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Joining the police · Fitness tests

Police fitness tests in Australia
all 8 forces, side by side

Every force tests something different, and most guides are years out of date. Here is each force's current physical standard read from its own recruiting pages, how hard each one really is, and how to train for it from wherever you're starting.

Updated 9 October 2026 19 min read Sources checked 9 October 2026 Independent, not advice

The short answer

Seven of Australia's eight police forces use the 20 m beep test. The minimum ranges from Level 5.01 in Victoria and level 5, shuttle 7 in Queensland up to Level 7.1 in NSW. Most also test push-ups and a 60 to 90-second plank. SA Police uses a timed circuit in a 10 kg vest instead. Most forces also require a swim.

Highest beep minimum

7.1

NSW Police (WA men: 7.01)

Lowest beep minimum

5.01

Victoria (Queensland 5/7)

Most push-ups required

25

NSW Police

No beep test

SA

vest circuit under 2:30

Contents +
  1. 1Every force at a glance
  2. 2Each force's full test
  3. 3Which force is hardest?
  4. 4What each test involves
  5. 5Training plans by starting level
  6. 6A weekly template around work
  7. 7Common failure points
  8. 8Injury prevention
  9. 9Swim tests by force
  10. 10Attempts, retests and validity
  11. 11Test-day tips
  12. 12Free tools and the pass plan
  13. 13FAQs
  14. 14Sources

Every force's fitness standard at a glance

The three events nearly every force tests, in one table.

Australian police fitness tests share a common core: an aerobic test, an upper-body test and a trunk-strength test. What changes between forces is the bar, the number of extra events and how strictly technique is policed. The table below is built from each force's data file, which we check against its own recruiting pages.

Police fitness test core standards by force, checked 9 October 2026

NSW Police

Beep test minimum
Level 7.1
Push-ups
25
Plank / prone bridge
90 seconds
Events
6

Victoria Police

Beep test minimum
Level 5.01
Push-ups
5 consecutive, on toes
Plank / prone bridge
60 seconds
Events
6

QPS

Beep test minimum
Level 5 shuttle 7 (5/7) minimum
Push-ups
10 minimum
Plank / prone bridge
90 seconds minimum
Events
3

WA Police

Beep test minimum
Level 7.01 (male) / 6.01 (female)
Push-ups
Minimum 10, on toes
Plank / prone bridge
Not tested
Events
6

SAPOL

Beep test minimum
No beep test (vest circuit)
Push-ups
Not tested
Plank / prone bridge
Not tested
Events
8

Tasmania Police

Beep test minimum
Level 6.01 minimum
Push-ups
10 reps minimum
Plank / prone bridge
60 seconds minimum
Events
8

NT Police

Beep test minimum
Level 6.1
Push-ups
10 at a 2-second cadence
Plank / prone bridge
90 seconds
Events
5

AFP

Beep test minimum
Level 6.5
Push-ups
15 (male) / 8 (female) within 60 seconds
Plank / prone bridge
60-second hold
Events
3

Standards as published by each force. 'Events' counts every listed component, including swims, waist and BMI checks where the force lists them as part of the fitness test. SA Police uses a timed circuit instead of separate events.

Forces using a beep test

7 of 8

SA uses a vest circuit

Toughest beep minimum

7.1

NSW Police

Longest plank

90 s

NSW, Queensland, NT

Push-up range

5 to 25

Victoria to NSW

If you're still choosing a force, the fitness test is one factor among many. Pay, location, academy length and your chances of selection matter too, and the which force should I join tool weighs them together. If you've already chosen, jump to your force's section below.

Free tool

Which forces would you pass today?

Enter your beep level, push-ups and plank time. The free checker compares you with every force's standard at once and shows your gap for each event.

Check my numbers →

Each force's full fitness test, event by event

Every component each force lists, with the detail it publishes.

NSW Police Force: Physical Capacity Tests

NSW Police Physical Capacity Tests

Handgrip strength

Standard
30 kg each hand
Attempts / detail
2 attempts

Prone bridge

Standard
90 seconds
Attempts / detail
1 attempt

Vertical jump

Standard
30 cm or more
Attempts / detail
2 attempts

Push-ups

Standard
25
Attempts / detail
1 attempt

Illinois agility run

Standard
20 seconds or less
Attempts / detail
2 attempts

Multi-stage fitness test (beep test)

Standard
Level 7.1
Attempts / detail
1 attempt

NSW has the broadest and hardest test. You get two sittings to pass the whole thing, and an Aquatic Rescue Sequence certificate is a separate requirement. The full breakdown, including the grip-strength conflict between two NSW pages, is on our NSW Police fitness test guide.

