Gledhill-Shaw Occupational Skills Assessment — Your Complete Guide
The OS is the Gledhill-Shaw Occupational Skills Assessment: a single written assessment with a 2-hour 15-minute time limit. Older prep material links it to Hamilton and Windsor, but both now test through Firefighter Services of Ontario, and Toronto and Ottawa use OFAI's Stage One FACT. FireStart couldn't find a department that still names the OS in a current posting, so this page sets out what's known, what isn't published, and how to prepare.
The OS — formally the Gledhill-Shaw Occupational Skills Assessment, also called the Gledhill-Shaw OS Firefighter Test — is a firefighter selection assessment provided by Gledhill/Shaw Enterprise Ltd. Each department that uses it runs it itself, and FireStart couldn't find one that names it in a current posting.
The OS is a single written assessment with a time limit of 2 hours 15 minutes. Some older prep material describes a longer, multi-part format — that is out of date. The question count and section-by-section breakdown are not consistently published, so treat any exact numbers you see elsewhere with caution.
The OS is administered directly by the hiring fire department — there is no centralized testing body like OFAI or FireOntario. Each department sets its own passing standard, so check the recruitment package for your competition.
Note: Gledhill/Shaw Enterprise Ltd. does not maintain a public website. All information about the OS test comes from the fire departments that use it. This makes preparation resources scarce — which is exactly why thorough preparation matters.
Format
Single written assessment
Time Limit
2 hours 15 minutes
Questions & Sections
Not consistently published
Passing Score
Set by the hiring department
Administered By
Individual fire departments
Provider
Gledhill/Shaw Enterprise Ltd.
The OS is one written assessment taken in a single sitting. Because each department runs its own OS process, several details aren't published centrally — confirm them in your department's recruitment package.
Gledhill-Shaw doesn't publish a section-by-section breakdown of the OS, and departments describe it inconsistently. FireStart prepares you across the core aptitude areas Canadian firefighter tests measure — use your department's recruitment package to decide where to focus.
Read passages and answer questions about the information presented. Firefighter tests use passages on fire service procedures, emergency protocols, and workplace policies — speed and accuracy both matter.
What it tests
Main idea, detail extraction, inference, vocabulary in context
FireStart prep
6 lessons + 175 practice questions
Listen to or read a passage once, then answer questions from memory. It builds the recall firefighters rely on when instructions are given verbally during emergencies.
What it tests
Listening retention, detail recall, following verbal instructions
FireStart prep
5 lessons + 130 practice questions
Arithmetic reasoning and data interpretation — calculations using tables, graphs, and charts, and word problems framed around fire service scenarios. Practise without a calculator.
What it tests
Arithmetic, data from graphs and tables, word problems, applied math
FireStart prep
8 lessons + 420 practice questions
Questions about mechanical drawings, tools, and basic physics principles. Understand how pulleys, levers, gears, and pressure systems work — the same mechanisms in ladders, hydraulic rescue tools, and pumping equipment.
What it tests
Mechanical drawings, tools, pulleys, levers, gears, pressure
FireStart prep
6 lessons + 200 practice questions
Interpret maps, building layouts, and spatial diagrams. Navigate street grids, plan routes, and answer questions about distances and directions.
What it tests
Map reading, spatial orientation, diagram interpretation
FireStart prep
5 lessons + 130 practice questions
Workplace scenarios testing your decision-making, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills — teamwork, the chain of command, and dealing with the public.
What it tests
Decision-making, problem-solving, professional conduct
FireStart prep
5 lessons + 200 practice questions
The OS is administered directly by the hiring fire department, with no centralized testing body. FireStart couldn't find a department that still names it in a current posting.
Toronto Fire Services and Ottawa Fire Services use OFAI's Stage One FACT (Ottawa also offers its own aptitude test). Hamilton and Windsor test through Firefighter Services of Ontario, and Hamilton names the CPS exam. Older prep material listing these departments as OS users is out of date.
The OS test is administered at the hiring department's testing facility. There is no centralized registration — you apply through the specific department's recruitment process. Test dates are set by each department and announced in their job postings. Because Gledhill/Shaw does not have a public website, all scheduling information comes directly from the department.
Cell phones and calculators are prohibited. Specific rules vary by department — follow all instructions provided on test day. Materials are typically provided by the department.
Budget your energy for a 2-hour 15-minute sitting. Bring water if allowed, eat a good meal before the test, and pace yourself — check the clock at regular intervals and don't spend too long on any single question.
Passing standards are set by each hiring department — there is no central pass mark for the OS. Departments also decide how OS results fit into the rest of their process, so ask your target department how it uses the score.
Because the OS is administered by individual departments with no centralized retake policy, the rules for retaking vary. Some departments allow retakes in subsequent recruitment cycles, while others may have specific waiting periods. Contact the department's HR or recruitment office for details.
Preparation strategy
Prepare broadly. Because the OS section breakdown isn't published, build every core aptitude skill — reading, math, mechanical reasoning, maps and judgment — and complete at least one full 2-hour 15-minute timed practice session before test day.
FireStart.ca teaches the material — not just tests you on it. Our lesson-first approach means you learn the concepts before you drill.
The OS section breakdown isn't published, so broad preparation matters. FireStart's 41 lessons and 7 category modules cover every core aptitude area Canadian firefighter tests measure.
41 guided lessons across all 7 categories. Each lesson teaches a specific skill with embedded practice quizzes and real firefighter scenarios.
516 minutes of instruction
4 practice modes — Practice, Quick Drill, Weak Spots, and Daily Challenge. Category filters let you drill exactly where you need it.
1,355+ practice questions
Your dashboard shows readiness scores, category performance, study streaks, and gap analysis. Know exactly where you stand.
Real-time progress tracking
The OS section breakdown isn't published, so prepare broadly. FireStart covers every core aptitude area — 41 lessons, 1,355+ practice questions, across 7 categories.
Get Full Access — $67/yearOne subscription covers prep for all five Canadian firefighter tests.
FireStart.ca is an independent test preparation platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Gledhill/Shaw Enterprise Ltd. or any fire department. All test details are based on publicly available information verified against multiple sources. Gledhill/Shaw does not maintain a public website. Always confirm current test details directly with the fire department you are applying to.