Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)

The Task Force directed the Technical Committee to develop a performance test for the 10 jurisdictions that measures the critical skills of fire fighter candidates. Committee members reviewed six of the 10 jurisdictions job analysis and job task surveys. They also reviewed each of the ten jurisdiction’s current candidate performance tests and job descriptions.

Additionally, a complete equipment and demographics survey was also completed by the ten jurisdictions. The equipment survey provided types and weights of all fire fighter protective clothing, protective equipment, fire department equipment and fire department tools. It also assessed the average weight of fire fighters in each jurisdiction as well as the average weight of emergency room and hospital admitted patients. Demographic profiles of each jurisdiction were also developed.

Using the data collected, the Committee then derived a list of 31 tasks to investigate. They developed survey questions directly related to these 31 tasks. The critical and physical task skills that all fire fighters should possess were validated (through questionnaires) by 1,000 fire fighters from the ten departments. Selection of the 1,000 fire fighters was random and anonymous, but consistent with the race and gender diversity of the specific department. The completed results of the surveys resulted in the development a series of physical ability tests that were selected based on the results of the data indicating the physicality and criticality of the tasks performed by fire fighters.

Props for each event were built and modified to obtain the necessary information regarding candidate’s ability. The props were then placed in a sequence that would best simulate their use in a fire scene. The Technical Committee chose to move the candidates along a predetermined path from event to event in a continuous manner requiring a mandatory walk between events.

Because of the test set up, individual event times would be an ineffective measure of a candidate’s ability, so an overall test time needs to be established. Numerous individuals were run through the test including: technical staff members, incumbent fire fighters, lay people and a recruit class.

The overall consensus found the test to be a good predictor of an applicant’s ability to perform basic fire fighting tasks. The Technical Committee was confident that the ability test would provide the fire service with a physically competent recruit. There was also unanimous agreement that the test equaled or was superior to current test run by each of the 10 jurisdictions.

These tests were filmed at different speeds and presented to supervisors in the 10 jurisdictions (captains and battalion chiefs with experience in fire fighter training). At the completion of this process an entry test was finalized and presented to the Task Force for adoption. The Task Force unanimously adopted the full Candidate Physical Ability Test with a pass/fail time of 10 minutes and 20 seconds. The test may only be administered on a pass/fail basis, municipalities may not rank candidates based upon CPAT completion times.

In developing the CPAT Program, the Task Force recognized that the fire department should reflect the community it serves. In today’s society, communities are increasingly diverse and fire fighters are continually challenged to operate in multi-cultural environments. The goal of the CPAT is to test for those individuals physically qualified to perform the job of fire fighter without separating from the department’s broader goal of attaining a properly trained and physically capable workforce whose members reflect the diversity of the community. Diversity should never come by lowering validated entry standards. Rather, it should come from actively recruiting qualified men and women candidates from all racial and ethnic backgrounds for careers in the fire service. It is the position of the IAFF/IAFC Joint Labor Management Wellness-Fitness Initiative Task Force that fire departments should increase the diversity of their workforce by actively recruiting candidates from throughout their communities rather than lowering candidate physical ability standards. The CPAT Program details avenues fire departments can pursue to raise awareness of job opportunities and to recruit and mentor qualified candidates within the fire service before the test is administered.

The CPAT goal was to develop a fair and valid evaluation tool in the selection of fire fighters to ensure that all fire fighter candidates possess the physical ability to complete critical tasks effectively and safely. This CPAT Program covers every aspect of administering the CPAT: from recruiting and mentoring programs, to providing recruits with fitness guidance to help prepare them for the CPAT, to setting up and administering the test. The entire validation process is discussed in detail, as well as the legal issues that departments might face when implementing the actual program.

In 2006, the following orientation and pre-test procedures were implemented after a conciliation agreement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC):

All candidates will attend at least two mandatory orientation sessions commencing within eight weeks before the actual official CPAT test date, during which they will receive “hands on” familiarity with the actual CPAT apparatus. Candidates may voluntarily attend up to one additional orientation session.

Within 30 days prior to the actual CPAT test date, all candidates will perform at least 2 timed practice runs, using actual CPAT apparatus, and in which the candidate is allowed to take as much time as necessary to complete the entire course.

A candidate may waive all of the fore-mentioned program components and be eligible to participate in a CPAT test. Such a waiver shall only be acceptable if it is in writing, and is made on a wholly knowing and voluntary basis.

During the orientations and practice runs certified Peer Fitness Trainers, fitness professionals and/or CPAT trained fire fighters (proctors) will be present to help all candidates understand the test elements and how they can improve their physical performance and conditioning prior to taking the test.

Further, the WFI Task Force now requires that all those that are licensed to use the CPAT must fully implement these orientation and pre-test procedures. For those fire departments that are utilizing another Licensee to conduct their CPAT, the fire department, as the employer, must ensure that these changes are incorporated.

