3 answers
Brayden
Student
Oak Harbor, Ohio
10
Questions
Updated
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What type of tests are on the firefighter physical exam?
Do you also need to be in shape when applying for the job?
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3 answers
Ryan Pfeiffer, MA
Firefighter Lieutenant / EMT
118
Answers
Fort Collins, Colorado
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
Hey Brayden. As others have stated, there are a variety of different fitness tests in the fire service. Each individual fire department has the autonomy to pick their own fitness test (to my knowledge; I've never heard of a state mandating a certain test statewide.).
That said, I've also never seen a department only require push-ups / sit-ups / run, except for the military. It's also very rare to find a department with no fitness standard to be hired, and frankly, even if you do find one you wouldn't want to work there. Firefighting is dangerous enough as it is, you want to work somewhere that values health, and if you need to be rescued yourself one day you'll want the confidence of knowing your partner is physically capable of dragging you out.
While there is a wide variety of tests, there are 3 different tests that a very common. Some departments make slight modifications, but you can still tell what it's based on.
1) The NWCG "Pack Test" - this is a nationwide mandatory requirement to be certified in wildland firefighting (many structural firefighters are dual certified as wildland firefighters, especially in the midwest and western US). This test is a 3 mile WALK with a 45lb weight vest or backpack in less than 45 minutes. No running allowed.
2) The CPAT (candidate physical ability test) - this is also found nationwide because this is the test endorsed by the international association of fire chiefs and the international association of firefighters (the largest firefighting labor union in the world). This test last about 10 minutes long and is supposed to simulate a variety of fireground tasks. I don't recall the exact order but you start with a 3 minutes stairclimb at a rate of one step per second while wearing about a 75lb weight vest. After that you pull some dry hose, "farmers carry" some heavy saws, raise a ladder, swing a sledge hammer, crawl through a simple maze, drag a heavy dummy about 75ft, and then do a weighted push-pull exercise. There are lots of videos of this on YouTube if you just search "CPAT."
3) Because the CPAT is a trademarked test it costs money for departments to use it, so some choose to make their own, and many model their tests off something called the "firefighter combat challenge." Most of these challenges have you start by climbing 3-5 flights of stairs, then hoist a heavy object like a hose roll up to you using a rope, descend the stairs, swing a sledgehammer several times to push a weighted sled, drag a charged hoseline, and then drag a heavy dummy.
Knowing test names, you can search and find a lot of "test prep workouts", but generally speaking your workouts should be high intensity interval workouts - periods of very hard work followed by periods of relative rest, such as sprinting for a minute then walking for a minute and repeating that 8-12 times. If possible though, also do your workouts with a weight vest on (min 25lbs but better if you have 45-55lbs) and try to hit all the muscles groups with your intervals (i.e a minute of squats then 30 seconds rest, a minute of pushups then 30 seconds rest, sprint a minute then rest, etc.). Endurance work like jogging and weight lifting can be beneficial of course, but you'll get the most bang for your buck from these high intensity interval "crossfit style" workouts.
Good luck.
CPAT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E6ClY7Gsmk
Firefighter Combat Challenge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS4WdFq2j3k
That said, I've also never seen a department only require push-ups / sit-ups / run, except for the military. It's also very rare to find a department with no fitness standard to be hired, and frankly, even if you do find one you wouldn't want to work there. Firefighting is dangerous enough as it is, you want to work somewhere that values health, and if you need to be rescued yourself one day you'll want the confidence of knowing your partner is physically capable of dragging you out.
While there is a wide variety of tests, there are 3 different tests that a very common. Some departments make slight modifications, but you can still tell what it's based on.
1) The NWCG "Pack Test" - this is a nationwide mandatory requirement to be certified in wildland firefighting (many structural firefighters are dual certified as wildland firefighters, especially in the midwest and western US). This test is a 3 mile WALK with a 45lb weight vest or backpack in less than 45 minutes. No running allowed.
2) The CPAT (candidate physical ability test) - this is also found nationwide because this is the test endorsed by the international association of fire chiefs and the international association of firefighters (the largest firefighting labor union in the world). This test last about 10 minutes long and is supposed to simulate a variety of fireground tasks. I don't recall the exact order but you start with a 3 minutes stairclimb at a rate of one step per second while wearing about a 75lb weight vest. After that you pull some dry hose, "farmers carry" some heavy saws, raise a ladder, swing a sledge hammer, crawl through a simple maze, drag a heavy dummy about 75ft, and then do a weighted push-pull exercise. There are lots of videos of this on YouTube if you just search "CPAT."
