Canada Police Force Testing
Law enforcement recruits for all regions in Canada are required to undergo a fitness assessment as part of the recruitment process. Below is some information about the fitness requirements and standards for a couple of departments. This information is presented for discussion and may be out of date - for the latest information see official sources.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) use a Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation (PARE) test which is a 6 lap obstacle course which must be completed within 4 minutes 45 seconds. The PARE test was developed from a detailed task analysis performed on various city and rural police agencies and then data collected on a specific test group that matched the average profile of a "bad guy." Currently PARE is the occupational test for the RCMP, Calgary City Police, the requirement for any Police Officer who wants to work for the United Nation Police Initiative.
There is also another test (POPAT) which is used extensively with police agencies in Canada.
Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services
The Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services has a new test is called FITCO, Fitness Test for Ontario Correctional Officer Applicants. The FITCO replaced the OCPAT (Ontario Correctional Physical Ability Test) in June 2010.
The FITCO is the first Bona Fide Occupational Requirement (BFOR) in North America to be peer reviewed in a journal (Journal of Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism)
As part of the FITCO applicants must first pass a screening component to ensure their medical readiness to participate in the test
All components must be successfully completed to pass the FITCO. The test is comprised of:
- Search Station (tests the ability to perform the tasks necessary to effectively search a cell).
- Emergency Response Circuit (Time limit; 2 minutes and eight seconds)
a. 60 meter response( including 4 sets of stairs)
b. Offender management (Utilizing the Body Control Simulator to engage a non-compliant offender)
c. Offender control (Utilize the Arm Restraint Simulator machine to establish control of an offender for the purpose of applying restraints
d. Mannequin Escort (Moving a 86.25 lb. mannequin a distance of 40 meters)
- Cardiovascular Test – Léger Shuttle Run to Stage 5.5
information received from Anthony Streppel, Occupational Fitness Lead, Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Hamilton (July 2012)
Other Details
- The Ministry of Corrections for Ontario (provincial corrections) utilizes the OCPAT.
- Corrections - Federal Canada - use an assessment called the COPAT (different from the OCPAT).
Related Pages
- Fitness testing for other law enforcement agencies
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