ORPAT – Oregon Physical Abilities Test Introduction
The Oregon Association Chiefs of Police received a grant in 2008 to purchase and deploy ten ORPAT systems in police agencies strategically located throughout Oregon in order to make the Oregon Physical Abilities Test more accessible to Oregon’s police agencies. The Oregon Physical Abilities Test (ORPAT) is a hybrid physical ability-job sample physical ability assessment process designed to evaluate entry level police officer candidates on the essential physical capacities required to satisfactory perform their job duties.
The ORPAT is a hybrid physical functioning test which assesses both physical fitness and the ability to complete sample work tasks. It is designed to evaluate entry-level police officer candidates on the essential physical capacities required to satisfactorily perform their day-to-day job duties.
Developed in 1998 and required for certification beginning in 2007, the ORPAT is based on data taken from research on the Canadian RCMP Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation (PARE) and multiple Job Task Analysis (JTA’s) for public safety officers in the state of Oregon.
The ORPAT consists of a 1235-foot (approximately 376 meters) obstacle course (Figure 1 depicts the components of the course), an 80-pound push-fall-pull complex, and a 165-pound dummy drag.
The ORPAT obstacle course requires six laps – each approximately 206 feet (63 mete
rs) in length, including seven obstacles – before moving on to the push-pull complex (push-pull machine and controlled falls).
For certification purposes, the obstacle course and push-pull machine stations must be completed in 5 minutes 30 seconds. The time limit adds an additional speed component to assess cardiovascular function. Check with individual agencies for specific time requirements during the hiring process.

Check out our video of the ORPAT and the 2024 ORPAT Report for more information.
Part One – Obstacle Course
Balance beam –
Your time starts when you leave the start cone. The first obstacle is the balance beam, which you must cross in a controlled manner. If you fall off the beam, you must return to the start cone and attempt the beam again.
Five-foot jump –
Going around the next cone, you turn right towards the second obstacle – a five-foot jump over an outline of a rectangle (or mat). If you launch or land inside the tape outline/on the mat, the first time will result a warning with no time penalty; each subsequent foul will result in a 5-second penalty.
Stair simulator –
Turning left around the next cone, you encounter the stair simulator. You must run up one side of the stairs and down the other, hitting at least 2 steps on the way up and 2 steps on the way down. At the bottom of the stairs, you will go around the cone and return up and over the stairs. If any section of the stairs is not completed properly, that section must be repeated.
Crawl obstacle –
At the base of the stairs, you will turn right and proceed onto the crawl obstacle. You will crawl under the obstacle without touching the top or sides of the obstacle. The first time you touch the top or sides of the obstacle will result in a warning with no time penalty; each subsequent foul will result in a 2-second penalty.
18-inch hurdle #1 –
Turning left around the next cone, you will come to the first of two identical obstacles – 18-inch high hurdles. You must jump over the center of each obstacle. The first time you knock over this obstacle will result in a warning; each subsequent foul will result in a 2-second penalty.
18-inch hurdle #2 –
Mere steps away, is the second of the 18-inch hurdles. Just as before, the first time you knock over this obstacle will result in a warning; each subsequent error will result in a 2-second penalty.
3-foot railing vault –
Turning right around the next cone, you will then vault over a 3-foot high railing simulating a fence. You will perform a controlled landing on both feet on the opposite side of the vault obstacle, fall to your back or stomach (alternating on each lap), recover to your feet without mechanical assistance and proceed around the start cone before beginning the next lap.
Part Two – Push Pull Complex
After completing the obstacle course, you move directly to the mechanical push/pull station. There is no rest period between the obstacle course and push-pull complex.
Push Activity
Upon reaching the push-pull unit you will grasp the machine handles and push the machine arm in, raising the 80lbs off the floor. Keeping the arm pressed in, you will move the machine around to complete a 180-degree arc. An arc is only complete if you stay out of the red portion of the indicator on the machine arm the entire time. Six arcs must be completed before moving on to the falls.
Technique: Your chest may not touch the lever arm. Arms must remain bent at the elbow throughout the performance of the activity. Please see the ORPAT video for more information on effective push-pull technique.
Controlled Falls
Once the push activity is completed the weight is released, you will step away from the machine and complete four falls. For the first two falls, you will fall on your back and rise to a standing position. The third and fourth fall will be to your stomach, rising to a standing position after each fall. You cannot use the wall for assistance to return to the standing position.
Pull Activity
When the fourth fall is completed, you will get up and grasp the rope and pull the 80-lb weight off the floor. Maintaining the weight in this position, you will move the machine around to complete a 180-degree arc. Just as in the push portion, an arc is only complete if you stay out of the red portion of the indicator on the machine arm the entire time. Six arcs must be completed before your time is stopped.
Completion of the pull activity concludes the timed portion of the ORPAT.
Technique: You may not pull from the carabiner, or the machine handle itself. You must use the rope. Please see the ORPAT video for more information on effective push-pull technique
Part Three-“Dummy” Drag
After completion of the obstacle course and the push-pull portions of the test, you will be given a 60-second rest period. After which, you will complete the last part of the ORPAT – dragging a 165-lb dummy a distance of 25 feet in a controlled and continuous manner. Once motion is started, you cannot stop until you reach 25 feet. You will have three attempts to complete the task. Three unsuccessful trials will constitute a failure. Failing the dummy drag section will result in a failure of the ORPAT examination.
Technique: Officers must use the under the arm technique. Please see the ORPAT video for more information on an effective dummy drag.