Victoria Police: Victoria Police fitness test

Victoria Police fitness test

Multi-stage fitness test (beep test)

Standard
Level 5.01

Handgrip strength

Standard
30 kg each hand

Illinois agility run

Standard
20 seconds

Push-ups

Standard
5 consecutive, on toes

Prone bridge

Standard
60 seconds

Swim

Standard
100 m in 4 minutes
Detail
Completed independently before the fitness test.

Victoria's test runs at the Academy and takes about an hour and a half. You must be in Victoria to sit it, and the swim is done beforehand at your own pool. PSO applicants sit the same physical standards without the swim. More on our Victoria Police fitness test guide.

Queensland Police Service: QPS Recruit Entry Fitness Assessment (Standard V1 20251021)

QPS Recruit Entry Fitness Assessment

Prone bridge

Standard
90 seconds minimum
Method
Body straight from shoulders to ankles; one posture correction allowed.

Push-ups

Standard
10 minimum
Method
Standard from the toes, chest to a 7cm dome cone, one every 2 seconds; one attempt.

Beep test (20m shuttle)

Standard
Level 5 shuttle 7 (5/7) minimum
Method
Official audio; must stop and turn; 2 warnings.

Queensland has the fewest events but some of the strictest technique rules: a 2-second push-up cadence to a 7 cm cone, a full stop-and-turn on every shuttle, and one posture correction in the plank. Most Queensland applicants sit it at a PCYC. See the QPS fitness test guide.

WA Police Force: Physical Performance Evaluation (PPE)

WA Police Physical Performance Evaluation

Illinois Agility Test

Standard
20 seconds or less (male) / 22 seconds or less (female)

Sit-ups

Standard
Minimum 1

Push-ups

Standard
Minimum 10, on toes

Grip strength

Standard
30 kg

Bag lift and carry

Standard
35 kg

Beep test

Standard
Level 7.01 (male) / 6.01 (female)

WA is the only force with different beep and agility minimums for men and women, and it includes a 35 kg bag lift and carry. WA also publishes a free eight-week Fit for Duty programme. The WA Police profile covers the rest of the process.

South Australia Police: 'Fit for duty' test (wearing a 10 kg vest)

SAPOL fit-for-duty circuit, done wearing a 10 kg vest

Run

Task
80 m

Weighted carry

Task
Run 25 m carrying two 15 kg weights

Balance beam

Task
Cross a slippery balance beam

Step-ups

Task
20

Fence

Task
Climb over a 1 m fence

Get-downs

Task
Drop to the ground and stand up 5 times

Trigger pulls

Task
Collect a training firearm and pull the trigger 13 times with each hand

Recall

Task
Recall at least 3 of 5 physical characteristics given at the start

SAPOL describes a competitive time as under 2 minutes 30 seconds, and cadets must also achieve it to graduate from the Academy. There's no beep test, so pure running fitness matters less than strength, coordination and the ability to think while breathing hard. The SA Police profile has the full process.

Tasmania Police: Tasmania Police fitness test (traffic-light system)

Tasmania Police fitness test

Broad jump (metres x bodyweight kg)

Minimum
Score of 80 minimum
'Strong' result / note
Strong: males above 165, females above 105.

Beep test (20m multi-stage fitness test)

Minimum
Level 6.01 minimum
'Strong' result / note
Strong: above 9.01.

Illinois agility run

Minimum
Under 22 seconds
'Strong' result / note
Strong: under 20 seconds.

Plank

Minimum
60 seconds minimum
'Strong' result / note
Strong: 120 seconds (cap).

Grip strength (each hand)

Minimum
Males 40-49.9kg, females 20-29.9kg acceptable
'Strong' result / note
Strong: males 50kg or more, females 30kg or more.

Waist

Minimum
Males 94-102cm, females 80-88cm acceptable
'Strong' result / note
Strong: males under 94cm, females under 80cm. The page does not state what happens above 102/88cm.

Hand-release press-ups (3-second cadence)

Minimum
10 reps minimum
'Strong' result / note
Strong: above 30; cap 40.

