Fitness Requirements to Become a Police Officer in Each Australian STATE or Territory

​The requirements for becoming a police officer in Australia differ depending on your location. There are the typical requirements that you would expect in many other job interviews, but to become a police officer, you also have to be physically fit enough to be able to carry out the duties of the job. 

​Think of intense situations where police officers have to be able to perform under periods of strenuous physical exertion. Below you'll find the physical fitness requirements for becoming an officer in each Australian state or territory.

Queensland

​The Queensland Police Service (QPS) does its physical skills testing at the Queensland Police Service Academy at four different stages. They also call these 'gates'. 

Gate One

• ​90 Second Prone Bridge Test (also called "plank")
  The test is designed to assess the endurance of the core muscles. The key is that you are able to maintain a straight line between the shoulders and toes through your lats, hips and knees even when moving between the elbow and hand prone bridge position.

​

• 10 Push-ups
  Push-ups will assess your upper body strength and endurance while performing it with the standard technique for 10 repetitions. You will have only one attempt to meet the requirements. Feet can't be wider than your hips and you'll need to demonstrate great control.
• Beep Test
  Also called physical competency test or shuttle runs. It will test your aerobic fitness and endurance. You'll have to run between two markers placed 20m apart and complete each shuttle for a specific time. You'll have to meet the minimum requirement of your age and gender to pass this test.

Gate Two

• Urban Environmental Simulator (obstacle course)
  This obstacle course is designed to replicate the urban environment with 13 obstacles to test your agility, speed and strength in a near-life situation.

Gate Three

• Beep Test
• Urban Environmental Simulator

Gate Four

• Repeat Gate One: 90 Seconds Prone Bridge, 10 Push-up, Beep Test
• Body Drag
  The Police is often the first to attend an emergency and as part of their duty, officers may be required to be able to drag unconscious people out of harm's way. It's imperative they are allowed to go on duty knowing they are capable of fulfilling that task with the correct technique ensuring they don't get caught up in the issue themselves.

New South Wales

​Once you have passed the vetting process of the New South Wales (NSW) Police Force, you will then be required to do their physical capacity testing. The tests will simulate events a police officer usually deals with on duty. You can attempt the full test twice with all elements. The test includes a handgrip strength test, a prone bridge test, a vertical jump test, a push-up test, an Illinois agility test, and a multi-stage fitness test, also called beep test.
​

• Handgrip Test
  The handgrip test involves a dynamometer, which an applicant squeezes with each hand. You must be able to reach at least 30 kg with each hand to successfully complete the test.
• 90 Sec Prone Bridge Test
• Vertical Jump
  The vertical jump test verifies how high an applicant can jump. It's a way to measure your lower body strength and power. Applicants must be able to jump at least 30 cm in two attempts.
• Push-up
  Applicants must reach at least 25 push-ups in a single attempt.

​

• Illinois Agility
  An Illinois agility test determines speed and agility. You will be timed while running and moving around traffic cones, and you must be able to finish the course in 20 seconds or less. You will have two attempts at it.
• Beep  Test
  You must reach a score of at least 7.1 in just one attempt.

The Victoria Police require healthy levels of both strength and cardiovascular fitness if you'd like to join them. Aside from the initial testing needed upon entry, there will be regular and ongoing repeat tests while employed, so it makes sense to stick to a regular fitness regime to stay in shape. Not only for the tests of course, the job itself has got physical demands you'd want to be able to meet.

There are 7 components to the assessment.

• Handgrip Test
  Applicants must be able to squeeze a minimum of 30kg in each hand as measured by a dynamometer. 
• Push-up Test
  The requirement is 5 push-ups, performed on the toes. The test will require that your elbows are bent at 90 degrees between shoulder and elbow.
• Prone Bridge Test
  This position will need to be held continuously for 60 seconds. It will be performed on the elbows with forearms on the ground. No transitions between elbows and hands are required.
• Obstacle Climb
  Climbing over one 1.3m obstacle while demonstrating control.
• Beep Test
  Across a flat 20m course, you need to score at least 5.01.
• Illinois Agility Test
  This 9.14m x 4.16m must be run in 20 seconds or less.
• Swim Test
  ​In a pool, you must swim 100m in 4 minutes or less. You will begin the test in the pool, holding on to the edge. Your feet must not touch the bottom of the pool at any time. You must touch each end of the pool before starting your next lap. You can use any combination of strokes you prefer.

Tasmania

The Tasmania Police Academy Physical Fitness Testing is run by Healthy Business. Certain measurements and assessments must be completed to pass and become an officer.
​

• Waist-to-Hip Ratio
  Your waist-to-hip ratio is important since fat can lead to certain health risks. This ratio is calculated by dividing your waist size by your hip size. Men must have a waist-hip ratio of .95 or less, and women should have a ratio of .85 or less.
• BMI
  Body Mass Index (BMI) is calculated by dividing your weight with your height. An applicant's BMI must be between 20 and 29.9 for both men and women.
• Beep Test
  Men under 30 must reach a level of 8.8. Men in their 30s must reach a level of 8.4, while men who are 40 or older must reach at least 7.8. Women under 30 must reach a 6.6 level. Women in their 30s must reach a level of 6.2, while women 40 and over must reach a level of 5.7.
• Push-up
  You'll be given 60 seconds to complete as many push-ups as possible. Men must complete at least 20 push-ups, while women must complete at least 6.

