Physical standards to become an RCMP officer

Police physical fitness is a discipline that develops over time. It's necessary for safety, well-being and longevity in law enforcement. If you're considering a policing career, start working on your fitness today! Be consistent and practise fitness multiple times each week.

Successful applicants will be invited to attend the RCMP Cadet Training Program prior to employment. Applicants must have developed good fitness habits and are required to begin cadet training with an adequate level of fitness. Information provided below will help you determine your fitness readiness for the Cadet Training program.

The RCMP Police Fitness Training program at Depot is not a "boot camp" or a novice fitness program. To begin cadet training, you will need to be comfortable running, lifting, carrying, and performing daily moderate to intense physical exercise.

There are 4 steps in the process of RCMP Applicant Fitness.

Step 1 - Perform and record regular exercise

Your recruiter will provide you with fitness log sheets to record your workouts. Even if you haven't received these sheets, start performing and recording your workouts today! Any time you exercise, keep a log of the type of exercise, duration, and corresponding date.

Step 2 - Perform fitness self-assessments periodically

Your recruiter will ask you to conduct some basic fitness self-tests to help gauge your readiness for cadet training. It's recommended you perform these tests and record the results every 6-12 weeks. Perform them more frequently if you're struggling with your fitness level. They are as follows:

5 kilometre run test

Mark out a route that covers 5 kilometres. Use a GPS or odometer and where possible, avoid using a treadmill! Compare your results to the times below:

• Minimum standard: 30 minutes
• Target standard: 23 minutes 30 seconds to 26 minutes 30 seconds
• Superior standard: 20 minutes 20 seconds to 23 minutes

Push-up test

Fold a hand towel into 3 parts and place it on the floor in front of you. Place yourself in a 'push-up' position, balancing on your hands and toes with the towel below your chin. Lower yourself down until your chin touches the towel. Press up to the starting position, ensuring your elbows are completely straight at the end of each repetition. Ensure your thighs do not touch the floor throughout the test. Do as many push-ups as you can without pausing or changing positions. Do not count push-ups performed on the knees in your total count.

• Minimum standard: 10 continuous repetitions
• Target standard: 25 – 40 continuous repetitions
• Superior standard: 40 – 60 continuous repetitions

The "minimum" standard identifies the lowest level of fitness where you have a reasonable chance of success in completing the physical requirements of cadet training. If you fall below these standards, your risk of failure in the program increases.

The "target" standard identifies a fitness level where you are performing at an 'average' fitness level compared to the cadet population. The range encompasses average performance levels across genders. If you’re falling within this performance zone, you’ll likely perform well in the fitness program and will have a decreased chance of failure in the program.

The "superior" standard identifies the top 10% of cadet fitness performance. The range encompasses top performance across genders. If your performance falls within this zone you are likely to excel in the cadet fitness program.

Step 3 - Self-declaration of your fitness status

This a document where you attest to your fitness abilities and habits prior to entering the RCMP Training Academy.

Your recruiter will provide you with this document later in the process. Take your time and answer the questions accurately. This is an additional readiness for Depot. Be honest! You cannot hide your lack of fitness at Depot. If you are not physically ready, discuss this with your recruiter.

Step 4 - The Police Fitness Assessment

You will not be required to perform the Police Fitness Assessment prior to cadet training, but if you have an opportunity to perform the police fitness assessment, you are encouraged to do so.

At the RCMP Training Academy you'll be required to pass the police fitness assessment periodically throughout training. If you are meeting the minimum standards set out in the "Self-Assessment of Fitness" tests you will be better prepared for success on the police fitness assessment.

What is the Police Fitness Assessment?

The police fitness assessment is a set of 4 assessments to measure fitness for RCMP duty. Each assessment replicates common, essential, physically demanding tasks that may occur in policing.

• Foot pursuit: 500 metre run with directional changes. At the halfway point of the assessment the cadet must climb a 1.4 metre chain-link fence.
• Physical control: Alternately pushing and pulling a sled that requires the cadet to overcome 37 kilograms of resistance. There is one position change at the halfway point where the cadet lies on the ground and returns to a standing position. After the sled push and pull is complete the cadet will proceed to pull down a weighted mannequin that requires them to overcome 54 kilograms of force. This assessment must be completed without any stopping.
• Emergency assistance: The cadet will load the back of a truck bed with 15 objects. Each item weighs 23 kilograms and there are 5 different shapes/styles of objects. This assessment is completed for time. The second part of this task is to evacuate patients to safety. This requires the cadet to run 50 meters and then carry a weight that replicates the position and size of half a stretcher with an adult casualty. The cadet will repeat this task 3 times for time.
• High priority task: In this task the cadet will don the additional weight of the hard body armour gear. They will sprint 150 metres, climb two flights of stairs, and finish with an additional short sprint. They will be carrying a 4.5-kilogram weight in their hands during the task. This task must be completed in 90 seconds.

Note

Each of these tasks are performed in the police uniform and/or replica weight divided between the vest and duty belt. Early in training cadets will perform the assessment in a t-shirt and shorts. They will progress to the uniform and equivalent kit weight for their final assessments.

How do I prepare for the Police Fitness Assessment?

Follow steps 1, 2 and 3 diligently. Regularly perform 3 to 5 cardiovascular training sessions per week, and 2 to 3 resistance training sessions per week. Some of these workouts should include running, jumping, lifting and carrying. Some of these workouts should raise your heart rate and keep it elevated for 20-30 minutes. You should finish many of your workouts having sweat through your clothes and requiring a shower immediately afterwards. Ask your recruiter for a Police Fitness Assessment preparation program.

The police fitness assessment comes in two versions.

1. Bona fide Occupational Requirement: This has been nicknamed the "gold standard" or the "cadet version" of the Police Fitness Assessment. Each assessment looks and feels like the policing task (climbing a fence, loading a truck bed, etc.). You will only experience these tests at the RCMP Training Academy.
2. Field: This version has been nicknamed the "Regular Member" version of the police fitness assessment. You may experience this version of the police fitness assessment during the recruiting process. Its purpose is to help you predict success on the police fitness assessment at Depot.