BMI

Minimum
18.5-34.9 per the fitness test page (fail above 35)
'Strong' result / note
Conflict: the FAQ page says 18.5-29.9 meets requirements and above 29.9 generally does not.

Tasmania uses a traffic-light system and publishes both a minimum and a "strong" result for most events. Its two recruiting pages give different BMI ranges, so check with recruiting if you're near the edge. The Tasmania Police profile covers intakes and the academy.

NT Police: NTPF fitness assessment

NT Police fitness assessment

Push-ups

Standard
10 at a 2-second cadence

Prone bridge (plank)

Standard
90 seconds

Farmer's carry

Standard
20kg in each hand, 5 x 20m (100m total)
Detail
Walking pace; weights down for a maximum of 5 seconds at each turn.

Beep test (20m multi-stage fitness test)

Standard
Level 6.1

Swim

Standard
100m forward stroke without touching the bottom or sides
Detail
Constable and ARP applicants only.

NT's selection lists apply the fitness assessment to Constable, ACPO and PPSO applicants; experienced officers on the Accelerated Recruitment Program still need the swim. The farmer's carry is unusual among Australian forces and rewards grip endurance more than raw strength. See the NT Police profile.

Australian Federal Police: Entry Physical Competency Assessment (EPCA)

AFP Entry Physical Competency Assessment

Plank

Standard
60-second hold

Push-ups

Standard
15 (male) / 8 (female) within 60 seconds
Detail
Gender X assessed case by case.

Beep test

Standard
Level 6.5
Detail
One attempt, maximum 2 warnings.

The same EPCA applies to AFP police (including ACT Policing) and Protective Service Officers. Recruits face a further Physical Competency Assessment at the College, up to three times, so you need to keep your fitness after selection, not just peak once. The AFP profile has the full process.

Which force has the hardest fitness test?

Ranked by the beep test, then adjusted for everything else.

The beep test is the event most people fail, so it's the fairest single yardstick. Below, every force's minimum is converted into the distance you must run and the time it takes, using the standard 20 m level table that our beep test audio tool plays. Distances and times are calculated by us, not published by the forces.

Police beep test minimums ranked by distance (calculated by us)

1

Force
NSW Police
Published beep minimum
Level 7.1
Distance to reach it
1,040 m
Running time
6:22

2

Force
WA Police
Published beep minimum
Level 7.01 (male) / 6.01 (female)
Distance to reach it
1,040 m / 840 m
Running time
6:22 / 5:17

3

Force
AFP
Published beep minimum
Level 6.5
Distance to reach it
920 m
Running time
5:43

4

Force
Tasmania Police
Published beep minimum
Level 6.01 minimum
Distance to reach it
840 m
Running time
5:17

5

Force
NT Police
Published beep minimum
Level 6.1
Distance to reach it
840 m
Running time
5:17

6

Force
QPS
Published beep minimum
Level 5 shuttle 7 (5/7) minimum
Distance to reach it
780 m
Running time
4:57

7

Force
Victoria Police
Published beep minimum
Level 5.01
Distance to reach it
660 m
Running time
4:16

Where a force sets different minimums for men and women, both are shown. Calculated from the Léger level table (8.5 km/h at level 1, +0.5 km/h per level). SA Police has no beep test and is not ranked.

NSW's beep minimum asks for about 380 m more running than Victoria's, at speeds up to 1 km/h faster.

NSW is clearly the hardest overall. The NSW Police minimum sits at the top of the table, and NSW stacks five other events on top, including 25 push-ups, which is more than double any other force except the AFP's men's standard. An applicant who scrapes through Queensland's test would need serious extra work to pass in NSW.

WA (for men), the AFP, NT and Tasmania sit in the middle. Their beep minimums fall in levels 6 and 7, which most people can reach with eight to twelve weeks of consistent running. WA adds a bag carry and agility run, Tasmania adds a broad jump and waist measure, and NT adds a farmer's carry.

Victoria and Queensland have the lowest aerobic bar, with Victoria Police the lowest on the table. That doesn't make them easy. Queensland's strict 2-second push-up cadence and 90-second plank catch people out, and Victoria still asks for a 60-second prone bridge, a sub-20-second agility run and a timed swim.

