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CPAT:
Candidate Physical Ability Test: 8 separate events
The Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness/Fitness Initiative
Candidate Physical Ability Test © consists of eight separate events. The CPAT is a sequence of events requiring the candidate to progress along a
predetermined path from event to event in a continuous manner. This test was
developed to allow fire departments a means for obtaining pools of trainable
candidates who are physically able to perform essential job tasks at fire
scenes.
Event 1: Stair Climb
Using a StepMill stair-climbing machine, this event is designed to simulate
the critical task of climbing stairs in full protective clothing while
carrying a high-rise pack (hose bundle) and firefighter equipment. This
event challenges aerobic capacity, lower body muscular endurance and the
ability to balance.
 Participants wear a 12.5-pound weight on each shoulder to
simulate the weight of a high-rise pack. Immediately following a 20-second
warm-up period at a rate of 50 steps per minute, the timed part of the test
starts as indicated by a proctor. There is no break in time between the
warm-up period and the actual timing of the test. During the warm-up period,
dismounting, grasping the rail, or holding the wall to establish balance and
cadence is permitted. The timed part of the test lasts three (3) minutes at
a stepping rate of 60 steps per minute.
Failure can occur by falling or dismounting three times during
the warm-up period, or by falling or dismounting the StepMill after the
timed CPAT begins. During the test, the participant is permitted to touch
the wall or handrail for balance only momentarily; if that rule is violated
more than twice during the test, failure will result.
Event 2: Hose Drag
 This event is designed to simulate the critical tasks of dragging an
uncharged hoseline from a fire apparatus to a structure and pulling an
uncharged hoseline around obstacles while remaining stationary. This event
challenges aerobic capacity, lower body muscular strength and endurance,
upper back muscular strength and endurance, grip strength and endurance, and
anaerobic endurance.
A hoseline nozzle attached to 200 feet of hose is grasped and
placed over the shoulder or across the chest up to eight feet. While walking
or running, the participant drags the hose 75 feet to a pre-positioned drum,
makes  a 90° turn, and continues an additional 25 feet. After stopping within
the marked box, the candidate drops to at least one knee and pulls the hoseline until the 50-foot mark crosses the finish line.
During the hose drag, failure results if the participant does
not go around the drum or goes outside of the marked path. During the hose
pull, a warning is given if at least one knee is not kept in contact with
the ground or if the knees go outside the marked boundary line; a second
warning constitutes failure.
Event 3: Equipment Carry
 This event uses two saws and a tool cabinet replicating a storage cabinet on
a fire truck. It is simulates the critical tasks of removing power tools
from a fire apparatus, carrying them to the emergency scene, and returning
the equipment to the fire apparatus. This event challenges aerobic capacity,
upper body muscular strength and endurance, lower body muscular endurance,
grip endurance, and balance.
The candidate must remove the two saws from the tool cabinet,
one at a time, and place them on the ground. Then he/she picks up both saws
(one in each hand) and carries them while walking 75 feet around a drum,
then back to the starting point. Placing the saw(s) on the ground to adjust
a grip is permitted. Upon return to the tool cabinet, the saws are placed on
the ground, then picked up one at a time, and replaced in the cabinet.
Dropping either saw on the ground during the carry will result
in immediate failure. A warning will be given for running; a second warning
constitute a failure.
Event 4: Ladder Raise and Extension
 This event, which uses two 24-foot aluminum extension ladders, is designed
to simulate the placement of a ground ladder at a fire structure and
extending it to the roof or window. This event challenges aerobic capacity,
upper body muscular strength, lower body muscular strength, balance, grip
strength, and anaerobic endurance.
The participant must walk to the top rung of one  ladder, lift
the unhinged end from the ground, and walk it up hand over hand until it is
stationary against the wall. Then he/she immediately proceeds to the other
pre-positioned ladder, stands with both feet within the marked box, extends
the fly section hand over hand until it hits the stop, then lowers it in
back to the starting position.
Immediate failure will result if the ladder is allowed to fall
to the ground, if control is not maintained in a hand-over-hand manner, or
if the rope halyard slips in an uncontrolled manner. Missing any rung during
the raise or allowing one’s feet to extend outside of the boundary results
in a warning; a second warning constitutes a failure.
Event 5: Forcible Entry
This event uses a mechanized device that measures cumulative force and a
10-pound sledgehammer. It simulates the critical tasks of using force to
open a locked door or to breach a wall. This event challenges aerobic
capacity, upper body muscular strength and endurance, lower body muscular
strength and endurance, balance, grip strength and endurance, and anaerobic
endurance.
 For this event, the candidate uses the sledgehammer to strike a
measuring device in a target area until the buzzer activates. Feet must be
kept outside the toe-box at all times.
Failure results if the participant does not maintain control of
the sledgehammer and releases it from both hands while swinging. A warning
is given for stepping inside the toe-box; a second warning constitutes a
failure.
