 to 31.
Applications are only accepted during the open recruitment period for the current year. The firefighter/paramedic recruitment period is March 1–31, 2026.
Applications are reviewed and considered based on an applicant’s education, qualifications, training and work experience. Applications will only receive further consideration if minimum qualifications have been met.
Supporting documentation is not required at the time of application unless otherwise specified. However, shortlisted applicants will be asked to produce documents in a very limited timeframe. We encourage you to begin acquiring these documents right away. It is your responsibility to understand the qualifications and accepted types of supporting documentation before you apply.
Your documentation must include legible copies (or possibly originals) of official credentials. If you are found to have falsified or intentionally misrepresented your credentials, you will not be allowed to proceed, and future applications will not be accepted from you.
Required documents include:
You will need to maintain qualifications throughout the application process. Recertification or further validation of credentials may be requested.
We will review your application and notify you if you are moving to the next step. Candidates who do not meet the requirements will not advance to the next step and will not be notified.
As part of the recruitment process, applicants must pass the University of Alberta’s Firefighter Physical Fitness test. This test measures minimal physical fitness levels and the ability to perform essential tasks during emergency scenes. The test is administered by the University of Alberta's Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation.
We will accept any successful result from the University of Alberta conducted after January 1, 2026. Visit University of Alberta Firefighter Fitness Testing for a list of test dates.
The candidate is responsible for paying the cost of the fitness test, which is $399 + GST. Payment must be made in full when booking your appointment online. If you are hired, you can submit your receipt for the cost of the exam for reimbursement.
Any candidate selected to move through our recruitment process who has not completed the fitness test will be required to complete it in May 2026.
If selected to continue in the recruitment process, applicants will be invited to write a two-hour, in-person knowledge test. The test will measure a variety of areas, including:
This test is completed in-person in Strathcona County. You will be provided with the test location and time when scheduled. The test is multiple choice and you are allotted two hours to complete it. Out-of-town or supervised exams are not available.
The aptitude/knowledge test will be done the same day as the medical knowledge testing and interviews (see below). Applicants will advance to the next stage of the recruitment process if they pass the minimum accepted threshold. There will be no re-writes in case of failed tests.
Applicants will be asked to complete a medical knowledge test, as well as a medical scenario based on their ACP or PCP status. Medical knowledge testing is designed to evaluate the applicant’s knowledge and skills to provide pre-hospital care to the sick and injured.
This is an in-depth written exam coupled with a circuit of 5- to 10-minute stations. At each station, candidates will speak with a different examiner one-on-one to provide clinical assessments and review the potential differential diagnosis and possible treatments.
The medical skill test is based on an OSCE-type skill station.
This will be very challenging and is not pass-fail, but it shows us how you approach calls, manage stress, and diagnose relative to your ACP registration level scope of practice. The test is made up of the following components:
Please note that the medical knowledge test is done on the same day as the aptitude/knowledge test.
During the in-person interview, you will meet with a panel of representatives from the department and HR. The panel will ask competency- and behaviour-based questions that evaluate your:
Reference checks will be completed following a successful panel interview. A reference check does not necessarily indicate advancement to the next step. Only candidates who meet the requirements will advance to the next step. You will be advised if you are or are not advancing.
All information in your application file will be reviewed to determine your suitability for hire. After a decision is made, you will be notified if you have or have not been selected to move on to the next step.
When a fully qualified candidate is chosen, we provide a conditional letter of offer to be reviewed and signed. Note that a criminal records check (vulnerable sector) is required once the offer is accepted. This is a condition of employment.
Candidates who accept the conditional offer will be scheduled for the Pre-Placement Medical as per NFPA standards. This includes the medical (fit for duty), drug and alcohol clearance, and a mask fit test (which requires candidates to be clean shaven).
The job is both physically and emotionally demanding, so candidates must be in excellent physical condition and in good health. Emergency Services follow the pre-placement NFPA medical guidelines and are strict about tobacco use, as this is a Category A medical condition.
There is no grade or mark to this examination. A candidate is either “fit for duty” or “not fit for duty” and is so informed. A candidate that is “fit for duty” will proceed in the recruitment process.
The recruitment process takes approximately six months to complete. An estimated timeline is as follows, but note that dates and times are subject to change.
This competition may be used to fill future vacancies within six months after the application process closes. Qualified candidates will be placed on an eligibility list. Strathcona County Emergency Services reserves the right to access candidates from this list at any time during the recruitment process.
If a position becomes available, you may receive a conditional job offer, pending the results of a pre-employment medical assessment and any other conditions of employment being met.
To remain eligible, applicants must maintain:
Last updated: Thursday, November 13, 2025 Page ID: 51371