SA Police is a different kind of hard

SAPOL's circuit is short, but it is done in a 10 kg vest, includes carrying two 15 kg weights, a fence climb and a balance beam, and finishes with a memory task. Applicants who are good runners but weak in the upper body, or who panic under time pressure, can find it harder than a beep test.

What each test involves, and how to do it well

Technique wins marks that fitness alone won't.

The 20 m beep test (multistage fitness test)

You run between two lines 20 m apart in time with recorded beeps. The protocol published by Léger and colleagues in 1988 starts at 8.5 km/h and adds 0.5 km/h each level, and each level lasts about a minute. Results are written as level and shuttle: NSW's "7.1" is level 7, shuttle 1. Our beep test levels guide has the full table and what each level means in minutes of running.

Technique matters. Queensland's standard requires a full stop and turn at each line, not a looping run, and allows two warnings for missing the line before you're stopped. Pace yourself to arrive as the beep sounds, not early, because every extra stop wastes energy.

Push-ups

Forces vary in what counts. Queensland and NT set a 2-second cadence, and Queensland puts a 7 cm dome cone under your chest that you must touch every rep. Tasmania uses hand-release press-ups at a 3-second cadence. The AFP allows 60 seconds. Train to the strictest version you might face: chest low, body straight from shoulders to heels, no resting on the floor.

Prone bridge (plank)

You hold the top of a push-up on your forearms, body in a straight line from shoulders to ankles. Queensland gives one posture correction and fails you for a second, or for excessive shaking. Breathe steadily, squeeze your glutes and keep your eyes on the floor slightly ahead of your hands.

Grip strength

A handgrip dynamometer measures one maximal squeeze in each hand. NSW, Victoria and WA set 30 kg, and Tasmania publishes sex-specific bands. Set the handle so your middle finger bends at about a right angle, keep your arm by your side and squeeze hard for a few seconds.

Illinois agility run

The standard Illinois course is 10 m long and 5 m wide, with four cones down the middle 3.3 m apart. You start lying face down, get up on the command, sprint, weave through the centre cones and sprint again. NSW and Victoria set 20 seconds, WA 20 or 22, and Tasmania under 22. Practise the get-up and tight turns: most wasted time is on corners.

Jumps, carries and the SA circuit

NSW tests a 30 cm vertical jump; Tasmania a broad jump scored against your bodyweight. WA has a 35 kg bag lift and carry, NT a 20 kg-per-hand farmer's carry over 100 m, and SA a 25 m carry of two 15 kg weights inside its vest circuit. All reward leg power, a strong trunk and grip endurance.

Free tool

Practise the beep test with real audio

A free 20 m shuttle run in your browser with spoken levels. Start at any level for interval training and compare your result with each force's minimum.

Start the beep test →

Training plans by starting level

Pick the row that matches you honestly, not the one you'd like to be in.

Start by testing yourself on the events your force uses, ideally with a friend counting and timing. Then pick the plan that fits. These are general programmes for healthy adults. If you have a health condition, an injury, or haven't exercised for a long time, see your GP first. Queensland actually requires a doctor's certificate before you sit its test.

Training timeframes by starting point (general guide)

Starting from scratch

Typical beep result
Can't run 10 minutes
Realistic timeframe
12–16 weeks
Main focus
Walk-run base, bodyweight strength, consistency

Some fitness

Typical beep result
Level 4–5
Realistic timeframe
8–12 weeks
Main focus
Intervals at beep speed, push-up volume, plank holds

Close to the standard

Typical beep result
Level 6–7
Realistic timeframe
4–8 weeks
Main focus
Speed at target level, turns, cadence practice

Already above it

Typical beep result
Level 8+
Realistic timeframe
Maintain
Main focus
Keep a margin, sharpen technique, practise test-day routine

Plan A: starting from scratch

  1. 1

    Weeks 1–4: build the habit

    5 short sessions

    Three walk-run sessions a week (for example 1 minute running, 2 minutes walking, repeated for 20–25 minutes), plus two short strength sessions: incline push-ups, squats, glute bridges and 3 × 20-second planks.

  2. 2

    Weeks 5–8: continuous running

    Baseline test

    Work towards 20 minutes of continuous easy running. Move push-ups from an incline to the floor. Build plank holds to 3 × 45 seconds. Do a first beep test at the end of week 8.

  3. 3

    Weeks 9–12: add speed

    First intervals

    Swap one easy run for an interval session at beep test speed. Add cadence push-up practice. Plank holds to 3 × 60 seconds.

