The California POST physical ability test most agencies use is the Work Sample Test Battery: a 99-yard obstacle course, a 165-pound dummy drag, a 6-foot chain link fence climb, a 6-foot solid fence climb and a 500-yard run. To pass it, you train each event specifically, build sprint speed and grip strength, and practice the fences until they feel routine.
Chris Keith brings over 30 years of personal training in San Diego, is a US Navy veteran, and trains adults 1-on-1 for strength, conditioning and injury prevention at his Bay Park / Morena studio (see strength training in San Diego).
What is the POST physical ability test in California?
First, some background. California’s Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) created the Work Sample Test Battery, which people often call the WSTB or the PAT. According to POST Commission Procedure D-1, academies have to put each student through the WSTB at the end of the POST Basic Academy Physical Conditioning Program. The same procedure also notes that alternative tests are subject to POST approval.
In practice, plenty of hiring agencies use this five-event format before hiring, too. For example, the San Diego Police Department runs practice PAT sessions at San Diego Police Plaza on Murphy Canyon Road, built around the same five events. So if you’re applying anywhere in California, there’s a good chance you’ll face this battery at least once, and again at the academy.
Still, not every department uses it. Some agencies run their own test or add extra events, such as a 1.5-mile run. That’s why your first step is always to ask your hiring agency exactly which version it uses.
What are the events in the POST physical ability test?
Specifically, POST’s training and testing specifications list five events, and the San Diego Police Department describes the same five. Here they are side by side:
| Event | What you do | Main demand |
|---|---|---|
| 99-yard obstacle course | Run a course with several sharp turns, curb-height obstacles and a 34-inch obstacle you must vault | Speed, agility, footwork |
| Body (dummy) drag | Lift and drag a 165-pound lifelike dummy 32 feet | Leg drive, grip, back strength |
| Chain link fence climb | Run 5 yards to a 6-foot chain link fence, climb over, then run another 25 yards | Pulling strength, coordination |
| Solid fence climb | Run 5 yards to a 6-foot solid fence, climb over, then run another 25 yards | Explosive jump, upper-body pull |
| 500-yard run | Run 500 yards | Anaerobic endurance |
Notice the pattern? Almost every event is a short, all-out effort that mixes running with lifting, pulling or climbing. That’s why distance running by itself won’t prepare you well.
How is the POST physical ability test scored?
Scoring the POST physical ability test is where a lot of applicants get confused, so let’s stick to what agencies actually publish. For instance, the UCLA Police Department states that each event except the 500-yard run is attempted twice. Your best performance on each event is then converted to points. Finally, you have to pass every event and total 384 points or more.
Keep in mind that the pages I reviewed don’t publish the point tables or the times tied to each score. Cutoffs can also differ between agencies and change over time. So ask your agency for its current scoring sheet instead of trusting numbers from forums.
How should you train for each event?
Before anything else, get a doctor’s clearance if you’re new to hard training or coming back from an injury. Then warm up every session and build up gradually with progressive overload. Once that’s in place, here’s a general approach for each event:
- Obstacle course: First, drill short sprints with sharp cuts and cone weaves. Next, practice a controlled vault over a low, stable box before adding speed. Above all, stay low through the turns.
- Body drag: Along with deadlifts and squats, train heavy sled drags and backward walks. Farmer’s carries also build the grip you need to hold a 165-pound dummy without it slipping.
- Chain link fence: Build pull-ups, rows and hanging holds. Then practice getting a leg over the top smoothly, since a clumsy transition costs more time than slow climbing.
- Solid fence: Pull strength matters here too, but so does a strong jump. So add box jumps, broad jumps and explosive pull-ups, and rehearse the hand-and-foot technique for pushing up and over a flat wall.
- 500-yard run: This one’s a hard, sustained effort. That’s why interval work, like 200- to 400-yard repeats with measured rest, usually helps more than slow jogging alone.
Of course, you still need rest days. Strength and speed improve during recovery, not just during the workout. For more on the foundations, read the 5 laws of strength training.
