CPAT vs Cooper vs ACFT: Public Safety and Military Fitness Standards Compared
CPAT tests firefighter tasks in 10:20, Cooper measures law enforcement fitness by percentile, and the AFT scores soldiers across 5 combat events.
CPAT vs Cooper vs ACFT: Public Safety and Military Fitness Standards Compared
Short answer: The CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test) is a pass/fail, task-based firefighter test completed in 10 minutes and 20 seconds. The Cooper Institute test is a percentile-based fitness assessment used by law enforcement agencies, measuring pushups, situps, a 1.5-mile run, and flexibility. The Army Fitness Test (AFT, replacing the ACFT in 2025) scores soldiers on five events including a deadlift, hand-release pushups, sprint-drag-carry, plank, and two-mile run. Each test is designed for the physical demands of its specific career field.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | CPAT (Fire) | Cooper Institute (Law Enforcement) | AFT (Army, as of 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary career | Firefighter | Police officer, state trooper | Active-duty soldier |
| Test format | Task-based circuit | Component fitness battery | Event-based scoring |
| Scoring | Pass/fail only | Percentile ranking (age/gender normed) | Point scale, 0-100 per event (500 max) |
| Number of events | 8 sequential tasks | 4 fitness components | 5 events |
| Time limit | 10 minutes, 20 seconds total | Timed per component | Timed per event |
| Weighted vest/gear | 50 lb vest (75 lb for stair climb) | None | None |
| Passing standard | Complete all 8 events within time | Agency-specific percentile cutoff (typically 40th-50th) | 60 points per event, 300 total (350 for combat MOS) |
| Age/gender adjusted | No (sex- and age-neutral) | Yes (normed by age group and gender) | Yes (age- and gender-normed general standard; sex-neutral combat standard) |
| Validity period | 1 year (26 months in New Hampshire) | Varies by agency | Administered twice per year |
| Cost | $100-$200 per attempt | Free (administered by agency) | Free (administered by unit) |
| Developed by | IAFF and IAFC Joint Task Force | The Cooper Institute (Dallas, TX) | U.S. Army |
CPAT: The Firefighter Standard
The Candidate Physical Ability Test is the most widely used physical assessment for career firefighter hiring in the United States. It was developed jointly by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) to create a legally defensible, job-related hiring standard.
The 8 CPAT Events (in order)
| Event | What It Simulates | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Stair Climb | Climbing stairs in a high-rise with equipment | 3 minutes at 60 steps/min wearing 75 lbs (50 lb vest + 25 lb shoulder pack) |
| 2. Hose Drag | Advancing a charged hoseline | Drag 200 ft of hose to a marked boundary, then pull 50 ft from a kneeling position |
| 3. Equipment Carry | Moving tools to a fireground | Carry two saws (total ~50 lbs) around a circuit |
| 4. Ladder Raise and Extension | Setting up ground ladders | Raise a 24-ft ladder from the ground, then extend a fly ladder |
| 5. Forcible Entry | Breaking through a locked door | Strike a measuring device with a 10 lb sledgehammer until a target is reached |
| 6. Search | Navigating a dark, confined space | Crawl through a tunnel maze in darkness while wearing the 50 lb vest |
| 7. Rescue Drag | Dragging a victim to safety | Drag a 165 lb mannequin 35 feet |
| 8. Ceiling Breach and Pull | Opening ceilings during overhaul | Push up a ceiling panel and pull down with a pike pole, repeated cycles |
Candidates must complete all eight events sequentially within 10 minutes and 20 seconds. There is no ranking by completion time. You either pass or fail. The 50 lb weighted vest is worn throughout all events to simulate turnout gear and SCBA.
Who Requires the CPAT
Most career fire departments in the United States require CPAT for new hires. Testing is typically administered through the National Testing Network (NTN) or directly by departments or state fire academies. Candidates must be at least 18 years old. Long pants, closed-toe footwear, and gloves are required on test day.
Cooper Institute Test: The Law Enforcement Standard
The Cooper Institute, based in Dallas, Texas, developed fitness norms used by hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the country. Unlike the CPAT, the Cooper test does not simulate specific job tasks. Instead, it measures baseline physical fitness components that correlate with the demands of police work.
