This edition’s focus is fitness. Firefighters must have a good level of fitness, and you will be required to demonstrate a standard of 42 VO² max. This is the national minimum standard for someone joining the fire service.
By now, you should already be training and have a good level of fitness. Are you following the programme from Issue 1? Have you found tips for passing the bleep test?
If you’re not already training, we would strongly recommend that you make a start with this video. One of our wholetime firefighters, Heather, is a mum and she gives some great tips on getting to the required fitness level.
The bleep test is a shuttle run, which involves running continuously between two markers 20 metres apart. The running speed is determined by an audio bleep, and the interval between the bleeps decreases as you complete each level. You will need to run for around eight minutes and 30 seconds to achieve Level 8 Shuttle 8, which is the equivalent of a VO₂ max of 42.3.
Please visit www.bleeptests.com for more information about a bleep test to help you prepare. We have also prepared this useful guide with tips. Getting out and practising the shuttle run is the best method to make sure you are bleep test ready!
This is the end of your third recruitment guide, please move on to the fourth guide when you are ready.
Please note that this guide was provided during the 2024/2025 recruitment process. This may not be exactly the same going forward, but it gives you an idea of what a future process may look like.