How to Pass the CPAT: 8 Station Breakdown
The Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) consists of 8 consecutive events completed while wearing a 50 lb vest (75 lb during the Stair Climb). You must finish all 8 within 10 minutes 20 seconds. Here is what every station demands:
1. Stair Climb — 3:00 fixed
Stepmill at 60 steps/min with 25 lb extra weight (total 75 lb). The test begins here. Your heart rate will spike — this is intentional. Do not grip the handrails. Two handrail touches = disqualification.
2. Hose Drag — approx. 60–75 s
Pull a 200 ft hose load, sling it over your shoulder, advance 75 ft and turn around a drum, then pull the charged line into a 5 ft box. Stay low and keep moving forward.
3. Equipment Carry — approx. 35–45 s
Remove two power saws from a cabinet at shoulder height, carry them 75 ft, turn around, carry back, replace both. If you drop a saw you must pick it up and continue — no disqualification for dropping.
4. Ladder Raise & Extension — approx. 35–45 s
Raise a 24 ft extension ladder hand-over-hand from ground to vertical. Then move to a second ladder, extend the fly fully using the halyard — controlled; don't let it free-fall.
5. Forcible Entry — approx. 25–35 s
Use a 10 lb sledgehammer to drive a target device 5 ft. Stay within the striking box at all times. Losing control of the hammer or stepping outside the box is an automatic fail.
6. Search / Crawl — approx. 35–45 s
Navigate a dark, maze-like tunnel on your hands and knees. The tunnel has turns and obstacles. If you feel stuck, breathe, orient yourself, and keep moving. Exiting before completion = fail.
7. Rescue Drag — approx. 30–45 s
Drag a 165 lb mannequin 35 ft to a drum and back, a total of 70 ft. Grasp under the arms or by the vest harness. Use your legs and lean back. This is the biggest strength demand of the test.
8. Ceiling Breach & Pull — approx. 50–70 s
Use a pike pole: 3 sets of pushing a 60 lb hinged panel up 5 times and pulling a 80 lb weighted pike down 5 times. This is the final event — empty your tank. Incomplete reps = fail.
Standard Equipment Weights
Vest weight (all events): 50 lb
Stair Climb add-on: +25 lb = 75 lb total
Rescue Drag mannequin: 165 lb