The 4 Cooper Test Components
| Component | What It Measures | Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5-Mile Run | Cardiovascular endurance | Run 1.5 miles as fast as possible |
| Pushups (1 minute) | Upper body muscular endurance | Maximum pushups in 60 seconds |
| Situps (1 minute) | Core muscular endurance | Maximum situps in 60 seconds |
| Sit and Reach | Lower back/hamstring flexibility | Reach forward from a seated position (measured in inches or centimeters) |
How Cooper Scoring Works
Results are ranked by percentile, normed by age group (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+) and gender. Agencies set their own minimum percentile cutoff. Common thresholds:
| Agency Type | Typical Minimum Percentile |
|---|---|
| Entry-level academy admission | 40th percentile |
| Academy graduation | 50th-70th percentile |
| Annual recertification | 40th-50th percentile |
| Elite/tactical units | 70th+ percentile |
Example: Male, age 20-29, 40th percentile minimums:
| Component | 40th Percentile Standard |
|---|---|
| 1.5-Mile Run | 12:29 or faster |
| Pushups (1 min) | 29 or more |
| Situps (1 min) | 38 or more |
Example: Female, age 20-29, 40th percentile minimums:
| Component | 40th Percentile Standard |
|---|---|
| 1.5-Mile Run | 15:05 or faster |
| Pushups (1 min) | 15 or more |
| Situps (1 min) | 32 or more |
Why Agencies Use the Cooper Test
The Cooper norms are backed by decades of peer-reviewed research and have withstood legal challenges in federal court. Any fitness test used in hiring must be (1) job-related and (2) scientifically valid. The Cooper Institute's normative database meets both standards, which is why agencies from small-town police departments to state police organizations rely on it. The New York State Police, Boston Police Department, Washington State Patrol, and Pennsylvania municipal police academies all use Cooper-based standards.
AFT (Army Fitness Test): The Military Standard
The Army Fitness Test replaced the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) as the Army's test of record on June 1, 2025. The AFT streamlined the ACFT from six events to five, removing the Standing Power Throw. New scoring standards for combat MOS took effect January 1, 2026, for active component soldiers. Reserve and National Guard implementation follows on June 1, 2026.
The 5 AFT Events
| Event | What It Measures | Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Rep Max Deadlift (MDL) | Lower body and grip strength | Three repetitions with a hex bar. Weight range: 120-420 lbs. |
| Hand-Release Pushups (HRP) | Upper body muscular endurance | Maximum reps in 2 minutes. Hands lift off the ground between each rep. |
| Sprint-Drag-Carry (SDC) | Anaerobic power and agility | 5-shuttle sequence: sprint, drag a 90 lb sled, lateral shuffle, carry two 40 lb kettlebells, sprint. |
| Plank (PLK) | Core endurance | Hold a proper plank position for maximum time. |
| Two-Mile Run (2MR) | Cardiovascular endurance | Run two miles on a flat outdoor course. |
AFT Scoring Standards
Each event is scored 0-100 points. Maximum total score: 500.
| Standard Type | Minimum Per Event | Minimum Total | Who It Applies To |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (combat-enabling) | 60 points | 300 points | Most soldiers |
| Combat MOS | 60 points | 350 points | 21 designated combat specialties (Infantry, Armor, Combat Engineer, etc.) |
The general standard is age- and gender-normed. The combat MOS standard is sex-neutral and age-normed, meaning male and female soldiers in combat roles must meet the same minimum performance levels.
Soldiers in combat specialties who score between 300-349 will not face immediate administrative action but may request voluntary reclassification.
Key Differences That Matter for Career Changers
Military to Fire Service
If you are transitioning from military service to a fire department, your AFT fitness provides a strong base, but CPAT preparation requires specific training. The AFT tests general strength and endurance. The CPAT tests task-specific performance under a 50 lb load. Soldiers who score well on the deadlift and sprint-drag-carry events tend to transition well to CPAT events like the stair climb, rescue drag, and equipment carry. The biggest adjustment is sustained performance under the weighted vest for over 10 minutes.