After a municipality has completed all aspects of recruiting and mentoring candidates they may administer the actual eight-event test. During the entire test the candidate must wear a 50 lb. weighted vest (simulating the weight of a fire fighters protective clothing and equipment). The eight events are:

The information below includes guidance and accommodations for purchasing and using newer models of stair steppers for the IAFF/IAFC CPAT. The IAFF recognizes that stair stepper manufacturers have retooled their assembly lines to produce the latest generation of machines. This has caused significant difficulty with removing one side rail and moving the machine’s screen so candidates do not see the LED countdown during their test. It has also caused concern from entities and fire departments that administer the CPAT that modifying the newer machines will void the manufacturer’s warranty. Unlike older stair steppers that were easily unbolted and unscrewed from the side rail and screen and refitted to the machine to its original configuration, the new stair steppers require permanent cutting of the side rail and the support pipe that holds the screen to meet the CPAT manuals specifications.To mitigate these issues, the IAFF is allowing and accommodating addendum guidelines to the CPAT manual as follows:

On June 5, 2006, the IAFF notified all CPAT licensees of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) conciliation agreement with the IAFF which required specific changes in the administration of the CPAT Program. The EEOC agreed that it will not file a lawsuit during the term of this agreement based upon a claim that the CPAT has a discriminatory impact on female candidates against any fire department that utilizes the CPAT in conformity with these changes. Pursuant to this agreement, the Task Force revised the CPAT Program manual to incorporate the conciliation agreement in its entirety. Further, the Task Force has now unanimously agreed that as a condition of obtaining and maintaining a CPAT license these revisions must be fully incorporated by the CPAT license holder.

On July 19, 2006, the IAFF notified all CPAT licensees of the release of our secure web-based application, CPAT Administration. CPAT Administration was developed to provide a tool for all CPAT licensees that support all aspects of administering the CPAT program. As part of the EEOC conciliation agreement, the IAFF agreed to collect and provide aggregate and redacted data to the EEOC to allow it to assess the effectiveness of the modifications in addressing the impact of the CPAT on female candidates. All licensees must agree to collect and provide the IAFF and the IAFC data regarding number of male, female and minority applicants that have taken the CPAT and the pass/fail rates of each. The Task Force has now unanimously agreed that as a condition of obtaining and maintaining a CPAT license, the CPAT Administration shall be used by the licensee as the sole means for collecting and providing data as well as for the administration of the CPAT.

The IAFF, the IAFC and the Task Force have now developed and adopted a new policy on CPAT Limited Licenses. Any department utilizing a limited licensee to administer and conduct their CPAT testing program MUST also have a license. As the full license holder, the department will be responsible for the entire program, including the portion conducted by the limited licensed organization that is assisting with the CPAT.

In 2008, the IAFF/IAFC Joint Labor Management Wellness-Fitness Initiative Task Force completed and the IAFF published the 2nd Edition of the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) program. The new edition incorporates the above information as well as provides new videos and tools for a successful CPAT program.
Under the current policy, authorization to use the CPAT under a full license will only be granted to fire departments and other employers that will be fully administering the CPAT Program and hiring fire fighter employees. Limiting the granting of licenses to only those entities that actually administer the program has enabled us to better ensure that the CPAT is only being administered in strict compliance with the licensing agreement. Third party testing organizations (limited to federal, state or provincial agencies; state/provincial fire academies; colleges/universities that conduct pre-employment testing; or pre-employment testing organizations) that only administer the physical testing portion of the CPAT may apply for a Limited License.

Such Limited Licenses allow such third party testing organizations to use the CPAT for purposes of testing the physical capability of fire fighter candidates. However, this license is granted only upon the express conditions that the licensee may only administer the CPAT for a fire department that already possesses a complete and valid license from the IAFF. Limited licensees shall not administer the CPAT to any person without first obtaining a written agreement with the fire department to which the person is applying. The provisions of this agreement are outlined below.

These Limited License organizations then operate under the license of the jurisdiction that is responsible for administering the overall CPAT Program. In addition, a fire department that uses another fire department’s resources and facilities to test candidates must apply for a license of their own. The licensing policy ensures that the CPAT Program used by the licensee fully covers every aspect of the CPAT, including recruiting and mentoring programs, providing recruits with fitness guidance to help prepare them for the CPAT and setting up and administering the test.