3) Because the CPAT is a trademarked test it costs money for departments to use it, so some choose to make their own, and many model their tests off something called the "firefighter combat challenge." Most of these challenges have you start by climbing 3-5 flights of stairs, then hoist a heavy object like a hose roll up to you using a rope, descend the stairs, swing a sledgehammer several times to push a weighted sled, drag a charged hoseline, and then drag a heavy dummy.
Knowing test names, you can search and find a lot of "test prep workouts", but generally speaking your workouts should be high intensity interval workouts - periods of very hard work followed by periods of relative rest, such as sprinting for a minute then walking for a minute and repeating that 8-12 times. If possible though, also do your workouts with a weight vest on (min 25lbs but better if you have 45-55lbs) and try to hit all the muscles groups with your intervals (i.e a minute of squats then 30 seconds rest, a minute of pushups then 30 seconds rest, sprint a minute then rest, etc.). Endurance work like jogging and weight lifting can be beneficial of course, but you'll get the most bang for your buck from these high intensity interval "crossfit style" workouts.
Good luck.
Ryan recommends the following next steps:
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1091
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Brayden,
You have a fire department in Oak Harbor. I would recommend you take a trip down there and ask some questions in person: https://www.oakharbor.gov/289/Firefighter-EMT.
Firefighter jobs also get posted on this site where you can find further information on the required tests and make an account: https://www.nationaltestingnetwork.com/publicsafetyjobs.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
You have a fire department in Oak Harbor. I would recommend you take a trip down there and ask some questions in person: https://www.oakharbor.gov/289/Firefighter-EMT.
Firefighter jobs also get posted on this site where you can find further information on the required tests and make an account: https://www.nationaltestingnetwork.com/publicsafetyjobs.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Philip Gauthier
Nuclear Plant Work Week Manager
19
Answers
Prairieville, Louisiana
Updated
Philip’s Answer
It will vary from City to City, but I would check with the Department you are interested in joining. If I have seen a Physical exam, it was usually pretty simple (Run, Push-ups, Sit-ups, and a carry/drag exercise). Some Departments don't even have a Physical Fitness Exam and just require a Physical from your doctor.
You don't need to be in shape to apply but will want to be in shape prior to the physical exam (if required). I would recommend staying active (running, Sit-ups, pushups) and exercising at least 3 times a week. If you have access to a gym and can lift weights, then I recommend that as well.
Fitness is a key part of being a firefighter as you will have to wear fire gear and an SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus). This plus climbing ladders, pulling hoses and lifting heavy tools is all normal part of the job. If you are serious about being a firefighter, then I would make exercise part of your daily routine as it may help you pull a victim or a friend out of a fire.
When I was a junior firefighter, my father used to have us wash the trucks and do other basic tasks in our gear while breathing a bottle to get us used to wearing an SCBA. Air bottles have a limited amount of air (usually about 45 minutes / 30 minutes for Navy investigator bottles). Your aerobic/physical health will determine exactly how long one of these bottles will last. When I was in the navy and at my peak fitness I could make a 30 Minute bottle last over 35 Minutes.
Hope this helps. Best of luck!
You don't need to be in shape to apply but will want to be in shape prior to the physical exam (if required). I would recommend staying active (running, Sit-ups, pushups) and exercising at least 3 times a week. If you have access to a gym and can lift weights, then I recommend that as well.
Fitness is a key part of being a firefighter as you will have to wear fire gear and an SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus). This plus climbing ladders, pulling hoses and lifting heavy tools is all normal part of the job. If you are serious about being a firefighter, then I would make exercise part of your daily routine as it may help you pull a victim or a friend out of a fire.
When I was a junior firefighter, my father used to have us wash the trucks and do other basic tasks in our gear while breathing a bottle to get us used to wearing an SCBA. Air bottles have a limited amount of air (usually about 45 minutes / 30 minutes for Navy investigator bottles). Your aerobic/physical health will determine exactly how long one of these bottles will last. When I was in the navy and at my peak fitness I could make a 30 Minute bottle last over 35 Minutes.
Hope this helps. Best of luck!