200+ Free LAFD FCA Practice Questions
Prepare for the Los Angeles Fire Department Firefighter Candidate Assessment (FCA) exam with instant access — no signup required.
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Key Facts: LAFD FCA Exam
Up to 4 hrs
FCA Time Limit
PSI FCA Preparation Guide
5 portions
1 Practice + 4 Scored
PSI FCA Preparation Guide
70
Minimum Passing Score
JoinLAFD selection process
$76
FCA Registration Fee
City of Los Angeles / PSI
18 yrs
Minimum Age to Apply
JoinLAFD qualifications
No calculator
Arithmetic Portion Rule
PSI FCA Preparation Guide
The LAFD Firefighter Candidate Assessment (FCA) is a PSI-administered, computer-based exam for the City of Los Angeles. Candidates have up to four hours for five portions — a practice portion plus four scored ones covering video reasoning, listening, reading comprehension, and basic arithmetic — plus a background survey. The minimum passing score is 70, no calculator is allowed, and the fee is $76.
Sample LAFD FCA Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your LAFD FCA exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1On the FCA video portions, a fictitious piece of equipment is taught so that no candidate has prior knowledge of it. What ability is this portion primarily designed to measure?
2During the FCA video portions, how many times may a candidate watch each training video before answering the questions about it?
3A training video explains that the Systems Monitor displays status code 808 SMOKE DETECTED. According to the lesson, what is the correct action for code 808?
4A training lesson states: code 801 means FAILED SELF CHECK and code 802 means POWER LOSS. If a candidate sees code 802 on the monitor, who should be alerted?
5A video lesson teaches that the monitor beeps only when smoke is detected. During practice you hear a beep. What does the beep most likely indicate?
6On the FCA, a question shows an image and asks you to drag a checkmark to the correct area outlined in yellow. What type of question is this?
7A multiple-response FCA item says 'Click one or more' correct statements. What does this instruction tell you about scoring?
8While watching an FCA training video, the official guide advises you to take notes in the Training Guide. What is the best note-taking strategy?
9A video lesson teaches three valve positions for a fictitious pump: OPEN allows flow, CLOSED stops flow, and PURGE clears the line. To stop water from moving through the line, which position should be selected?
10A training video states: 'Always confirm the indicator light is GREEN before starting the unit. If RED, run a reset first.' The light is RED. What is the correct first step?
About the LAFD FCA Exam
The Firefighter Candidate Assessment (FCA) is a required, computer-based test and one of the first steps in the City of Los Angeles firefighter selection process. Candidates have up to four hours to complete five portions: a practice portion plus four scored portions that measure learning ability, reasoning, listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and basic arithmetic, followed by a background information survey on work-relevant behaviors. The FCA deliberately teaches a fictitious piece of equipment so no candidate has prior knowledge — it does NOT test firefighting or technical knowledge. The minimum passing score is 70, but this is an extremely competitive examination and only the highest-scoring candidates continue in the selection process. The FCA is administered by PSI for a $76 registration fee, with a fee waiver available to those who qualify.
Assessment
Question count not published by the exam provider
Time Limit
Up to 4 hours
Passing Score
70
Exam Fee
$76 registration fee (fee waiver available) (PSI Services LLC, on behalf of the City of Los Angeles Personnel Department and LAFD)
LAFD FCA Exam Content Outline
Video-Based Learning & Reasoning
Watch fictitious-equipment training videos (up to twice), take Training Guide notes, then answer recall-and-reason questions on parts, functions, and procedures
Listening Comprehension
Audio and video items requiring recall of spoken instructions, sequences, conditions, and quantities
Written (Reading) Comprehension
On-screen procedural passages with fact-extraction, rule-application, and report-clarity questions
Basic Arithmetic
Add, subtract, multiply, divide, percentages, fractions, averages, rates, and time — by hand, no calculator
Background Information Survey
Honest self-report on self-control, safety orientation, team orientation, managing work pressure, and conscientiousness
How to Pass the LAFD FCA Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 70
- Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
- Time limit: Up to 4 hours
- Exam fee: $76 registration fee (fee waiver available)
Keys to Passing
- Work through all 200 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
LAFD FCA Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the LAFD Firefighter Candidate Assessment (FCA)?
The FCA is a required, computer-based test and one of the first steps in the City of Los Angeles firefighter selection process. Candidates have up to four hours to complete five portions measuring learning ability, reasoning, listening and reading comprehension, basic arithmetic, plus a background information survey. It does not test firefighting or technical knowledge.
Who administers the FCA and how much does it cost?
The FCA is administered by PSI Services LLC for the City of Los Angeles Personnel Department. The registration fee is $76, and a fee waiver is available to candidates who demonstrate financial hardship. Candidates register through the official PSI/LAFD portal linked from joinlafd.org.
How is the FCA structured?
The FCA has five portions completed in up to four hours: a practice portion plus four scored portions. Three portions are video-based (the practice portion and the first two scored portions), one is reading with basic arithmetic, and the fifth is a background information survey. Question formats include multiple choice, audio, pictorial, hot spot, drag-and-drop, multiple response, and fill in the blank.
What score do I need to pass?
The minimum passing score is 70. However, the firefighter examination is extremely competitive, and only candidates with the highest scores continue in the selection process toward the interview and later hiring steps.
Can I use a calculator on the FCA?
No. Calculators are not permitted on the FCA. You may use scratch paper to complete any basic computations in the arithmetic portion, so practicing mental and by-hand math is important.
Do I need firefighting knowledge to take the FCA?
No. The FCA deliberately teaches a fictitious piece of equipment with some invented terms so that no candidate has prior knowledge. It measures general capabilities such as learning ability, reasoning, listening and reading comprehension, and basic arithmetic — not technical firefighting knowledge.
Does a past FCA score still count?
Yes. If you earned a passing FCA score in 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, or 2023, you still must submit a City firefighter application, but you do not need to retake the FCA. Questions about a prior score can be directed to per.joinlafd@lacity.org.
What comes after passing the FCA?
Passing the FCA and submitting a City application keep you in the process toward a behavior-based interview, a baseline fitness test, the BPAT and EMT requirements, a background investigation, a review of qualifications, medical and psychological evaluations, and drug and alcohol screening before appointment.