Physical standards to become an RCMP officer

Preparing for a policing career starts long before you arrive at the RCMP Academy (Depot). Physical fitness is a necessary part of your safety, well-being and longevity in law enforcement. To thrive at Depot, you should develop consistent fitness habits now. Be sure you understand the physical fitness expectations before you apply.

As a successful applicant, you’ll be invited to attend the Cadet Training Program where your physical fitness will be tested.

Four steps to get ready for Depot

The Police Fitness Training program at Depot is not a boot camp or a novice fitness program. Before you start cadet training, you’ll need to be comfortable running, lifting, carrying, and performing daily moderate to intense physical exercise.

There are 4 steps in the process of applicant fitness.

Step 1: Perform and record 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

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

The minimum standard is the lowest level of fitness that will give you a reasonable chance of meeting the physical requirements of cadet training. If you fall below these standards, your risk of failure in the program increases.

The target standard is a fitness level where you are performing at an average fitness level compared to the cadet population. The range covers 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.

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

5 kilometre run test

Mark out a route that covers 5 kilometres
Use a GPS or odometer and if possible, avoid using a treadmill

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

Push-up test

Place a small, folded towel under your chin and take a push-up position
Lower yourself until your chin touches the towel, then push up until your arms are straight
Keep your body straight and thighs off the floor
Do as many push-ups as you can without breaks or resting your knees on the floor

Minimum standard: 10 continuous repetitions
Target standard: 25 to 40 continuous repetitions
Superior standard: 40 to 60 continuous repetitions

Step 3: Self-declaration of your fitness status

You’ll be asked to submit a document confirming your fitness abilities and habits before arriving at the RCMP Training Academy.

Your recruiter will send documents later in the process. Take your time and answer the questions accurately. Be honest! You cannot hide your lack of fitness at Depot. If you’re not physically ready, discuss your concerns with your recruiter.

Step 4: The Police Fitness Assessment

You don’t have to do the Police Fitness Assessment before training, but if you get the chance, it’s a good idea to try it.

At Depot you'll be required to pass the assessment periodically throughout training. If you’re meeting the minimum standards set out in the fitness self-assessment tests, you’ll be better positioned for success on the police fitness assessment.

About the Police Fitness Assessment

The Police Fitness Assessment is a set of 4 assessments to measure fitness for RCMP duty. Each assessment simulates common, essential, and physically demanding tasks that may occur in policing.

Foot pursuit

500 metre run with directional changes
climb a 1.4 metre chain-link fence at the halfway point of the run

Physical control

Push and pull a sled with 37 kilograms of resistance, alternating between pushing and pulling
At halfway point, lie down on the ground and return to standing position
After sled drill, cadet must pull down a weighted mannequin, that requires 54 kilograms of force
The entire assessment is completed without stops

Emergency assistance

Load 15 objects (23 kilograms each), varying in shape into the back of a truck in a timed test
The second part of the assessment simulates an evacuation
Run 50 metres and then carry a weight that is replicating half the size of a stretcher with an adult casualty
Repeat the run-and-carry sequence three times in a timed test

High priority task

Put on weighted hard body armour
Carry 4.5-kilogram weight
150 metre sprints, climb two flights of stairs, sprint finisher
Complete task 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 equivalently weighted kit for their final assessments.

The police fitness assessment comes in two versions.

Bona fide Occupational Requirement: Known as the "gold standard" or the "cadet version" of the Police Fitness Assessment, each test simulates policing tasks (such as, climbing a fence or loading a truck bed). You will only experience these tests at the RCMP Training Academy.
Field: Known as the "Regular Member" version of the police fitness assessment, you may experience this version during the recruiting process. Its purpose is to help you predict success on the Police Fitness Assessment at Depot. Visit the recruiting events page to check if there is a practice session or fitness workshop in your area.

How to prepare for the Police Fitness Assessment

The self-assessment fitness tests are meant to prepare you for training, and ultimately successful completion of the Police Fitness Assessment. Follow steps 1, 2 and 3 diligently. Regularly perform three to five cardiovascular training sessions per week, and two to three resistance training sessions per week. Some of these workouts should include running, jumping, lifting and carrying. The workouts should also raise your heart rate and keep it elevated for 20 to 30 minutes. Your workouts should be rigorous and leave you exerted, requiring cool down and recovery.

Ask your recruiter for a Police Fitness Assessment preparation program.

RCMP Police Fitness Assessment video

Transcript - RCMP Police Fitness Assessment

Upbeat music ♫

[Police officers performing the police fitness assessment.]

Police Fitness Assessment

[Police officer running after a client.]

Foot Pursuit

[Police officer running in gym.]

500 meters run

[Police officer running after a man who jumps a chain link fence.]

1 time fence climb

[Police officers jump a fence outdoors and inside a gym.]

Emergency Assistance

[Police officer checks on a person laying in the grass.]

Gold standard, load 15 items on a truck

[Police officer loads big jugs of water onto a table.]

Field standard, touch 15 items on wall

[Woman lifts and touches sandbag on wall in a gym.]

3 times carry weight 50 meters

[Man deadlifts weight and carries sandbags across the gym.]

High priority call

[Police officer runs up stairs.]

150 meters run

[Police officer runs inside a gym.]

2 flights of stairs

[Police officers run up stairs.]

Gold standard, sled push and pull

[Police officers pull weighted sleds inside a gym in a zig zag. Police officer grabs and pulls a man.]

Gold standard, weighted mannekin takedown

[Police officer pulls a mannikin down onto a mat in the gym.]

Field standard, medicine ball toss

[Woman sitting down inside a gym throws medicine ball. Police officer pulls down mannikin to the ground in the gym. Police officer pulls a weighted sled in a zig zag. Police officer jumps a fence. Woman throws medicine against a wall. Police officer runs up stairs with a gun.]