Beep Test Police Standards

UK forces assess cardio fitness with the endurance shuttle run inside the Job Related Fitness Test (JRFT). The pass standard for police constable recruitment is level 5.4, and it is the same for everyone — the test is gender-neutral and age-blind. Police Scotland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) use the same 5.4 standard, and serving officers in England and Wales must pass it every year.

Important: the UK JRFT uses a 15-meter shuttle, not the 20-meter beep test this app plays. The protocols sound alike, but a 15m "level 5.4" is not the same effort as a 20m level 5.4 — use this app to build endurance, but train on a 15m course to rehearse the real test.

Specialist roles — firearms officers and armed-response units — must hold higher standards set by their force. Verify the exact current level with the force you're applying to.

Most US police, sheriff, and state trooper agencies do not use the beep test. The common standard is the Cooper Institute battery, which measures cardio fitness with a 1.5-mile timed run rather than a shuttle run, alongside push-ups, sit-ups, and a vertical jump. Departments typically set the pass mark at a percentile for your age and sex — for example, the New York State Police use the 50th percentile to enter the academy and the 70th to graduate.

A minority of US departments — including Cleveland and Colorado Springs — do use the beep test in hiring. If you're testing with one of those, the practice app and levels chart still apply. Otherwise, the beep test is a useful training tool: it builds the same aerobic base the 1.5-mile run rewards, and your level maps directly to an estimated VO₂ max you can track over time.

Australian forces use the 20-meter beep test, but each state and territory sets its own standard and they change periodically. As a verified example, the Queensland Police Service requires level 5.7. Entry standards across Australian forces generally sit in the level 5 to 7 range.

Because these numbers move over time and several forces allow only a single attempt, always confirm the current requirement directly with the recruiting body you're applying to rather than relying on a third-party figure.

Most police fitness tests are assessed at a minimum standard rather than as a competitive score. Target a level 1–2 levels above the minimum (or comfortably inside the time on a 1.5-mile run) to allow for nerves and the conditions on test day.

• Run interval sessions 2–3 times per week at your target pace — for a Level 6 target, that's 8 × 200m at around 11 km/h with 60 seconds rest between reps
• Practice the actual test once per week to build familiarity (on a 15m course for the UK JRFT)
• Work on turning technique to avoid wasted energy
• Give yourself at least 6 weeks of structured training before assessment

Most forces allow re-testing after a set period — typically 4–8 weeks. If you're below standard, a structured 6-week program is usually enough to close the gap for general entry levels. Higher specialist or tactical-unit standards require more time to build the aerobic base, so factor that in early.