ACT Firefighter Aptitude cheat sheet

The CPAT is a pass/fail timed course of eight sequential events; candidates must complete all events within 10 minutes 20 seconds while wearing a 50-pound vest.

The eight CPAT events in order: stair climb, hose drag, equipment carry, ladder raise and extension, forcible entry, search, rescue drag, and ceiling breach and pull.

Stair climb uses a StepMill at 60 steps per minute for 3 minutes with an additional 25 pounds of simulated equipment, totaling 75 pounds carried.

Hose drag requires advancing a charged line 75 feet, then dragging the nozzle 75 feet from a 200-foot length; the candidate may shoulder or wrap the hose.

Forcible entry uses a 10-pound sledgehammer to drive a 165-pound sled a total of 5 feet, typically via repeated strikes on a strike pad.

Search is a crawl through a 64-foot enclosed tunnel maze with restricted dimensions; the candidate must stay on hands and knees and follow the marked path.

Rescue drag requires grasping a 165-pound mannequin and dragging it 35 feet to a finish line; the mannequin may not be lifted or carried.

Ceiling breach and pull uses a pike pole to push a 60-pound hinged door upward, then pull a 60-pound ceiling panel down, repeated for a defined cycle count.

Grip, balance, and pacing determine pass rates more than raw strength; candidates who sprint early typically fail the timed stair climb or the final ceiling pull.

The typical hiring sequence: application, written exam, physical ability test, oral interview, background investigation, medical and psychological evaluation, then academy.

Written exams commonly cover reading comprehension, mathematics, mechanical reasoning, spatial relations, and situational judgment; scoring is often norm-referenced against other candidates.

Most departments require a high school diploma or GED; many prefer or require EMT certification, fire science coursework, or prior military service.

Age minimums are usually 18; maximum hiring ages (often 29-35) exist in some jurisdictions but are increasingly removed as unlawful age discrimination.

Background investigation checks criminal history, driving record, credit, employment history, and references; disqualifying offenses vary by jurisdiction.

The medical exam screens for cardiovascular fitness, vision and hearing standards, and chronic conditions that would prevent safe use of SCBA or protective gear.

Candidate physical ability tests are scored pass/fail; failing any single event typically ends the process for that hiring cycle, with reapplication allowed later.

Recruitment timelines commonly run three to twelve months from application to academy start; candidates are placed on an eligibility list ranked by combined scores.