  4. 4

    Weeks 13–16: specific prep

    Switch to Plan B

    Follow Plan B. Re-test every two to three weeks and adjust.

Plan B: some fitness, need to close the gap

  1. 1

    Weeks 1–3: base and baseline

    3 runs + 2 strength

    Full test of your force's events in week 1. Then each week: one interval session (four efforts starting at your best level, 2 minutes' rest), one easy 30-minute run, one session of turns and short shuttles, and two strength sessions.

  2. 2

    Weeks 4–6: build

    Progressive load

    Five interval efforts. Easy run up to 40 minutes. Push-ups: 5 sets at about 60% of your max, to the force's cadence. Plank: one long hold to near failure, then shorter sets.

  3. 3

    Week 7: deload and re-test

    Re-test

    Cut volume by a third, then re-test everything at the end of the week.

  4. 4

    Weeks 8–10: sharpen

    Test simulations

    Start intervals one level higher. Practise full test simulations once a fortnight in your force's order.

  5. 5

    Final week: taper

    Taper

    Two short sessions with a few efforts at target speed. Nothing hard in the 48 hours before your test.

Plan C: close to the standard

If you're within a level of your force's beep minimum and near the push-up and plank targets, don't add volume. Add specificity. Do one interval session at the speed of your target level, one session of turns, one full simulation every week, and keep strength work short. The aim is a margin of at least half a level and a few extra push-ups, because nerves and an unfamiliar floor cost you on the day.

A weekly template you can fit around work or study

Most applicants are working, studying or both, and some already work shifts. A sensible week has three runs, two strength sessions and two rest or light days. Hard days should be separated by an easy day so you arrive fresh enough to train properly.

Sample training week for most forces' tests (general guide)

Monday

Session
Intervals at beep speed + turns
Time
35 min
Why
Raises the speed you can hold

Tuesday

Session
Strength: push-ups, squats, lunges, plank, grip
Time
35 min
Why
Push-up and plank standards, injury protection

Wednesday

Session
Rest or walk
Why
Recovery is when you adapt

Thursday

Session
Shuttle and agility drills, short tempo run
Time
30 min
Why
Turns, Illinois course, change of direction

Friday

Session
Strength (lighter) + plank
Time
25 min
Why
Second exposure for strength events

Saturday

Session
Easy long run
Time
35–45 min
Why
Aerobic base that helps you recover between levels

Sunday

Session
Rest
Why
Sleep and mobility

If you work rotating shifts, anchor the hard sessions (intervals and simulations) to days after a good sleep, and put easy runs and mobility on the days around nights. Missing a session is fine; trying to cram two hard sessions into one day to catch up is how injuries happen.

SA applicants: adjust the template

For SAPOL's vest circuit, replace one run with a circuit session: short sprints, step-ups, carrying two heavy bags or dumbbells for 25 m, getting down to the floor and up again, and a low fence or bench climb. Add a weighted backpack once your technique is solid.

Where applicants commonly fall short

The standards themselves tell you where assessors are strict.

Forces don't publish pass rates by event, so we won't guess at numbers. But the official method notes show where marks are lost. Queensland's standard, for example, lists exactly what makes a push-up or plank "not yet satisfactory". These are the traps most worth training against.

What gets you through

  • ✓Practising push-ups to a 2-second beat, chest to a low marker
  • ✓Planks held with a straight line and steady breathing
  • ✓Pacing the beep test from level 1, arriving on the beep
  • ✓Stopping and turning on the line, planting one foot
  • ✓Knowing which level your force's minimum falls in
  • ✓A margin above the minimum, not just matching it

What trips people up

  • ✕Fast push-ups that break down when a cadence is imposed
  • ✕Hips sagging or piking in the plank after a warning
  • ✕Sprinting the early levels and fading by level 5
  • ✕Looping wide at the ends, which Queensland disallows
  • ✕Two missed lines in a row on an unfamiliar surface
  • ✕Training only the beep test and neglecting grip or agility

The single most common mistake is treating the test as one event. In NSW you must pass all six; in Victoria all five plus a swim. A great beep test won't rescue a 28 kg grip. Test every event early, and spend most of your time on the weakest.

