Physical-Agility
Committed applicants in line for the Physical Agility Examination, rain or shine.
Overview
The California Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T) requires the administration of a physical conditioning program during the academy. In an effort to go above and beyond the minimum requirements set by P.O.S.T., the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office requires obtaining a minimum score and successfully passing every event of our Physical Agility Examination. This also ensures that candidates who complete the hiring process and are extended an offer of employment will be able to adequately participate in the physical conditioning program during the academy that is mandated by P.O.S.T. The Sheriff's Office does not currently accept any other Physical Agility Examination results or scores from other agencies including T-Scores from the P.O.S.T. Work Sample Test Battery (WSTB).
Applicants for both the Deputy Sheriff and Sheriff's Correctional Deputy positions, including both Cadet and Lateral applicants, will complete the same events during the Physical Agility Examination with the exception of the Wall Climb event. Deputy Sheriff Cadet/Lateral applicants must complete the solid wall; Sheriff's Correctional Deputy Cadet/Lateral applicants no longer need to complete the wall climb.
Waiving of Examination
We do not waive the Physical Agility Examination. Furthermore, we do not accept WSTB scores or physical agility scores from other agencies. All applicants are required to particpated in the Physical Agility Examination each time they submit an application and are invited out to testing.
To request to use your previous Written Examination score on a current application process, please contact the County ESA with the same information at [email protected].
Update
The Body Hold event has been removed from our Physical Agility Examination and applicants for the Sheriff's Correctional Deputy Cadet position are no longer required to complete the Wall Climb event. This update will not be retroactively applied to previous examinations or scores and is only effective starting May 22, 2017.
Events
The Physical Agility Examination consists of three or four events for Sheriff's Correctional Deputy Cadets and Deputy Sheriff Cadets respectively. Applicants must successfully complete each event and achieve an overall score greater than the minimum required score to pass the Physical Agility Examination. Applicants will have two attempts for each event with the exception of the 500 Yard Run, which applicants will only be able to attempt once. Should an applicant fail to complete any of the events during the allotted number of attempts, that applicant will be disqualified from the hiring process and will have to reapply to the position. The four events are the Wall Climb, the Body Drag, the Obstacle Course, and the 500 Yard Run.
Wall Climb
Wall Climb
The six (6) foot wall climb is one of the highest scoring events of the Physical Agility Examination. Applicants will start at the starting line, run to the wall, climb over the wall, and sprint through the finish line. Time starts when the applicant crosses the starting line and time stops when the applicant crosses the finish line. Applicants can use any method they choose to climb the wall but cannot touch the side supports in any way or that attempt will be counted as a failure. Deputy Sheriff Cadet and Lateral applicants must complete the solid wall. Sheriff's Correctional Deputy Cadet and Lateral applicants are no longer required to complete this event. Applicants will have two attempts at this event.
Dummies for the body drag event.
Body Drag
The body drag consists of picking up a 165 pound dummy around the chest and dragging it 32 feet. Applicants will start at the starting line with the dummy seated on the ground, lift the dummy around the chest, and drag it from the starting line to the finish line. Time starts when the dummy's feet cross the starting line and time stops when the dummy's feet cross the finish line. The dummy's feet must drag on the ground for the attempt to count. Applicants will have two attempts at this event.
Obstacle Course
Obstacle Course
The 99 yard obstacle course is another high scoring event. Applicants will start at the starting line, run through the course without touching any of the cones or curb obstacles along the way, and sprint through the finish line. Time starts when the applicant crosses the starting line and time stops when the applicant crosses the finish line. Applicants must run between all the sets of cones and avoid touching the cones and curb obstacles. As applicants approach the hurdle, one foot must step between the curb obstacle and the hurdle and at least one hand must touch the top of the hurdle. Touching any cones or curb obstacles will result in a failed attempt. Applicants will have two attempts at this event.
Path for the 500 yard run.
500 Yard Run
The 500 yard run is the only event applicants only get to attempt once. Applicants will run from the starting line along the paved path down to the fork in the road, go around the tree while staying on the paved path, and run back across the finish line. Time starts when the proctor gives the command and time stops when applicants cross the finish line. Going off the paved path will result in disqualification. Applicants will have one attempt at this event.
Additional Information
Check below for a video demonstration of each of these events and a physical fitness workout program recommended to use to assist with being in adequate physical shape to successfully complete the Physical Agility Examination and the academy physical conditioning program. The Physical Agility Examination is a test of the baseline physical fitness of applicants to see if they are physically fit to enter the academy. The academy physical conditioning program is much more intensive than the Physical Agility Examination and applicants who want to succeed in the academy should be able to pass the Physical Agility Examination with relative ease.
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