RCMP Police Fitness Assessment (PFA): Field Test Standards and What Replaced the PARE

The RCMP’s Police Fitness Assessment (PFA) replaced the PARE in 2024. Some third-party prep material still describes the retired PARE, so this page sticks to what the RCMP’s own pages say, read directly on 2026-09-28. The RCMP updated both pages on 2026-09-15; numbers on older sites, and older versions of ETHOS guidance, may not match.

Two versions of the PFA

The RCMP describes two versions:

• Field: the “regular member” version, which you experience during the recruiting process. The RCMP says only applicants who pass the PFA Field test proceed in the application process.
• Bona fide Occupational Requirement: the “cadet” version, which you only experience at the RCMP Academy (Depot). It is a different set of tests from the Field test.

How the requirement applies to someone who applied before it was updated is not addressed on the RCMP’s pages; if that is you, ask your recruiter. See the RCMP application process for where the assessment sits in the sequence.

The Field test: three components, each pass or fail

The RCMP states you must meet the standard for each of the three components. You receive a minimum five-minute recovery period between components. Course layout can vary with the facility.

• Foot pursuit: run 500 m as quickly and safely as possible. Standard: complete the course in 2 minutes 30 seconds or less.
• Emergency assistance (repeated bag lift and carry): lift a 20.5 kg (45 lb) sandbag from the floor to a target height, tap it on a wall, lower it and move to the next sandbag: 14 lifts to 1 m and 1 final lift to 1.4 m. Then run 50 m, pick up two 20.5 kg sandbags, carry them 50 m, and repeat that sequence three times. Standard: complete the entire event in 3 minutes 45 seconds or less.
• Physical control (medicine ball toss): sitting on the floor with your back against a wall and legs straddled, shoulder blades in contact with the wall, throw a 4.5 kg (10 lb) medicine ball forward as far as possible. You get one practice attempt and three attempts, and your longest successful throw counts. Standard: a minimum distance of 2.6 m.

If you are applying through BC or Yukon (Project Red Serge): the BC RCMP page states the same three Field standards, says you must pass the Field PFA to advance before Depot, and says a Physical Employment Standard (PES) Form 6627 completed by a physician is required before you can register for the fitness assessment. Confirm the current steps with your recruiter.

The cadet version at Depot

If you are successful in the application process, you are tested again on a four-assessment version that uses equipment and, later, uniform and weighted kit: a foot pursuit with a 1.4 m chain-link fence climb, a sled and weighted-mannequin physical control task, a truck-loading and stretcher-carry style emergency assistance task, and a timed high-priority task in weighted body armour. The RCMP says cadets must pass it periodically during training and that meeting the minimum self-test standards below puts you in a better position.

The RCMP’s self-tests for readiness

The RCMP’s national physical-standards page recommends self-tests every four weeks (more often if you are struggling); the BC “Project Red Serge” page says every 6 to 12 weeks. It defines a minimum standard (the lowest level giving a reasonable chance of meeting cadet training requirements), a target standard (an average level for the cadet population) and a superior standard (the top 10% of cadet performance).

• 5 km run: minimum 30 minutes; target 23 minutes 30 seconds to 26 minutes on the national page (26 minutes 30 seconds on the BC Red Serge page); superior 20 minutes 20 seconds to 23 minutes.
• Push-up test (chin to a folded towel, continuous, no resting on knees): minimum 10 continuous repetitions; target 25 to 40; superior 40 to 60.

For preparation, the RCMP suggests three to five cardiovascular sessions and two to three resistance sessions a week, including running, jumping, lifting and carrying, and says you can ask your recruiter for a Police Fitness Assessment preparation program.

Track your training

The Fitness & Readiness tracker lets you log your own practice attempts against these components. Results you log are self-reported on your own device; ETHOS does not verify them, and this page is preparation guidance, not a prediction of any test result. ETHOS Prep is independent and not affiliated with the RCMP. Medical or injury questions belong with a qualified professional.