How to avoid getting injured in the build-up

Injuries in police fitness preparation are usually overuse problems from doing too much too soon: shin pain, sore Achilles, knee pain from repeated braking at the 20 m line, and shoulder or wrist pain from high push-up volume. All are largely avoidable.

Injury-prevention basics

  • ✓ Increase weekly running time gradually, not by large jumps
  • ✓ Wear running shoes with grip that aren't worn out
  • ✓ Practise turns on the surface you'll be tested on
  • ✓ Warm up for 10 minutes before intervals or tests
  • ✓ Do calf raises, squats and lunges twice a week
  • ✓ Spread push-up volume over several short sets
  • ✓ Keep at least one full rest day each week
  • ✓ Stop and get advice for pain that changes how you move

Health first

The beep test is a maximal effort. Stop straight away if you have chest pain, unusual breathlessness, dizziness or feel faint, and call 000 in an emergency. If you have a heart or lung condition, an existing injury, or are returning after a long break, see your GP or a physiotherapist before starting a programme.

If you do get injured close to your test date, it's usually better to ask recruiting about rescheduling than to sit the test hurt. In forces that limit attempts, such as NSW and Victoria, a failed sitting costs you one of only two chances.

Swim tests and aquatic requirements by force

Most forces require a swim, but it's usually a certificate you arrange yourself rather than part of the fitness test day. Leave plenty of time: some pools only run employment swim tests on set days, and Sydney Olympic Park has paused them during major events.

Police swim requirements by force

NSW Police

Requirement
Aquatic Rescue Sequence certificate
How it works
Assessed by an AUSTSWIM teacher at a pool; done in light pants and a shirt; $10 at Sydney Olympic Park for one attempt; certificate valid 5 years

Victoria Police

Requirement
100 m in 4 minutes
How it works
Done in your own time before the Academy test, signed off by a qualified lifeguard

QPS

Requirement
100 m untimed, any stroke
How it works
Without stopping or touching the side or bottom; verified by an approved instructor on the QPS Certificate of Swimming Proficiency

WA Police

Requirement
No swim found in the published process
How it works
Check the current Let's Join Forces checklist

SAPOL

Requirement
No swim found in the published process
How it works
Check with SAPOL recruiting

Tasmania Police

Requirement
Swimming certificate
How it works
From Royal Life Saving Australia or AUSTSWIM, at your own cost

NT Police

Requirement
100m forward stroke without touching the bottom or sides
How it works
Forward-facing stroke (breaststroke, freestyle or butterfly); Constable and ARP applicants

AFP

Requirement
100 m freestyle, untimed and unaided
How it works
Signed certificate required

From each force's recruiting pages and our research notes. NSW pool details are from Sydney Olympic Park's swim test page; other pools may charge differently.

If you're not a confident swimmer, start now. A 100 m untimed swim is a modest goal with a few weeks of lessons, but Victoria's four-minute limit and NSW's rescue sequence in clothes need practice. Swimming is also excellent low-impact cardio that complements beep test training without pounding your legs.

Attempts, retests and how long a pass lasts

Police fitness test attempts and retest rules

NSW Police

What's published
Two sittings to pass the Physical Capacity Tests. Within a sitting: 1 attempt at the prone bridge, push-ups and beep test; 2 at grip, jump and agility
Where it comes from
NSW recruitment fitness page

Victoria Police

What's published
Two attempts, then you must wait 12 months before reapplying
Where it comes from
Victoria Police 'tips for success' video transcript, updated 1 October 2024

QPS

What's published
Results valid for 6 months; one push-up attempt; two beep test warnings; sit at a PCYC, or with an approved external assessor on video
Where it comes from
QPS fitness form V2, 28 April 2026

SAPOL

What's published
Resit the test after 3 months; reapply after 12 months if unsuccessful
Where it comes from
Our SAPOL research notes from the recruitment page

AFP

What's published
One beep test attempt with a maximum of two warnings
Where it comes from
AFP application process page

WA Police

What's published
Not published on the pages we read
Where it comes from
Ask WA Police recruiting

Tasmania Police

What's published
Not published on the pages we read
Where it comes from
Ask Tasmania Police recruiting

NT Police

What's published
Not published on the pages we read
Where it comes from
Ask NT Police recruiting

Two things follow from this. First, don't use a real sitting as a practice run, because in NSW and Victoria you only get two. Second, timing matters: a Queensland pass lapses after six months, so a test taken too early in a long selection process may need repeating.

