Standards and Norms
Police Bleep Test Requirements
If you are searching what level bleep test for police, the first thing to confirm is the country and the test format. Some police services use a 15m shuttle run, others use a 20m shuttle run, and many (especially in the US) use a timed run instead of a bleep test.
Overview
A “police bleep test” is usually a shuttle run used as part of recruitment screening and (in some services) ongoing job-related fitness checks. The principle is simple: you run between two lines, turning on each beep, and the beeps get closer together as the test progresses.
In police contexts the goal is normally not to identify elite endurance athletes. The stated purpose is typically to ensure recruits (and in some roles serving officers) have enough aerobic capacity to safely complete operational training such as personal safety training, defensive tactics, or role-specific instruction.
UK police standards (by force if varies)
In the UK, the phrase police fitness test UK often refers to the Job-Related Fitness Test (JRFT), delivered as a 15 metre multi-stage fitness test (a 15m bleep test).
Published College of Policing guidance describes a commonly used pass mark of level 5.4 on the 15m MSFT. This equates to completing level 5, shuttle 4 (four shuttles at level 5), and is described as a total of 3 minutes 35 seconds and 525 metres in that format.
England and Wales: commonly published baseline
| Test | Course | Commonly published pass mark | Equivalent total |
|---|---|---|---|
| JRFT / MSFT (shuttle run) | 15m | 5.4 | 3:35 / 525m |
However, UK policing is not a single employer. Forces can implement policy differently, and some roles require higher standards. Examples that have been published by forces and professional bodies include:
- Specialist roles: published role-specific recommended standards exist (for example, dog handler, public order, firearms roles).
- Force-level changes: some forces have published changes to the required maintenance level for certain groups of serving officers. For example, a West Yorkshire Police FOI response dated April 2024 stated that the level for police officers was reduced to 3.7 from the week commencing 1 April 2024, while new students in their first year remained at 5.4, with higher levels retained for specific trained roles.
UK role-based examples (15m MSFT)
The table below is an example of the way higher standards are sometimes expressed in UK documentation: as level:shuttle on the 15m MSFT. These values are role-specific and should not be treated as universal recruitment standards.
| Role example | Recommended standard (level:shuttle) |
|---|---|
| Dog handler | 5:7 |
| Police support unit | 6:3 |
| Authorised firearms officer (AFO) | 7:6 |
| Armed-response vehicle (ARV) | 9:4 |
| Dynamic intervention AFO | 10:5 |
US standards
In the United States there is no single national “police bleep test level” used by all agencies. Many departments and academies use a timed run (for example, 1.5 miles) plus strength/endurance events (push-ups, sit-ups, sprint/drag/carry, obstacle course variants). Some agencies do use shuttle runs, but the exact test (20m PACER, 300m shuttle, 5-10-5 agility, or other) varies widely.
If you are training for a US police academy, treat the test as department-specific. Obtain the official candidate guide for your state/agency and train directly to those rules and scoring bands.
Australian standards
Australia is similar to the US in that requirements depend on the service. The bleep test is used more commonly, but the course length and the required level can vary.
Examples that have been published by Australian agencies include:
- NSW Police Force: the Physical Capacity Test includes a 20m shuttle run with a stated requirement of level 7.1.
- Queensland Police Service: the Physical Competency Assessment lists a 20m shuttle run requirement expressed as level 5.7 (level 5, shuttle 7).
- Australian Federal Police (AFP): recruitment information describes a 20m shuttle run requirement of level 6.5.
These are not interchangeable with UK numbers because the UK standard is commonly expressed for a 15m shuttle run. Always confirm whether the standard is for a 15m or 20m course.
How to find your force’s requirement
The fastest way to avoid training to the wrong target is to confirm four details from your recruiting force or unit:
- Course length: 15m vs 20m.
- Pass mark format: “level:shuttle” vs “total shuttles” vs “total distance”.
- Stop rule: first miss vs second miss, and how “miss” is defined.
- Role category: standard entry, public order, dog handler, firearms, specialist firearms, or other specialist role.
If you have the official document but do not understand how the score is written, use the levels chart section and match the format (15m or 20m) before you start training.
What happens if you fail
Outcomes vary by employer, stage, and role. Common patterns include:
- During recruitment: failing the fitness standard normally means you cannot progress until you re-test.
- During training: failing may lead to remediation and a re-test window, or removal from the intake if the standard is a hard requirement.
- Serving officers: UK guidance described by police federations indicates that forces may provide support and re-test opportunities, and can use formal performance processes if a required standard cannot be met after appropriate support and alternatives.
Because this is procedural and policy-led, do not rely on informal advice. Use the written policy for your force or academy.
Training recommendations
If your goal is a specific police bleep test level, training should target the limiting factors: pacing, turns, and repeatable aerobic work. A practical approach is:
- Build base fitness: 2–3 steady aerobic sessions per week (easy run, bike, or brisk incline walk) to raise overall capacity.
- Practise shuttle turns: one session per week on the same course length as the test; practise tight turns and reaching the line cleanly.
- Do interval work: short intervals that mimic late-stage effort (for example, 15–60 second repeats with short rests).
- Test occasionally: use a full bleep test to assess readiness, not as your main training session.
- Recover properly: sleep and easy days matter; repeated max-effort tests can stall progress and increase injury risk.
Related: see the 4-week training plan and the 15m bleep test format guide.
Key points
- Confirm 15m vs 20m first
- UK commonly uses 15m MSFT 5.4
- Specialist roles can be higher
- US agencies often use timed runs instead
If you can share your force/agency and the exact test name, this site can map the score format and training focus to the correct version.
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