NFST / NFST-CFT
The National Fire Select Test is FPSI's entry-level firefighter exam. The Canadian Fire Technical variant adds a technical component, which is the part most candidates under-prepare. The specifics below come from our department records.
Prep priority
The CFT technical section is what separates Vancouver from a standard NFST — reviewing IFSTA Essentials fundamentals matters here
Source: Vancouver Fire Rescue Services is named on FPSI product information for the NFST-CFT. Verified as of July 2026 — confirm against the current job posting.
This list reflects what we verified from published information in July 2026 and is not a complete list of every service that uses this exam. Confirm against the department's current job posting.
75 of our 551 questions tagged for the NFST / NFST-CFT are free to practise. These are our own practice questions written to the published format — they are not real exam items.
Sample 1
On a station floor plan, the apparatus bay is directly south of the watch room, and the gear room is directly east of the apparatus bay. Starting in the watch room, which direction do you travel to reach the gear room by the most direct diagonal path?
South then east combines to a southeast direction, so travelling diagonally southeast is the most direct path from the watch room to the gear room.
Sample 2
A single fixed pulley is used to raise a hose bundle to an upper floor. Compared to lifting the bundle by hand with no pulley, a single fixed pulley:
A single fixed pulley provides no mechanical advantage — the force required is unchanged — but it redirects the pulling force, which is often more convenient (e.g., pulling down instead of up).
Sample 3
A pumper's tank holds 1000 gallons. It discharges water at 250 gallons per minute during initial attack. How many minutes until the tank runs dry if no supply line is connected?
1000 ÷ 250 = 4 minutes. This is the kind of tank-duration calculation used in numerical batteries and matters operationally for knowing when a supply line must be established.
Our records describe the CFT variant as adding technical questions drawn from IFSTA Essentials of Fire Fighting (6th edition) on top of the standard cognitive and personality components.
Reading, mathematical reasoning (no calculator), map reading, writing ability, human relations and reasoning skills, plus a personality inventory.
Our records describe a weighting of 45% cognitive and 55% human relations and personality, with number-correct scoring and no guessing penalty. FPSI does not publish a pass mark.
FPSI does not publish the total question count or time limit for this exam; our records note it is announced on test day.
Firefighter Ready Canada is an independent preparation platform. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or licensed by OFAI, FPSI, ErgoMetrics, the National Testing Network, CPS HR Consulting, Firefighter Services of Ontario, BL Associates or any fire department. Exam names are used only to describe what we help you prepare for. Always confirm requirements against the department's current job posting.