Do I have to live in Montréal to work as a firefighter with the Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal (SIM)?

No, you are not required to live within city limits in order to work as an SIM firefighter.

Do I have to hold a driver's licence in order to be hired as an SIM firefighter?

Yes, you must hold a valid class 4A driver's licence (emergency vehicles) in order to be hired by the SIM. The validation of the driver's licence constitutes a preliminary step in the hiring process.

How do I apply to become a firefighter with the SIM?

You must wait until a recruitment competition is posted and submit your application within the prescribed time period. You must then successfully complete the various steps in the hiring process.

Can I apply to become a firefighter even if there is no recruitment competition?

No. Candidates are hired solely during the posting period for the recruitment competition. All applications received after the prescribed application period or outside of a recruitment competition will not be considered.

Do I need to have a high level of physical fitness to become a firefighter?

Yes. Firefighting is a physically demanding profession. You must be in top physical condition in order to perform the duties required of a firefighter, such as rescuing victims, carrying equipment, lifting ladders and hoses, etc. The level of fitness of candidates is evaluated during physical fitness tests (evaluation of maximum aerobic power and timed trials), which constitute a preliminary step in the hiring process.

What is a firefighter's work schedule?

The department's firefighters are divided into four work groups (1, 2, 3 and 4), and they work according to a rotating schedule. There are three separate work shifts at the SIM:

1. Days, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2. Nights, 5 p.m. to 7 a.m.
3. One 24-hour work shift from Sunday at 7 a.m. to Monday at 7 a.m.

In general, firefighters in each work group must complete one 24-hour shift per month.

The following is a copy of Appendix A of the collective agreement between the city and the Association des Pompiers de Montréal inc. effective from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2017. Starting on December 30, 2002 and following a four-week cycle, the work schedule illustrated below is recurrent.

When will the next firefighters recruitment competition be held?

Unfortunately, it is impossible to confirm when the next recruitment competition will be held. While waiting for the next competition, we invite you to consult the Careers section of the city's Web site (in French). When the SIM recruits, that's where its job descriptions are posted. Check this section frequently to stay abreast of new opportunities (ville.montreal.qc.ca/emploi). 

I am already a firefighter in another Canadian province or another country. How can I become a firefighter in Montréal?

Before beginning your studies in Québec, you must submit a request for a comparative evaluation of studies completed in your country with the Ministère de l'Immigration et des Communautés Culturelles du Québec. For complete details on how to submit an evaluation request, please go to the Web site of the Ministère. 

Once the evaluation is completed, you will receive an official document specifying your educational level within the Québec school system. With this evaluation in hand, you will be able to contact the schools to determine the training you will be required to complete in order to become a firefighter in Québec. The requirements to practice the profession of firefighter may vary from one municipality to another. For further details on the subject, please go to the École nationale des pompiers du Québec site (in French).

However, in order to work as a firefighter with the SIM, you must meet all the eligibility criteria cited above. You are required to submit your application in conjunction with an open firefighters recruitment competition. Once you have been accepted into the competition, you must successfully complete all the steps involved in the hiring process.