A Limited CPAT License is granted to allow the use the CPAT for purposes of testing the physical capability of fire fighter candidates. The limited license is granted only upon the express conditions that the licensee may only administer the CPAT for a fire department that already possesses a complete and valid license from the IAFF. Any attempt by the licensee to use the CPAT for testing incumbents is inconsistent with the scope of this license, and is therefore prohibited. The licensee is only authorized to make use of the CPAT in accordance with the terms and conditions of the CPAT manual and the CPAT Limited Licensee Policy. CPAT limited licenses will only be issued to third party testing organizations that are:

Limited licensees may only administer the physical testing portion of the CPAT for the purpose of testing the physical capability of fire fighter candidates under the CPAT requirements. Limited licensees shall not administer the CPAT to any person without first obtaining a written agreement with the fire department to which the person is applying. Such agreement will contain the following provisions:

As a condition of receiving a limited license, an applicant must agree that it will only administer the CPAT in accordance with the IAFF’s licensing requirements, which include full compliance with the EEOC conciliation agreement and utilization of the CPAT Administration.
To ensure compliance with this policy, the IAFF will conduct on-site reviews and audits of the facilities holding a limited license, and the limited licensee must agree to fully cooperate with such efforts. The on-site review and audit will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

To ensure that the IAFF has adequate resources to conduct on-site reviews and audits, limited license holders will be charged an annual licensing fee of five thousand dollars ($5,000). Limited licenses will continue to be non-transferable, nonexclusive and revocable at will for any reason.

The CPAT license is granted only upon the express conditions that the licensee must use the CPAT in whole and only for the purpose of candidate testing. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, recruiting, mentoring, preparatory programs, orientation programs, and proper program administration including using specified equipment, test parameters, qualified proctors and test personnel. Any attempt by the licensee to use only a portion of the CPAT or to use the CPAT for testing incumbents is inconsistent with the scope of this license, and is therefore prohibited.

The licensee is only authorized to make use of the CPAT in accordance with the terms and conditions of the CPAT manual. Full CPAT Licenses will only be issued to fire departments for the purposes of candidate preparation and physical ability testing of career fire fighters.

The IAFF has copyrighted the CPAT in order to prevent unauthorized use of this program. The IAFF owns the exclusive right to reproduce copies of the CPAT; to prepare derivative works from the CPAT; to distribute the CPAT to the public; and to publicly display this work. The copyright on the CPAT is registered with the United States Copyright Office. Because of this registration, the IAFF may invoke certain remedies in a lawsuit for copyright infringement. These remedies include actual damages, injunction, any profits realized by the infringer, and statutory damages, including attorneys’ fees and litigation costs. The IAFF’s copyright on the CPAT is also afforded complete protection in Canada pursuant to the Universal Copyright Convention. The IAFF reserves all rights under Canadian and international law for copyright infringement for any illegal use, distribution, copying and creation of derivative works that are not allowed by this license. Under Canadian laws the IAFF may invoke certain remedies in a lawsuit for copyright infringement. These remedies include actual damages, injunction, any profits realized by the infringer, and punitive damages.

Any use of the CPAT is only allowed within the terms and conditions spelled out in a licensing agreement, which must be strictly adhered to by all licensees. This agreement states that the licensee may only use the CPAT in its entirety, and it explicitly prohibits use of the CPAT to test incumbent members of a fire department.

This copyright protection does extend to any derivative physical ability test that is “substantially similar” to the CPAT test. Further, the IAFF does NOT grant a license for the creation of derivative works, or works that are based on whole or in part on the CPAT. This includes works that are written as well as oral. Specific, written permission is necessary from the IAFF in order to create derivative works.

While the IAFF may permit the reproduction and reprinting of the CPAT upon request, this does not authorize the licensee to reprint or reproduce, in whole or in part, the CPAT. Specific, written permission is necessary from the IAFF in order to reprint or reproduce the CPAT. The IAFF reserves all rights and remedies for copyright infringement for any illegal use, distribution, copying or creation of derivative works that are not covered by this license.

The IAFF is entitled to, and will, institute legal action against any infringement of its exclusive rights or its licensing agreement. The remedies for copyright infringement include obtaining an injunction to prevent further infringement and to ensure the destruction of unauthorized copies. They also include the recovery of any damages suffered by the IAFF and the Task Force; recovery of the profits of the infringer; and the recovery of attorneys’ fees and costs of the litigation.

This license is subject to termination at the election of the IAFF by written notice. This license cannot be transferred or sub-licensed to any third parties without permission from the IAFF. The IAFF owns the copyright and other related rights to the work entitled “Candidate Physical Ability Test” (“CPAT”). The IAFF, the IAFC and the ten jurisdictions and local unions of the Task Force own the proprietary rights to the CPAT.

In the ongoing effort to ensure that the CPAT is being used properly and only as intended, the IAFF enacted a reporting and investigation program that can be used to identify deficiencies in CPAT implementation. Reportable problems could include, but are not limited to, jurisdictions using the CPAT as an employment requirement without proper licensure, jurisdictions altering CPAT events in a manner inconsistent with the CPAT manual, or jurisdictions using the CPAT for the purpose of testing incumbent fire fighters. The name of anyone reporting a violation will remain strictly confidential.

Click here to report a CPAT violation.