Products and Services - Fire Department - Physical Ability Test
Test Design
The type of physical ability test (PAT) we recommend and have created for many cities includes a mix of job simulation exercises and physical agility measures, validated against incumbent job performance, to create reasonable and legally defensible cutoff scores, that minimize adverse impact against female candidates. Our tests resemble actual tasks and physical activities that are performed on-the-job. For this reason, in addition to being highly job relevant, our physical ability tests are perceived as being fair and are well liked by department members and applicants alike
The Process
Review of current job analysis, job description, and current test
Our test development process will consist of a thorough review your Department’s current data, including your job description, any previous job analysis data, and any documentation for your current test to gain a better understanding of the way your current system works, and identify how improve the process for your new test.
Our test development process will consist of a thorough review your Department’s current data, including your job description, any previous job analysis data, and any documentation for your current test to gain a better understanding of the way your current system works, and identify how improve the process for your new test.
Job Analysis
We will conduct a thorough job analysis to determine the physical requirements of the job. The job analysis data will be used help design the content of the test, and lend support for determining which types of job simulation and physical agility events make up the Physical Ability Test. Job analysis data will also be collected and reported in a way that allows your department to demonstrate the legal defensibility of the test.
Test Development
CWH works closely with your department to development a test that closely matches the unique physical demands of your department. Working with a group of subject-matter-experts (SMEs) from your department, CWH will hold structured interview sessions to develop ideas for test events and course layout. These face to face meetings allow CWH to bring our expertise in test development, job analysis, and public safety testing consultancy to the table, while being able to hear firsthand the practical needs and expectations for the test from the people who understand the position being tested for the most your department members.
Test Validation
In addition to developing a process that is highly content valid, CWH will also engage in a criterion-related validation of the physical ability test. Criterion-related validity is demonstrated by showing a statistical relationship between how well people perform on the test, and how well they perform on the job. To achieve this, CWH will collect PAT course times from members of your department, and match that data against performance ratings collected from supervisor, peer and self ratings of physical job performance. In addition to providing the highest legal defensibility, this method allows us to select a cut-score for the test that most accurately predicts which applicants meet the physical requirements of the job.
The Deliverables
• A detailed description and diagram (if appropriate) of the entire course, including instructions for setting up the course, the order in which exercises would be completed, time requirements for completion, and all other relevant information.
• A detailed description of each exercise, including materials and tools necessary for construction, dimensions and metrics of test events, equipment used on the test, and all other appropriate information regarding the exact specifications of the test.
• Complete written test administration instructions and thorough on-site training for proctoring the physical ability test by our personnel for your staff.
• Complete documentation of the entire system, including the results of the physical job analysis and statistical validation of the test.
• A detailed description of each exercise, including materials and tools necessary for construction, dimensions and metrics of test events, equipment used on the test, and all other appropriate information regarding the exact specifications of the test.
• Complete written test administration instructions and thorough on-site training for proctoring the physical ability test by our personnel for your staff.
• Complete documentation of the entire system, including the results of the physical job analysis and statistical validation of the test.
Why CWH?
CWH has a wealth of expertise in physical ability testing. Our president has been asked to present his research and findings at several conferences and is a known C.P.A.T. expert.
Our company has developed physical ability tests for numerous departments across the nation- We have over 25 years of experience in this field and because of our detailed research and analysis we have never been challenged in court.
Our company has developed physical ability tests for numerous departments across the nation- We have over 25 years of experience in this field and because of our detailed research and analysis we have never been challenged in court.