Military to Law Enforcement
Cooper test preparation from an AFT baseline is more straightforward. The two-mile run translates directly to the 1.5-mile run (you just need to hit the right pace for the shorter distance). Hand-release pushups transfer well to standard pushups. The main gap is the situp component and flexibility test, which the AFT does not measure.
Law Enforcement to Fire Service
Officers considering a move to fire/EMS will find that Cooper fitness levels do not automatically prepare them for the CPAT. The weighted vest, job-specific tasks (ladder raises, forcible entry, ceiling breach), and the continuous-circuit format require dedicated preparation even for candidates in excellent shape by Cooper standards.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CPAT time limit | 10 minutes, 20 seconds | IAFF/IAFC |
| CPAT weighted vest | 50 lbs (75 lbs for stair climb) | IAFF/IAFC |
| CPAT events | 8 sequential tasks | IAFF/IAFC |
| Cooper test components | 4 (run, pushups, situps, flexibility) | Cooper Institute |
| Cooper common LE cutoff | 40th-50th percentile | Various state agencies |
| AFT events (as of 2026) | 5 (deadlift, HRP, SDC, plank, 2-mile run) | U.S. Army |
| AFT max score | 500 points (100 per event) | U.S. Army |
| AFT general passing | 300 total, 60 per event | U.S. Army |
| AFT combat MOS passing | 350 total, 60 per event (sex-neutral) | U.S. Army |
| AFT replaced ACFT | June 1, 2025 | U.S. Army |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which test is the hardest?
Difficulty depends on your fitness profile. Candidates with strong cardiovascular endurance but limited upper body strength often struggle more with the CPAT's weighted events than the Cooper run. Conversely, strong lifters may find the Cooper 1.5-mile run more challenging than the AFT deadlift. The CPAT is generally considered the most physically demanding because of the 50 lb vest worn throughout and the requirement to complete all events without rest.
Can I use my CPAT score for law enforcement or my Cooper score for fire?
No. These tests are not interchangeable. Each is designed and validated for its specific career field. Fire departments require CPAT (or their own department-specific PAT), and law enforcement agencies use the Cooper standards or their own agency-validated tests. You must take and pass the test required by the department you are applying to.
How long should I train before taking the CPAT?
Most candidates need 8 to 12 weeks of CPAT-specific preparation, even if they are already in good shape. The stair climb with 75 lbs and the continuous circuit under the vest require targeted training. Many fire academies and testing centers offer CPAT prep programs and orientation sessions.
Is the ACFT still used anywhere?
The ACFT was the Army's test of record from October 2022 through May 2025. It was replaced by the AFT on June 1, 2025. Some Reserve and National Guard units may still reference ACFT terminology during the transition period (through June 1, 2026), but the AFT is now the official standard.
Do any tests have age limits?
The CPAT requires candidates to be at least 18. There is no upper age limit for the test itself, though departments set their own hiring age limits (commonly 35 for entry-level). The Cooper test has no age limit but adjusts scoring norms by age group. The AFT is administered to all active-duty soldiers regardless of age.
How Ready to Serve Helps
Ready to Serve prepares candidates for all three fitness standards through its RTS-OS platform. The app tracks your performance against CPAT benchmarks, Cooper percentile norms, and AFT scoring tables so you can see exactly where you stand before test day. Career pathway tools help military members transitioning to fire or law enforcement understand which tests they will face and build a training plan that bridges the gap between their current fitness level and the standard they need to meet.
Sources
- IAFF and IAFC, "Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) Program Summary," iaff.org
- Cooper Institute, "Fitness Norms and Fitness Standards Are Apples and Oranges," cooperinstitute.org
- New York State Police, "Fitness Requirements," joinstatepolice.ny.gov
- Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission, "Physical Fitness," pa.gov
- U.S. Army, "Army Fitness Test (AFT)," army.mil/aft
- U.S. Army, "Army Fitness Test & Requirements," goarmy.com
- U.S. Army, "Army Establishes New Fitness Test of Record to Strengthen Readiness and Lethality," army.mil (2025)
- National Testing Network, CPAT testing standards and protocols
- City of San Antonio, CPAT administration guidelines
- Boston Police Department, "Recruit Officer Course Fitness Standards" (Cooper Institute norms, 40th percentile)
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