Frequently asked questions

Behavioural styles questionnaire - Untimed, to be completed by the registration closing date

• Situational judgement test - Untimed, to be completed by the registration closing date

• Verbal reasoning - Timed, 25 minutes allowed

• Mechanical reasoning - Timed, 25 minutes allowed

• Numerical reasoning - Timed, 25 minutes allowed

Ensure that you are in a quiet and calm environment to take the assessments and that you have sufficient time to complete. Please note: you only have one attempt!

Dyslexia is classed as a disability and you will be asked if you have a disability as part of the recruitment process.

Please note, any reasonable adjustments will only be put in place for the timed assessments.

Unfortunately no, all tests must be completed online.

All correspondence will be by email. It is important that you check your email including your spam/ junk folders regularly for invitations to the different parts of the process.

Emails will only be sent to the email address you registered your account with.

No. This is a popular misconception as there used to be restrictions on height, weight and chest expansion, but this is now no longer the case.

There is further information on our website showing the timetable of the recruitment process. It is important that candidates make a note of the dates of the different stages of the process as there is not scope for dates to be changed or alternative dates to be offered.

Having a criminal record will not necessarily prevent you from working for us. If you have a conviction the Service will consider its nature, its relevance to the role of firefighter, the sentence, patterns of offending and the length of time since the offence.

Successful candidates will be appointed as an Apprentice Firefighter and will undertake the Level 3 Operational Firefighter Apprenticeship standard, which will typically take up to 18 months to complete.

In order to apply therefore, you must at least possess one or both GCSE qualifications in Maths and English, with a minimum grade of C/4 or equivalent. Where you do not possess the required grade or equivalent qualification, in one of these areas i.e. Maths or English, you will be required to achieve the qualification as part of the apprenticeship and support will be provided to you through our educational provider.

Unfortunately no. Candidates will be placed at Stations where there are vacancies.

Unfortunately yes. The Service respects everyone’s religious beliefs but there are health and safety reasons as to why facial hair cannot be accepted.

Yes. Part of the recruitment process will include a medical and this will include an eye test. Our Occupational Health Physician will determine whether your vision meets the standards to become a firefighter.

Yes, anyone who considers themselves to have a disability can apply to join the fire service.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service has a policy on secondary employment. Employees cannot engage in this without first obtaining written approval.

Once the closing date has passed you will receive an email from us only if you have been successful which will invite you to a practical selection test day.

Due to the high volume of interest we regret that it is not possible to inform candidates individually of the result of their application or provide feedback.

Yes

You must be at least 18 years of age at the start of the training course taking place.

There is no maximum age.

Yes. A full UK driving license is a pre-requisite for the role of a firefighter.

Yes, you have to be able to swim 50m in a recognised stroke by 31 March 2025. The ability to swim is necessary as we have so many areas of water across the county and are called out for water rescues. All our firefighters are swift-water trained. If you can’t swim there are lots of places in Cheshire where you can learn or build up your stamina.