These web pages provide a guide to recruitment and roles within RBFRS, including information on wholetime (fulltime)
and retained (reserve) firefighting, control operators, and support staff. Use the various links to navigate to the
relevant sections for further information.
Fulltime Firefighter: Entry Requirements
To join the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service there are certain physical, medical and educational requirements
you will have to satisfy, including statutory age limits.
- be aged over 18.
- have a good level of all-round fitness.
- take both general written and practical tests.
- satisfy a criminal records check.
Local Authority Revised Eyesight Standards
- Use of aids to vision are possible at the recruit stage.
- Corrected visual acuity should be 6/9 binocularly, and a minimum of 6/12 in the worse eye.
- The minimum uncorrected vision for recruits should be 6/18 in the better eye and 6/24 in the worse for both Wholetime and Retained applicants.
- An upper hypermetropic limit of +3.00 should be retained.
- Testing for myopic corrections is no longer required.
Essential Factors
- Must satisfy physical requirements of an Operational Firefighter, as defined by the Home Office Regulations.
- Successful completion of the Recruit Fire Service course.
Desirable Factors
- Ability to deal with the general public.
- GCSE standard of education.
- Practical trade with certificate.
General Intelligence (Level / Reasoning Ability)
- Should be a good communicator; self-motivated with ability to think for oneself.
- Average level of intelligence required due to the nature of the varied work expected of a Firefighter.
Essential Factors
- Experience of working with people.
- Promote and maintain a desire to learn.
- Be able to control actions of others.
- Must be aware of danger and react responsively.
Desirable Factors
- Medical/First-Aid skills.
- Ability to learn, absorb and retain theoretical, technical and practical knowledge.
The post would suit people who are committed to helping others within a disciplined public service.
- Ability to deal with the general public.
- A calm enthusiastic and energetic but approachable manner is required.
- A strong character is essential in order to effectively handle the many demanding and dangerous tasks set for a Firefighter.
- Able to work as a team, but be prepared to work on own initiative. The ability to operate unsupervised is therefore important.
- Current driving licence.
- LGV driving license.
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