• Illinois agility test
  Men must complete the test in 20 seconds or less, and women must complete it in 22 seconds or less.
  
• Grip strength is tested for each hand on a dynamometer. Men must reach a score of 45 for each hand, and women must reach at least 25 for each hand.

​

• ​Abdominal Strength
  ​In the abdominal strength test, applicants are placed down on their backs. The tester puts their fingers under the applicant's lower back, and the applicant raises their legs to a 90-degree angle while still laying on the floor. The objective is to sustain the pressure on the tester's fingers by contracting abdominal muscles as the applicant lowers their legs. The angle in which the legs are at the point where the pressure on the tester's fingers is no longer present shows the value of abdominal strength. This value has to be at least 45 degrees or less for both male and female applicants.

Northern Territory

A Fit for Purpose Physical Assessment is part of the extensive recruitment process for the Northern Territory Police. The aim of the assessment is to determine whether you are fit to become a police officer.

The test consists of an obstacle course that must be completed under 2 minutes and 40 seconds while wearing a 10-kg weighted vest. You'll have one attempt on the day to achieve that. You will have to complete seven different tasks in the course, which are the following:

• 70-kg dummy drag - the applicant has to drag a 70-kg dummy for 15 metres.
• The balance beam test requires applicants to walk down a two-metre long beam without stepping off.
• The simulated curb huddle involves running and stopping to step over tire stops.
• For step-ups, applicants step on and off a 30-cm box as a way to simulate climbing multiple stairs. This must be done 20 times in total, 10 for each foot.
• The fence scale test verifies if applicants can climb over a 1.8-metre chain mesh fence successfully.​
• The stomach to standing task involves transitioning from a standing position to laying down on their stomach with their arms straight out at their sides. This must be done 5 times as it is supposed to simulate exertion during certain arrests.
• Firearm manipulation tests the applicant's motor skills and hand-grip strength. The applicant must rack the slide of a training firearm 5 times with each hand.

​At the start you'll receive 5 characteristics of a suspect, you will have to be able to repeat back 3 of those as the lat task of the course.

Western Australia

Applicants must be able to complete a Police Physical Evaluation (PPE). The tasks in the evaluation include a shuttle run test, abdominal strength test involving sit-ups, a hand-grip strength test, an upper body strength and endurance test involving push-ups and a bag lift, as well as an agility test. You will be given 3 attempts to complete the evaluation successfully, and if you fail all 3 attempts, you will be forced to wait 12 months before attempting it again. Here's a quick run-down of the requirements, check out the full documentation for detailed info.

• Shuttle run (beep test) - you'll get one attempt to hit your required laps based on your age, gender and where you apply to be accepted.
• The abdominal strength test includes completing just one sit-up where your elbows reach your knees while your feet stay on the ground. You are given three attempts to complete the one sit-up.
• Hand-grip strength will be measured with a dynamometer for both hands. Men and women must get to at least 30 kg with each hand.
• Push-ups are included to measure upper body strength and endurance. Both male and female applicants are required to hit the same number of push-ups performed with the correct technique. Custody Support and Cadet applicants need to perform 5, while Recruit Applicants 10 pushups. If you fail three consecutive repetitions, you fail the test. The maximum rest you can have between repetitions is 3 seconds.
• Bag Lift and Carry - You will also need to lift a 35kg aqua bag with the proper technique, carry it for 20 metres at hip height and place it safely onto a 70cm high table. You are given two attempts to complete it.
• Modified Illinois Agility Test - It's designed to measure your ability to change speed quickly. You will have to run around a course with cones without touching them and be able to complete it in the given time. You'll have two attempts to complete it. The time requirement changes based on your gender and where you apply. Cadet and Recruit Applicants: male 17s, female 18.90s; Custoy Support Applicants: male 21s, female 23.20s.

South Australia

South Australia Police requires applicants to complete the 'fit for duty' fitness test. You will wear a 10-kg weighted vest and complete a series of actions for time. The test will assess your endurance, strength and speed so make sure you train for it properly. 

You will be required to perform the following tasks:

• running 80 metres,
• running 25 metres while carrying two 15 kg weights,
• crossing a slippery balance beam,
• doing 20 step-ups,
• climbing over a one-metre fence,
• dropping to your stomach five times, and
• collecting a training firearm and triggering it 13 times with each hand.

Before starting the test, you will be given five types of physical characteristics to remember (e.g. hair colour, height, etc.) and will be asked to repeat at least three of them once you complete all of the tasks. The test needs to be completed in under two minutes and thirty seconds.

Australian Capital Territory

​Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Policing is considered the community arm of the Australian Federal Police (AFP). To complete the required fitness tests, you must obtain an AFP medical certificate beforehand. The Entry Physical Competency Assessment is required to evaluate what applicants are capable of. The tests include three exercises: the beep test, push-ups, and phased sit-ups.

• The beep test - Both men and women must reach a score of 6.5.
• Push-up test - The applicant's elbow must bend at a 90-degree angle, and their chest must be at least 5 cm off of the ground. Men must get at least 15, and women must get at least 8 push-ups completed.
• Phased Sit-ups - Both men and women should receive a level 4 score on the phased sit-ups test.

​

​All applicants have to pass each part of the test successfully in one attempt.