Firefighter Candidate Physical Ability Testing (CPAT)

Applicants who are successful in the written exam are scheduled to take the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT). Applicants must be in excellent physical condition to be competitive.

The CPAT is a sequence of events requiring you to progress along a predetermined path from event to event in a continuous manner. This test was developed to allow fire departments to obtain pools of trainable candidates who are physically able to perform essential job tasks at fire scenes. This is a pass/fail test based on a validated maximum total time of 10 minutes and 20 seconds. In these events, you wear a 50-pound (22.68 kg) vest to simulate the weight of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and firefighter protective clothing. An additional 25 pounds (11.34 kg), using two 12.5 pound (5.67 kg) weights that simulate a high-rise pack (hose bundle), is added to your shoulders for the stair-climb event. Throughout all events, you must wear long pants, a hard hat with chin strap, work gloves, and footwear with no open heel or toe. Watches and loose or restrictive jewelry are not permitted.

Applicants who successfully complete the written test and CPAT progress to the next phase of testing.