London Fire Brigade Firefighter Recruitment Process: Every Stage Explained
Quick answer
London Fire Brigade's published firefighter process runs: Outreach Programme (an outreach event, information session and experience day) → application → online tests at home, verified later → assessment centre (interview, role-play, written exercise and online test) → two days of fitness tests (the Chester Treadmill Walk Test, then six practical tests) → medical and eye test → references and enhanced DBS → a 15-week training course. LFB says the process can take 4 to 12 months. When we checked in September 2026, recruitment was paused while LFB reviews its selection process.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) is one of the most sought-after services to join, and its recruitment process has some features you will not find elsewhere — most notably a compulsory Outreach Programme before you can apply. This guide is based on LFB's own careers pages, checked in September 2026. We are independent and not affiliated with LFB, and the brigade has said it is reviewing its selection process, so treat this as a guide to how things have worked and check the official pages before you apply.
Applying to a fire service? Try a free practice testWorking with Numbers sample · about 5 minutes · no sign-upStart →Related: See our London Fire Brigade page for a short summary and official links.
Is London Fire Brigade recruiting?
When we checked, LFB's how-to-apply page said recruitment was paused while it reviews its selection process, and that it had enough applicants to fill its firefighter development training school places until April 2027. The process may change when recruitment reopens.
A pause is useful preparation time. Fitness, reasoning skills and interview examples all take weeks to build, and candidates who start early are not rushed when a window opens.
Eligibility
LFB's 'who we're looking for' page sets out the main requirements. It also says there are no set qualifications, but that applicants without GCSE English and maths at grade C/4 will need to complete Functional Skills as part of the apprenticeship.
- ✓Over 17½ at the time of application, with no upper age limit
- ✓UK or EU citizen or permanent UK resident, with no restrictions on working
- ✓A full UK or EU driving licence (manual or automatic), and willing to get an LGV licence within 18 months of joining
- ✓Clean-shaven, so a breathing apparatus mask can seal
- ✓No unspent convictions
Preparing for the tests
Practise the tests this article describes
Reading about them only goes so far — the tests are timed, and the pace is the part that catches people out.
One payment of £14.99 unlocks all 9 practice tests — verbal, numerical and mechanical reasoning, situational judgement, the behavioural styles questionnaire, the three NFA-style tests and the NFQ-style questionnaire — plus NFCC-style interview preparation. Over 700 questions in total, every one with an explanation, and unlimited attempts.
14-day money-back guarantee · instant access after payment
Stage 1: The Outreach Programme
LFB says the Outreach Programme is required regardless of previous experience. It has three steps: an outreach event, an information session and an outreach experience day.
Use it well. What you learn about the brigade, the role and its values is exactly the material you will need for the application, interview and role-play later.
Stage 2: Application and online tests
After the application come online tests, which LFB says must be completed at home and will be verified at the assessment centre. LFB does not publish the names or providers of the tests on its public pages.
Because the tests are not named, prepare broadly: verbal and numerical reasoning, situational judgement and behavioural questionnaire formats. The verification step means your home results need to be genuinely yours — practise until you can reproduce them in a supervised setting.
Stage 3: Assessment centre
LFB lists four elements at the assessment centre: an interview, a role-play, a written exercise and an online test. It does not publish the framework the interview is scored against, so prepare values-based examples using the STAR method and read the Core Code of Ethics for fire and rescue services.
For the role-play, expect to deal with a member of the public or a colleague in a realistic situation — listen, stay calm and respectful, and focus on safety. For the written exercise, practise writing clearly and accurately against the clock.
Stage 4: Fitness tests
LFB's fitness tests run over two days. Day one is the Chester Treadmill Walk Test: 12 minutes walking at 6.2 km/h, with the gradient increasing by 3% every two minutes up to 15%, to a minimum aerobic standard of 42 ml O2/kg/min.
Day two is the practical tests. LFB describes a ladder lift of 30 kg to 190 cm, a 55 kg casualty drag around a 30 m course and an equipment carry around a 25 m course within 5 minutes 47 seconds, alongside the ladder climb, enclosed space and equipment assembly tests. Our firefighter fitness test guide explains each test in more detail.
- ✓Day 1: Chester Treadmill Walk Test
- ✓Day 2: ladder climb
- ✓Day 2: ladder lift
- ✓Day 2: casualty evacuation
- ✓Day 2: enclosed space
- ✓Day 2: equipment assembly
- ✓Day 2: equipment carry
Stage 5: Medical and references
Candidates who pass the fitness tests have a medical and eye test. LFB then takes references, including an enhanced DBS check and a three-year history, before a place on training is confirmed.
Stage 6: Training and development
LFB describes a 15-week training course made up of a 2-week induction, an 11-week practical phase and 2 weeks of pre-station training. After that, new firefighters spend approximately 18–24 months on station as development firefighters, working towards competence as part of an apprenticeship.
LFB's page on whether firefighting is right for you describes a shift pattern of two day shifts (09:30–20:00), two night shifts (20:00–09:30) and four days off.
Pay
LFB's careers pages quote different trainee and competent salary figures on different pages, and none were dated when we checked. The figures include London weighting and are higher than the national rates, but check the vacancy advert when recruitment reopens for the confirmed amount.
How to prepare while recruitment is paused
Work on the things that take time: build towards the Chester Treadmill standard and the practical tests, practise reasoning tests and situational judgement questions, and gather real examples for a values-based interview and role-play. Keep an eye on LFB's official careers pages and sign up for any updates it offers.
If you would consider other services, look at their processes too — they differ a lot, from Arctic Shores assessments to Test Partnership reasoning tests — and our fire service pages summarise several with official links.
Frequently asked questions
Is London Fire Brigade recruiting firefighters?
When we checked in September 2026, LFB said recruitment was paused while it reviews its selection process, with enough applicants to fill training places until April 2027. Check LFB's how-to-apply page for the latest position.
How old do you have to be to join London Fire Brigade?
LFB says you must be over 17½ at the time of application, and there is no upper age limit.
What tests does London Fire Brigade use?
LFB describes online tests completed at home and verified at the assessment centre, plus an online test, interview, role-play and written exercise at the assessment centre. It does not publish the names of the tests on its public pages.
What fitness tests does London Fire Brigade use?
The Chester Treadmill Walk Test on day one (12 minutes at 6.2 km/h, gradient rising 3% every two minutes up to 15%, minimum 42 ml O2/kg/min), then a ladder climb, ladder lift, casualty evacuation, enclosed space, equipment assembly and equipment carry on day two.
How long does the London Fire Brigade process take?
LFB says the whole selection process can take anything from 4 to 12 months.
How long is London Fire Brigade firefighter training?
LFB describes a 15-week course (2 weeks' induction, 11 weeks' practical training and 2 weeks' pre-station training), followed by approximately 18–24 months of development on station.
Sources
Official pages this guide is based on (checked September 2026). Processes change, so always check the latest official information. Firefighter Tests is independent and not affiliated with any of these organisations.