Apply to Helsinki Rescue School
The application period for the rescuer qualification, which will start in August 2025, was open from November 29, 2024, to January 10, 2025. During this time, applicants could book an appointment for the Cooper's running test. Appointments for health checks and muscle fitness tests were already available for booking.
Applications for the rescuer qualification starting in August 2025 was open 29.11.2024 – 10.1.2025.
Two courses will begin in August 2025: one in Finnish and one in Swedish. Start training well in advance for the physical tests to ensure you are in the best possible shape for the tests. Additionally, each applicant must undergo a medical check-up, which must be scheduled by the applicant.
The rescuer qualification takes 1.5 years to complete. The qualification opens opportunities for positions such as rescuer or firefighter nationwide, with excellent employment prospects for graduates.
The application process for rescuer training involves several stages. The table below outlines the main stages, and it will be updated as the application deadline approaches.
Discover the stages of the application process
The summary table below summarises all the steps and important dates of the search. All further information about the application process can be found in the Guide for Applicants for the Rescuer qualification: open PDF (in finnish)
-
1. Check your Eligibility on the Admission Criteria
Please check your eligibility in the Guide for Applicants for the Rescuer qualification 2025-2026, section 1. (in finnish)
-
2. Make an Appointment and have a Health Check and a Muscle Fitness Test
Schedule your health check and muscle tests now, ensuring your appointment is booked no later than January 30, 2025. Aim to complete your health check and muscle tests promptly, with a deadline of March 13, 2025.
-
3. Book an Appointment and Complete the Cooper, Swimming, and Phobia Tests
Appointments can be booked starting from November 29, 2024, at 9:00 AM and must be completed by January 10, 2025, at 4:00 PM. Use the service ID (Palvelutunnus), which can be in Guide for Applicants, section 3. (in finnish).
-
4. Submit the Online Application Form and Attach the Required Documents
Submit your application no later than March 13, 2025, by 4:00 PM. A link to the application form will be added here on February 14, 2025.
-
5. Book an Appointment and Participate in the Aptitude Assessment
Instructions for booking the appointment will be provided later.
5.1. Individual Tasks
This phase will take place from March 24–28, 2025. It will be conducted remotely on a computer, with an estimated duration of approximately 2.5 hours.
5.2. Interviews and Group Tasks
This phase will take place from April 7–11, 2025.
-
6. Receive Information About Conditional Student Selection
This phase will take place from April 21–25, 2025. All participants of phase 5.2 will be notified of the selection results.
-
7. Provide Consent for a Security Clearance
Instructions will be sent separately.
-
8. Receive Information About Final Student Selection
The final selection results will be announced as soon as the security clearances are completed.
Information on tests
Muscle Fitness Tests
Muscle fitness tests are conducted on the same day as your health check at the selected testing location. View the list of testing places. Demonstration videos of the muscle fitness tests are available on the Pelastusopisto website.
Cooper Run Test, Swimming, and Phobia Tests
These tests are completed in one day. In the morning, the Cooper Run Test is performed. Those who pass the Cooper Run Test will complete the remaining tests (swimming, phobias) in the afternoon. Check the exact dates and times in the recruitment guide for the Rescue Training Program. Registration begins on November 29, 2024, at 9:00 AM and ends on Friday, January 10, 2025, at 4:00 PM. Slots fill up on a first-come, first-served basis!
Passing the Cooper Run Test will secure a testing slot for swimming and phobia tests on the same day.
All tests and their components are eliminatory. For detailed scoring information, see the Guide for Applicants for the Rescuer qualification (in finnish).
-
Bench press
45 kg / 60 s / 25 repetition
-
Sit-up
34 repetition / 60 s
-
Chin-up (underhand grip)
6 repetition
-
Squat
45 kg / 60 s / 23 repetition
-
Cooper (12 min)
2800 m
-
Swimming
200m / 4min 45s. In addition, retrieving an object from water at a depth of about 2 metres (pass/fail)
-
Fobia
Fear of high places and enclosed spaces (pass/fail)