Test-day tips

The day before and on the day

  • ✓ Confirm the venue, start time and what ID to bring
  • ✓ Bring any medical certificate or form your force requires
  • ✓ Sleep well two nights out, not just the night before
  • ✓ Eat a light meal two to three hours beforehand
  • ✓ Wear running shoes with good grip and light clothes
  • ✓ Warm up properly even if no one leads you
  • ✓ Ask the assessor to explain any rule you're unsure of
  • ✓ Count your own shuttles and listen for level calls

Listen to the briefing carefully. Assessors explain the exact push-up depth, the plank position and the beep test warning rules, and these vary by force. In Queensland the audio announces the level and shuttle you're about to start, not the one you've just finished, which surprises people who've trained with a different recording.

Run through the line at your target level. Stopping one shuttle short is the most painful way to fail.

Free tools, official programmes and the paid pass plan

You can prepare entirely for free. The AFP publishes a pre-course fitness programme, WA publishes an eight-week Fit for Duty plan, and Victoria has the free POLICE FIT app. Our fitness test checker and beep test audio are free too.

Paid tool

Fitness Test Pass Plan (AI), $24.99

A week-by-week programme built from your force, test date, current beep level, push-ups, plank, swimming ability, equipment and injuries. One-off payment, 180 days' access, regenerate as you improve. It's AI-generated general guidance, not one-to-one coaching.

See the pass plan →

The paid plan is worth it if you want a programme built around your exact numbers and deadline rather than a generic one. If you're also preparing for the written test and interview, the Recruit Prep Bundle ($79.99) includes the fitness plan, the AI mock interview and entrance exam prep.

NSW NSW Police fitness test Six events, two sittings, and how to train for each. VIC Victoria Police fitness test Five events at the Academy plus the 4-minute swim. QLD QPS fitness test Strict cadence push-ups, a 90-second plank and a 5/7 beep test.

Free email alerts

Get told when a force changes its fitness standard

Queensland rewrote its standard in October 2025 and most online guides still haven't caught up. We check every force's fitness page and email you when a minimum, an event or a retest rule changes, plus one practical training tip a fortnight.

  • ✓Standard changes for all 8 forces
  • ✓Beep test, push-up and plank training tips

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Frequently asked questions

What is the police fitness test in Australia?

There isn't one national test. Each force sets its own. Seven use the 20 m beep test plus some mix of push-ups, a plank, grip strength and an agility run. NSW is the most demanding, with six events including a Level 7.1 beep test and 25 push-ups. SA Police uses a job-like circuit in a 10 kg vest instead of a beep test.

What beep test level do you need to join the police?

It depends on the force: NSW Level 7.1; WA Level 7.01 (male) / 6.01 (female); AFP Level 6.5; NT Level 6.1; Tasmania Level 6.01 minimum; Victoria Level 5.01; Queensland level 5 shuttle 7. SA Police doesn't use a beep test.

Which Australian police force has the hardest fitness test?

NSW Police. Its Level 7.1 beep test means about 1,040 m of shuttle running, and it adds 25 push-ups, a 90-second prone bridge, a 30 cm vertical jump, 30 kg grip and a sub-20-second Illinois agility run. Victoria's beep minimum (level 5, shuttle 1) is the lowest, roughly 380 m less running than NSW's; Queensland's 5/7 is next.

Are police fitness standards different for men and women?

Mostly not. NSW, Victoria, Queensland, NT and Tasmania's beep and plank minimums are the same for everyone as published. WA sets a lower beep test and Illinois time for women, the AFP sets 15 push-ups for men and 8 for women, and Tasmania's grip and waist bands differ by sex.

How many push-ups do you need for the police?

NSW: 25. AFP: 15 (male) / 8 (female) within 60 seconds. Queensland, WA and NT: 10, with Queensland and NT to a 2-second cadence. Tasmania: 10 reps minimum. Victoria: 5 consecutive, on toes. Cadence and depth rules matter as much as the number.

Can I retake the police fitness test if I fail?

Usually, but the rules differ. NSW gives two sittings. Victoria says you get two attempts, then must wait 12 months before reapplying. Queensland results are valid for six months. Our SA research notes say you can resit after three months. Other forces don't publish a clear rule, so ask recruiting before you book.

Do you need to swim to join the police?

