The Candidate Physical Ability Test, also known as CPAT, is comprised of eight tasks. All eight tasks simulate what a firefighter may perform on a fire ground. Any firefighter candidate should take this test serious by staying in good physical condition at all times. The eight tasks include:

  1. Stair Climb: The candidate shall wear two 12.5 pound weights on their shoulders. The candidate will be given a 20 second warm-up on the Stair Master StepMill at level three (50 steps per minute), then the timing for the test will begin as the candidate continues for an additional three minutes at level four (60 steps per minute). Proceed to the Hose Drag Task.
  2. Hose Drag: The candidate will place a nozzle that is connected to 200 feet of 1 ¾” hose line over their shoulder and drag the hose line past a mark that is 75 feet away, then make a 90 degree turn and pull the hose line an additional 25 feet. The candidate will then turn, face the hose and pull the hose line hand over hand toward themselves for an additional 50 feet. Proceed to the Equipment Carry Task.
  3. Equipment Carry: The candidate shall remove two power saws from a storage cabinet, one at a time, and place them on the ground. The candidate will then pick up both saws and carry them 75 feet around a marker and then back to the starting point. Then they will place the saws back into the storage cabinet. Proceed to the Ladder Raise and Extension Task.
  4. Ladder Raise and Extension: The candidate shall raise a 24 foot extension ladder with a hand over hand method until it is fully extended, then lower the upper section completely using a hand over hand method without dropping the ladder. Proceed to Forcible Entry Task.
  5. Forcible Entry: The candidate shall strike a forcible entry device, using a horizontal swing with a ten pound sledgehammer, until notified. Proceed to the Search Task.
  6. Search: The candidate shall crawl through a tunnel maze from the entry to exit point, navigating over , around, and under obstacles that are placed at various points. Proceed to the Rescue Task.
  7. Rescue: The candidate shall pull a 165 pound dummy 35 feet to a marked area, then make a 180 degree turn and return to the finish line. Proceed to the Ceiling Breach and Pull Task.
  8. Ceiling Breach and Pull: The candidate shall use a 6 foot pike pole, fully push up the weighted, 60 pound ceiling door three times. Then hook the pike pole on the weighted ceiling pulling device and pull down five times. Repeat this sequence of three pushes and five pulls for a total of four sets.

The firefighter CPAT is more strenuous then the PAT. A candidate should be prepared by staying in good physical condition and consulting with a doctor before taking this test. The maximum time allowed for passing the CPAT is 10 minutes and 20 seconds.