Employment Fitness Test

Applicant must be able to pass the physical fitness assessment at the standards established for academy applicants.

The physical fitness assessment consists of the following:

1. Exit patrol car:

The candidate will begin seated in a patrol car.

The seat belt does not need to be fastened. The test monitor will tell the candidate to “GO.”  The candidate must then exit the patrol car and complete the following physical tasks. Timing begins with two stopwatches (in case of malfunction) when the car door cracks open. 

2. Run:

The candidate must run a distance of about 300 yards (the approximate length of the entire course), encountering obstacles along the way.

3. Fence climb:

Candidates will run to the first obstacle, a 6-foot chain link fence, and climb over it.  Candidates may take as many attempts as necessary to complete this component, but must successfully navigate over the top of the fence in order to continue with the sequence.

4. Stair climb:

Candidates will proceed to the stair climb component, running up one side and down the other.  There are 6 steps on the ascent and descent, with a platform in the middle.

Terrain change:

After running around a barrel and changing directions, candidates will encounter a change in the terrain; this is a naturally occurring “dip” in the land that candidates must navigate on the way to the next obstacle. 

6. Navigate under low-lying obstacle:

Candidates will run to the next obstacle, two standard 6-foot, fold-up office tables positioned in sequence (not length-wise).  There is approximately 30” of clearance underneath which candidates must navigate through.  Minor displacement of the tables is permissible (if a candidate stands up too early, for instance, and disrupts the table placement), however, should a candidate completely up-end a table, the table should be repositioned, and the candidate should be instructed to re-attempt the test component (while the stopwatches continue to run).

7. Jump over low-lying obstacle #1:

The candidate must jump over a low-lying obstacle, a plastic pipe resting on two small traffic cones, approximately 12” high.  Should a candidate knock the plastic pipe out of position, the test administrator or course marshal should immediately replace the pipe and instruct the candidate to re-attempt the test component (while the stopwatches continue to run).

8. Jump over low-lying obstacle #2:

The candidate must jump over a low-lying obstacle, a plastic pipe resting on two small traffic cones, approximately 12” high.  Should a candidate knock the plastic pipe out of position, the test administrator or course marshal should immediately replace the pipe and instruct the candidate to re-attempt the test component (while the stopwatches continue to run).

9. Victim rescue / suspect move (approximately 150 pounds):

After changing directions once more, and running around a barrel, the candidate will run to a dummy representing an officer in need of assistance or a suspect, and will drag the dummy completely past a line approximately 15 feet away.  Timing of the test stops when the entire dummy passes over the line.  The fastest time between the two stop watches is recorded.

 The applicant must pass the required tests during a single session.

Watch our video about the test:

Waco Police Department >>