Physical Ability Test (PAT) for Firefighters

FPSI’s Physical Ability Test (PAT) has been the gold standard in firefighter physical testing since 1996, used to screen hundreds of thousands of candidates nationwide. Unlike generic tests, the PAT combines the strength of FPSI’s historic validation database with the flexibility to customize the assessment to each department’s unique requirements. With FPSI’s PAT, you also receive comprehensive support, including consultation, job analysis forms, orientation materials, proctor training videos, and an administration manual.

The PAT evaluates candidates on eleven critical and physically demanding tasks every firefighter must be able to perform. Each test is tailored to reflect your department’s equipment, standard operating procedures, and performance expectations, ensuring the final assessment directly represents the physical duties of your firefighters. A customized cutoff score is then established to align with your agency’s standards, providing both fairness and defensibility.

Incumbent Maintenance Physical Ability Testing

Fire and human resources departments across the U.S. spend an inordinate amount of time and money ensuring that their firefighter recruitment process includes a job-related and validated physical ability test (PAT) for new hires. However, there currently is no standardized PAT used as a maintenance test to ensure that fire suppression personnel remain physically fit to perform the critical, physical parts of the job once they are hired. Learn how to implement a work-sample physical ability test (PAT) that can be used for both fire candidates and incumbents and the ways in which different cutoff scores can be used for both groups.

Watch or Download: All Eleven P.A.T. Events (.mp4 26mb)

Implementation

Implementation of the PAT is carefully planned to ensure validity and to meet your needs. To begin the process or for further information, please call FPSI at (916) 294-4242 or send an e-mail message to info@fpsi.com.