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FIREFIGHTER RECRUITMENT · NSW

NSW firefighter recruitment, explained

Fire and Rescue NSW runs one of the larger and tougher recruitment processes in the country. The PAT cut-off and ACER round both quietly trim the field before the interview. Here's what NSW candidates are actually being tested on, and where the marks get lost.

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The service in New South Wales

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

Requirements last checked April 2026. Always confirm with the service before applying.

Full FRNSW recruitment guide →

Further reading

NSW recruitment FAQ

What's the FRNSW PAT minimum?

FRNSW publishes a beep test cut-off around level 10.5, alongside 30 push-ups in a minute, a 60-second plank and a 45 kg grip. The PAT is sequenced so cumulative fatigue is part of the test — train past those numbers in the order they're assessed, not as isolated maxes.

What is the FRNSW ACER cognitive test?

Stage 2 at FRNSW is an ACER-administered cognitive battery covering numerical reasoning, verbal/abstract reasoning and mechanical comprehension, sat under time pressure. It's a hard cut, not a scored bonus — candidates who clear the PAT can still be filtered out here.

How often does FRNSW recruit?

FRNSW typically opens one to two recruitment campaigns per calendar year, with intake windows that often close within a couple of weeks. Subscribe to the FRNSW recruitment alerts directly so the application window doesn't pass before you notice.

Does FRNSW accept interstate applicants?

Yes — you don't need to live in NSW to apply, but you do need Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency and you must be willing to relocate to a NSW posting if offered. Travel to Sydney for the in-person PAT and interview stages is on you.

Find out where you actually stand

Fifteen minutes, free, no card — just a quick signup. FirePrep benchmarks you against the same domain weights and PAT minimums as the NSW services 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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