Event 6: Search
This event uses an enclosed search maze that has obstacles and narrowed
spaces. It simulates the critical task of searching for a fire victim with
limited visibility in an unpredictable area. This event challenges aerobic
capacity, upper body muscular strength and endurance, agility, balance,
anaerobic endurance, and kinesthetic awareness.
For this event, the candidate crawls through a tunnel maze that
is approximately 3 feet high, 4 feet wide, 64 feet in length, and has two
90° turns and multiple obstacles. In addition, there are two locations where
the dimensions of the tunnel are reduced. If at any point the participant
chooses to end the event, he/she can call out or rap sharply on the wall or
ceiling and will be assisted out of the maze although doing so will result
in failure of the event. Failure also will occur if the candidate requests
assistance that requires the opening of the escape hatch or opening of the
entrance/exit covers.
Event 7: Rescue
This event uses a weighted mannequin equipped with a shoulder harness to
simulate the critical task of removing a victim or injured partner from a
fire scene. This event challenges aerobic capacity, upper and lower body
muscular strength and endurance, grip strength and endurance, and anaerobic
endurance.
The participant grasps a 165-pound mannequin by the handle(s)
on the shoulder(s)
 of the harness (either one or both handles are
permitted), drags it 35 feet, makes a 180° turn around a pre-positioned
drum, and continues an additional 35 feet to the finish line. Grasping or
resting on the drum is not permitted, but the mannequin may touch the drum.
The candidate is permitted to drop and release the mannequin to adjust
his/her grip. The entire mannequin must be dragged across the finish line.
Grasping or resting on the drum at any time results in a
warning; a second warning constitutes a failure.
Event 8: Ceiling Breach and Pull
This event uses a mechanized device that measures overhead push and pull
forces and a pike pole. The pike pole is a commonly used piece of equipment
that consists of a six-foot long pole with a hook and point attached to one
end.
 This event simulates the critical task of breaching and pulling down a
ceiling to check for fire extension. It challenges aerobic capacity, upper
and lower body muscular strength and endurance, grip strength and endurance,
and anaerobic endurance.
After removing the pike pole from the bracket, the participant
places the tip of the pole on a 60-pound hinged door in the ceiling and
pushes it three times while standing within the established boundary. Then,
the pike pole is hooked to a 80-pound ceiling device and pulled five times.
Each set consists of three pushes and five pulls; the set is repeated four
times. A pause for grip adjustment is allowed.
Releasing one’s grip or allowing the pike pole handle to slip
does not result in a warning or constitute a failure. The candidate may
re-establish his/her grip and resume the event. If a repetition is not
successfully completed, the proctor calls out "MISS" and the apparatus must
be pushed or pulled again to complete the repetition. This event and the
total test time ends when the final pull stroke repetition is completed and
the proctor calls "TIME."
A warning is given for dropping the pike pole to the ground or
for feet straying outside the boundaries; a second warning of either
violation constitute a failure.
General Information
This is a pass/fail test based on a validated maximum total
time of 10 minutes and 20 seconds.
In these events, the candidate wears a 50-pound vest to
simulate the weight of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and
firefighter protective clothing. An additional 25 pounds, using two
12.5-pound weights that simulate a high-rise pack (hose bundle), is added to
the shoulders for the stair climb event.
Throughout all events, the participant 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.
All props were designed to obtain the necessary information
regarding physical ability. The tools and equipment were chosen to provide
the highest level of consistency, safety and validity in measuring the
candidate’s physical abilities. A schematic drawing of the CPAT is included
in this orientation material; however, the course layout may vary in order
to conform to the fire department's test area. The events and distances
between events are always the same.
The events are placed in a sequence that best simulates fire
scene events while allowing an 85-foot walk between events. To ensure the
highest level of safety and to prevent exhaustion, no running is allowed
between events. This walk allows approximately 20 seconds to recover and
regroup before each event.
To ensure scoring accuracy, two stopwatches are used to time
the CPAT. One stopwatch is designated as the official test time stopwatch,
the second is the backup stopwatch. If mechanical failure occurs, the time
on the backup stopwatch is used. The stopwatches are set to the pass/fail
time and countdown from 10 minutes and 20 seconds. If time elapses prior to
the completion of the test, the test is concluded and the participant fails
the test.
Test Forms
Prior to taking the CPAT, each candidate must present valid identification,
sign a number of forms, complete a waiver and release form and a sign-in
form. Candidates are provided an opportunity to review a video detailing the
CPAT and the failure points. It is the candidate's responsibility to ask
questions if any part of the test events or procedures are not understood.
At the conclusion of the CPAT, the candidate must sign the CPAT Evaluation
Form and complete and sign the Rehabilitation Form. Failure to complete and
sign any of these forms results in failure of the CPAT.
Photographs by Sonya Dunkin Alabama Fire College
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