Why fitness is important

Health and fitness

Discover how fit you need to be to pass the fitness assessment part of the police officer or protective service officer AFP application process

Why fitness is important

As a police officer or protective service officer in the AFP, you must be fit enough to safely and effectively manage the physical requirements of the role.

As part of the application process, all entry-level recruits must successfully pass each component of the Entry Physical Competency Assessment (EPCA) in one testing session. If you progress to training at the AFP College, you will need to pass the Physical Competency Assessment (PCA). This requires a higher level of endurance and is the AFP's standard fitness level.

If you’re considering applying to become an AFP officer, we recommend you begin a training schedule today, building your cardiovascular health through exercises such as running, cycling, stair climbing, speed walking and swimming,

You can download our AFP Pre-course Fitness Program to ensure you’ll be in shape. Don’t forget the importance of warming-up and stretching in an exercise routine. Stop exercise immediately and seek medical attention if you experience unusual pain or alarming symptoms.

More about the Entry Physical Competency Assessment (EPCA)

The AFP fitness assessment for the application includes:

  • Phased sit-ups (details below)
  • Push-ups (details below)
  • Beep test (details below).

Phased sit-ups

Phased sit-ups

You must reach level 4 during the assessment and are required to complete one valid sit-up per level.

For a sit-up to be valid you must:

  • Lie flat on the floor
  • Keep both feet on the ground at all times
  • Keep the angle of your knees at 90°
  • Not use body momentum.

Push-ups

Push-ups

For a push-up to be valid you must:

  • Have straight arms with hands approximately in line with shoulders, straight legs with feet approximately in line with hips and toes on the floor
  • Lower body to approximately 5 cm from the floor, with arms at a 90° angle
  • Keep body straight at all times
  • Return to the start position.

Push-ups

Push-ups

For a push-up to be valid you must:

  • Have straight arms with hands approximately in line with shoulders, straight legs with feet approximately in line with hips and toes on the floor
  • Lower body to approximately 5 cm from the floor, with arms at a 90° angle
  • Keep body straight at all times
  • Return to the start position.

Beep Test

Beep Test

For the beep test (shuttle run), you must run along a 20-metre track, keeping up with a series of recorded beeps. The frequency of the beeps starts off slowly and gradually gets faster, so it gets harder and harder to keep up with the required speed. All genders must reach level 6.5 on the test. 

Swimming ability

Swimming ability

Police officers and protective service officers must be able to swim 100 metres freestyle non-stop and unaided (but untimed).

Proof of being able to do this in the shape of a certificate will generally have to be provided before the Recruit Assessment Validation Centre (Gateway 4 in the application process).

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