COPAT ALBERTA
Correctional Officers Physical Abilities Test (COPAT)
The Correctional Officer Physical Ability Test (COPAT) in Alberta evaluates your capacity to meet the physical demands of Correctional Services work.
It is the occupational assessment used by the Solicitor General of Alberta in selecting candidates applying to Correctional Peace Officer positions. An official COPAT test at Blueline Fitness Testing in Alberta costs $130 and a practice COPAT costs $100. All available dates can be found on our calendar by clicking the link below.
A medical clearance from a doctor is NOT required to run your COPAT with us as you will fill out a medical questionnaire when you register. Save yourself some time and money!
Correctional Officer candidates from other provinces are also welcome.
About The COPAT Test
The COPAT Alberta evaluation consists of six stations
Station 1: 50′ Run
Correctional Officers are often required to run short distances during the performance of their duties. Stations 1, 2, & 3 are part of the getting to the emergency situation part of the test.
In Station 1, the participant runs 50′ to Station 2. This short run includes two 90° turns.
Station 2: The Stair Run
Here the participant runs up and down six stairs. This activity is repeated 6 times consecutively and participants must touch every stair on the way up, the top platform and every stair on the way down. Stairs are common in most correctional facilities and are accessed during emergency situations such as fights, fire/evacuations and medical emergencies.
Station 3: The Mobility, Agility, and Speed Run (30 meters)
From the Station 2, the participant moves through a 30 m zig-zag course of cones and must jump over 3 hurdles placed 18″ off the ground. This simulates moving through potential obstacles in a living unit or common area in the correctional facility.
Station 4: the Pull and Push Station Machine
This station involves demonstrating the ability to control 70 lbs of resistance while moving through 180° arcs. This first part of this station is the Pull. The participant grasps a rope on the Power Training Machine (PTM) and pulls the weight stack (70 lbs total) off its resting position. While keeping the weight stack off the resting position, the participant moves through the machine controlled 180° arc six times. The weight must not be dropped at any time or all six arcs must be repeated. Crossing of the participants feet is not allowed.
Once the Pull is completed successfully, the participant grabs the bar on the PTM and pushes the weight stack off its resting position. With the weight off the resting position, the participant moves through six 180° arcs. The weight must not be dropped at any time or all six arcs must be repeated. Crossing of the participants feet is not allowed.
The Pull-Push station is the first half of resolving the emergency situation part of the test.
Station 5: Modified Squat-Thrust-and-Stand and Vault Rail
This station involves modified Squat-Thrust-and-Stand (STAS) activity followed by jumping over a 3′ (.91 m) vault rail. From the Pull-Push Station, the participant moves to Station 3 and begins by laying on the mat so that the chest, hips and toes touch the mat. The participant then stands and vaults over the rail, touching the rail with only the hands. Landing on the feet, the participant then does a reverse STAS (to end up on your back) so that the shoulder blades, butt and heels touch the mat. The participant then completes a full sit up, stands and vaults over the rail and repeats the activity until a total of 10 Squat-Thrust-and-Stands (5 to the front, 5 to the back) and 9 Vaults are completed. Once the participant finishes the last STAS and stands up in a balanced position, the time is stopped. This ends the timed portion of the test.
This station is the second half of resolving the emergency situation part of the test.
Station 6: Weight Carry
This station is not part of the timed portion of the test, but is necessary to successfully complete the test. A rest period of 30 seconds is given between the end of Station 3 and the start of this station.
The participant must pick up a torso bag weighing 80 lbs and carry the bag in a controlled manner a distance of 50′. The bag must be carried so that it is always in front of the participant, and must be grasped by the hands only.
This station is the removing the problem part of the test, and is the last activity that must be completed.
To pass the COPAT for Alberta Corrections, the participant must perform all activities as per the defined protocol and complete the timed portion of the test within 3:20 minutes, and then demonstrate the ability to lift and carry the 80 lb torso bag a distance of 50′.
To pass the COPAT for BC Corrections, the participant must complete the test in 2:50 minutes with 50lbs on the push pull machine, 70lbs in the weighted bag and the vault set at 2.5 feet height.