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FIREFIGHTER RECRUITMENT · FRNSW

FRNSW firefighter recruitment, explained

Fire and Rescue NSW runs one of the larger and tougher recruitment processes in the country. Both the ACER round and the PAT quietly trim the field before the interview. Here's what FRNSW is actually measuring at each stage, and where the marks get lost.

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Fire and Rescue NSW

FRNSW · NSW

Fire and Rescue NSW

FRNSW runs one of the tougher PATs in the country — train past the minimums, not to them.

Recruitment stages
  1. Application & eligibility
  2. Cognitive & psychometric (ACER)
  3. Video interview
  4. Physical Aptitude Test (PAT)
  5. Background, medical & merit pool
Published PAT minimums
  • Beep Test (level): 10.5 level
  • Push-ups in 1 min: 30 reps
  • Plank hold: 90 sec
  • Grip strength: 45 kg
Domain weighting
  • PAT (physical): 45%
  • Cognitive / aptitude: 20%
  • Interview: 15%
  • Psychometric: 15%
  • Group assessment: 5%

Aptitude format: ACER written battery

FRNSW recruitment FAQ

What are the FRNSW PAT minimums?

FRNSW publishes a Beep Test cut-off of 10.5, 30 push-ups in one minute, a 90-second plank, and a 45 kg grip-strength reading. Treat those as a floor, not a target — the merit list rewards margin above the minimum.

How is the FRNSW Stage 2 cognitive test scored?

Stage 2 is the ACER written battery — verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and abstract pattern items under time pressure. FRNSW uses it to rank, not just to pass-fail, so the gap between you and the cut-off matters for your overall position.

When does FRNSW next open recruitment?

FRNSW recruits in cycles announced on its careers page rather than on a fixed annual calendar. Subscribe to the FRNSW notification list and have your PAT prep already trending in the right direction when a cycle opens — there is rarely a long lead time between announcement and assessment.

Further reading

Parent state

NSW firefighter recruitment

FRNSW sits inside the broader New South Wales recruitment picture. The state guide covers the other services operating in NSW and how they compare.

See the NSW guide →

Find out where you actually stand

Fifteen minutes, free, no card — just a quick signup. FirePrep benchmarks you against the same FRNSW domain weights and PAT minimums shown above, names your limiting factor — the one area most likely to drop you out — and points your training there first. As your numbers move, the focus moves with you. That's the adaptive loop.

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