In most forces, yes. NSW needs an Aquatic Rescue Sequence certificate, Victoria a 100 m swim in four minutes, Queensland and the AFP an untimed 100 m, NT 100 m forward stroke, and Tasmania a swimming certificate. We didn't find a swim requirement in WA's or SA's published process.

How long does it take to get fit for the police fitness test?

If you can already run for 20 minutes, eight to twelve weeks of consistent training is a realistic window for most forces' minimums. If you're starting from no running at all, allow three to four months and build a walking-to-running base first. Test yourself honestly at the start so you know the size of the gap.

Evidence

Sources and how we checked them

Every figure on this page comes from the sources below, read on 9 October 2026. Pay rates and rules change when new agreements are made, so check the source for the date you're reading this. Where we couldn't confirm something from an official source, the page says so instead of guessing. Spotted an error? Read our corrections policy.

  1. NSW Police Force recruitment: Fitness (Physical Capacity Tests) — Physical Capacity Tests
  2. Victoria Police: Police recruitment process — Victoria Police fitness test
  3. QPS Recruit Entry Fitness Assessment Standard V1 20251021 (PDF) — QPS Recruit Entry Fitness Assessment (Standard V1 20251021)
  4. Let's Join Forces (WA Police Force): Entry-level officer recruitment process — Physical Performance Evaluation (PPE)
  5. SAPOL: Recruitment process — 'Fit for duty' test (wearing a 10 kg vest)
  6. Tasmania Police Recruitment: Fitness Test — Tasmania Police fitness test (traffic-light system)
  7. NTPFES: Fitness assessment — NTPF fitness assessment
  8. AFP: Application process — Entry Physical Competency Assessment (EPCA)
  9. QPS Certificate of Indemnity & Confirmation of Fitness Form V2 20260428 (PDF) — PCYC or external assessor, video rule, 6-month validity, GP certificate
  10. Victoria Police: Recruitment process, tips for success (updated 1 October 2024) — two fitness test attempts, then 12 months
  11. Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre: Compulsory swim test for employment — NSW Police Aquatic Rescue Sequence fee and clothing
  12. Léger et al. (1988), The multistage 20 metre shuttle run test for aerobic fitness, J Sports Sci 6:93-101 — test protocol: 8.5 km/h start, +0.5 km/h a level
  13. Topend Sports: Illinois Agility Test — standard course layout
  14. AFP Pre-course Fitness Program (PDF) — free official programme
  15. WA Police Force: Fit for Duty programme — free official 8-week plan

Related guides

Which force should I join? → Match pay, location and fitness standards to the force that suits you. Police pay in Australia 2026 → What each force pays once you pass the fitness test and the academy. Entrance exam practice → The written side of selection, with practice questions. Recruit Prep Bundle → Fitness plan, exam prep and mock interview together.

Joining the police

More in this series

Fitness tests Beep test levels for police The full 20 m level table, each force's minimum in metres and minutes, and an 8-week plan from level 5 to 7.5. Fitness tests NSW Police fitness test The six Physical Capacity Tests, how each is scored, two sittings, the swim and a training plan. Fitness tests Victoria Police fitness test Beep test 5.01, grip, agility, push-ups, prone bridge and the 4-minute swim, with retest rules. Fitness tests QPS fitness test Queensland's 5/7 beep test, cadence push-ups and 90-second plank, exactly as assessors score them. Fitness tests WA Police fitness test (PPE) Beep 7.01/6.01, Illinois agility 20/22 s, the 35 kg bag carry, attempts allowed and the free Fit for Duty plan. Fitness tests SA Police fit-for-duty test Every station of SAPOL's timed circuit in a 10 kg vest, and how to train for each one. Fitness tests Tasmania Police fitness test Broad jump score, hand-release press-ups, grip, waist and the BMI conflict, with a training plan. Fitness tests NT Police fitness assessment Farmer's carry, 90-second plank, cadence push-ups, beep 6.1 and the 100 m swim. Fitness tests AFP fitness test (EPCA) 60 s plank, 15/8 push-ups in 60 s, beep 6.5 with 2 warnings, and the AFP pre-course program.
See every joining the police guide →

General information, not advice. This guide explains published rules and rates. It doesn't consider your personal circumstances and isn't financial, legal, tax or credit advice. Confirm anything you rely on with your force, your police association, the ATO or a licensed professional.