Stage Three Pre-Assessment Guide

This guide helps candidates prepare for the OFAI Stage Three process, including the Firefighter Physical Aptitude Job-Related Tests (FPAT) and the Firefighter Technical Skills Assessment.

Welcome

Thank you for registering for an assessment with Ontario Fire Administration Inc. (OFAI).

This guide explains the current Stage Three workflow, pre-screening requirements, execution rules, and retest logic for FPAT and Technical Skills.

All preparation, bookings, cancellations, certificate visibility, and support issues are managed through your OFAI candidate account.

Program Access

How Stage Three is structured

Stage Three combines a physical gate and a technical-skills sequence, each with its own pass and retest logic.

FPAT

Hard stop pass or fail gate

The Firefighter Physical Aptitude Job-Related Tests include six timed physical events. All six must be completed safely, correctly, and within time to pass.

Technical Skills

Two sections with section-based retesting

The Firefighter Technical Skills Assessment is split into Section One and Section Two, with three timed evolutions per section.

Portal workflow

Readiness and exceptions stay in your account

Medical questionnaire readiness, bookings, cancellation requests, and support issues are handled through the OFAI candidate account and Support workflow.

Pre-Screening

Safety screening before Stage Three begins

Stage Three requires successful pre-appraisal screening before FPAT or Technical Skills can proceed.

Clinical readiness rules

Medical questionnaire and consent readiness

Your candidate account must reflect current readiness, including the medical questionnaire and the required acknowledgement steps for booked assessments.

Resting blood pressure and heart rate are measured

Candidates receive up to six readings for blood pressure and resting heart rate before being cleared to continue.

Passing thresholds are fixed

A passing reading is 140/90 or lower with pulse 100 or lower.

Screening stop is not a failed assessment

If pre-screening stops the assessment, it is not considered a fail. It means it is not safe to continue on that date.

Doctor notes do not replace on-site clearance

Doctor’s notes are not accepted in place of passing on-site blood pressure and heart rate readings.

FPAT

What applies during the physical aptitude test

The FPAT is a standardized physical gate. Passing requires completion of all six events under the required rules.

Setup

Mandatory familiarization and provided PPE

Every candidate completes a standardized familiarization session before timing begins. Testing is completed in provided PPE weighing approximately 23 kg, with SCBA carried but not used on air.

Execution

Six events, fixed rests, no partial pass

The six FPAT events are completed in sequence and timed independently. Each event is followed by a fixed three-minute rest period.

Pass rule

All six must be passed

If one event is failed, the FPAT ends immediately. Passing requires every event to be completed safely, correctly, and within the time standard.

Booking behavior

Technical Skills may still follow

If Technical Skills are also booked on the same date, candidates are still expected to proceed to that assessment even if the FPAT result is unsuccessful.

FPAT Standards

The six FPAT events

All six job-related tests are completed in sequence and timed independently.

Timed event list

Equipment Carry / Vehicle Extrication

Time standard: 3 minutes and 45 seconds or less.

Charged Hose Advance

Time standard: 27 seconds or less.

Weighted Sled Pull

Time standard: 1 minute and 50 seconds or less.

Forcible Entry Simulation

Time standard: 19 seconds or less.

Victim Rescue

Time standard: 57 seconds or less.

Ladder Climb

Time standard: 1 minute and 37 seconds or less.

Technical Skills

How the Firefighter Technical Skills Assessment works

The technical-skills assessment evaluates six evolutions across two sections and applies section-based retesting rules.

Structure

Two sections, three skills each

Section One and Section Two each contain three evolutions for a total of six technical skills.

Timing

Ten minutes per evolution

Each evolution has a maximum time limit of 10 minutes.

Instruction rule

One re-read allowed while time continues

Candidates may review instructions in advance and may request one evaluator re-read during the evolution. The clock does not stop during a re-read.

Safety

Unsafe performance overrides everything

Unsafe conduct can trigger immediate failure regardless of where the candidate is in the evolution.

Technical Skills Sections

Stage Three skill groupings and retest logic

The two-section model creates partial-pass and section-retest outcomes.

Section model

Section One

Claustrophobia assessment, ropes and knots, and ladder component identification with the 10 m ladder climb.

Section Two

Roof operations inspection hole, hose connections with charged line advance, and the 7 m one-firefighter ladder raise with roof ladder deployment.

Fail one skill in one section

You rebook the failed section only.

Fail one skill in both sections

You must retest both sections together.

Six-month window

If both sections are not passed within six months, the full Firefighter Technical Skills Assessment must be retested.

Results and Retesting

What happens after Stage Three

Results and certificate visibility are handled through the OFAI account workflow.

Validity

FPAT and Technical Skills are each valid for 12 months

Successful FPAT and successful Technical Skills outcomes each produce Stage Three certificate validity of 12 months.

Retests

15 days, then 30 days

Failed components follow the standard retest waiting periods: 15 days after the first failed attempt and 30 days after the second and all subsequent failed attempts.

Portal workflow

Bookings, cancellations, and support stay in the account

Use the candidate account and Support workflow for booking changes, cancellation requests, and any issue that needs review before or after assessment day.