Want a plan built around your agency’s test? Text Chris at (619) 840-9099 for a free consultation.
How long does it take to prepare for a police physical agility test?
Honestly, it depends on where you’re starting. Someone who already lifts and sprints may need a few focused weeks of event practice. A beginner, on the other hand, usually needs a longer runway to build strength safely first.
Either way, test yourself early. Run a mock version of the events (safely, with good spotting on the fences) so you know your weakest link. Then retest every few weeks to see if the plan is working.
Why do applicants struggle with the physical ability test?
Typically, a few issues come up again and again. Here are the common ones:
- Weak grip and pulling strength. That makes the drag and both fences much harder than expected.
- Only training long runs. But the test rewards short, explosive efforts and quick recovery.
- Never practicing the fences. Getting over a real 6-foot barrier is a skill, and nerves make it worse on test day.
- Skipping the warm-up. Sprinting or vaulting on cold legs raises your risk of a pull or strain.
- Guessing the standards. Training for the wrong version of the test wastes weeks.
Fortunately, each of these is fixable with a consistent plan. Plus, if an old injury is holding you back, strength training after physical therapy can help you rebuild carefully.
How do you confirm the current version of the test?
Finally, confirm every detail of the POST physical ability test with your agency before test day. Ask which events are included, how many attempts you get, how scoring works and whether any extra events apply. Also find out whether they’ll accept a PAT score from another testing site.
Even better, go to a practice session if your agency offers one. SDPD’s practice PAT, for example, lets you see the course before the real thing. Keep in mind that standards change. This article only describes what the official pages said when it was written.
Where can you train for the POST PAT in San Diego?
If you live in San Diego, Chris trains clients 1-on-1 at his private studio at 5260 Riley St in Bay Park / Morena, by appointment from 5 AM to 9 PM. Buddy training also works well if you and a fellow applicant want to prepare together. Of course, no trainer can promise you’ll pass. But a structured plan built around your weak points gives you a much better shot at showing up ready.
To learn more, explore strength training in San Diego. When you’re ready, reach out through the contact page or text Chris at (619) 840-9099 for a free consultation.
Chris Keith has over 30 years of personal training in San Diego (since 1995) and was voted Best Personal Trainer by San Diego Magazine. He is a US Navy veteran and trains clients 1-on-1 at his private Bay Park / Morena studio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What events are on the California POST physical ability test?
The POST Work Sample Test Battery includes five events: a 99-yard obstacle course with a 34-inch vault, a 165-pound dummy drag for 32 feet, a 6-foot chain link fence climb, a 6-foot solid fence climb, and a 500-yard run. However, some agencies use different or additional events, so always confirm the current version with the agency you’re applying to.
What score do you need to pass the POST PAT?
The UCLA Police Department, for example, says applicants must pass each event and total 384 points or more, with the best of two attempts counted on every event except the 500-yard run. Point tables and cutoffs can vary by agency and change over time, so ask your hiring agency for its current scoring sheet before you test.
Is the physical ability test the same at every California agency?
No. Many agencies use the POST Work Sample Test Battery, and POST requires academies to give it at the end of the academy conditioning program. Even so, POST allows approved alternative tests, and some departments add events such as a 1.5-mile run. Check the hiring agency's official recruitment page or call its recruiting unit to confirm.
How should a beginner start training for a police physical agility test?
Start with a doctor's clearance, then build basic strength with squats, deadlifts, rows and pull-up progressions two or three days a week. Add short sprints and agility drills, and practice each event once you have a base. Increase the load gradually, take rest days, and retest yourself every few weeks to track progress.
Can Chris Keith help me prepare for the POST physical ability test?
Yes. Chris has over 30 years of personal training in San Diego and trains adults 1-on-1 at his private Bay Park / Morena studio for strength, conditioning and injury prevention. He can build a program around your agency's events and your weak points. No trainer can guarantee a pass, but you can book a free consultation to get started.
