Federal Air Marshal Physical Test: PAT Standards and Preparation
Federal Air Marshal applicants must demonstrate the physical readiness needed for vigorous law-enforcement training and operational duties.
The Federal Air Marshal Physical Ability Test, or PAT, is a specific pre-employment requirement. It is not the medical examination and it is not the physical standard used for every TSA career.
Recent public FAM recruitment states that applicants who pass the PAT proceed to the panel interview, executive interview and fingerprinting during the Field Office Assessment. The current vacancy, PAT guide and invitation always control.
Physical standards can change. Use the numbers below only with the stated review date and compare them with your current official instructions.
Current Published PAT Standards
The current TSA-hosted preparation material and recent public recruitment identify three scored events completed in this order:
- sit-ups;
- push-ups; and
- a 1.5-mile run.
| Event | Current published minimum |
|---|---|
| Sit-ups | At least 31 in one minute |
| Push-ups | At least 29 in one minute |
| 1.5-mile run | 16 minutes 31 seconds or faster |
The current published minimums apply equally to male and female applicants. They are pass/fail thresholds, not age-adjusted scoring tables.
TSA’s published guidance provides approximately three to five minutes of rest between events. Follow the evaluator’s instructions if the current administration differs.
PAT at a Glance
| Topic | General current information |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Measure readiness for demanding law-enforcement training |
| Events | Sit-ups, push-ups and 1.5-mile run |
| Order | Fixed under the current guide |
| Rest | Approximately three to five minutes between events under current guidance |
| Standards by sex | Same current published minimums |
| Standards by age | No age-adjusted table in the current published minimums |
| Medical examination | Separate requirement |
| Passing guarantee | No; other hiring stages remain |
| Later fitness | Continued readiness and qualification are required |
PAT Versus Medical Qualification
The PAT measures performance on specific physical events.
The medical examination evaluates whether the applicant meets job-related health standards for armed federal law-enforcement duties.
An applicant can:
- pass the PAT and later receive an unfavorable medical determination;
- receive medical clearance and still fail the PAT; or
- require additional review in one process while the other remains complete.
Do not describe the two processes as interchangeable.
The Field Office Assessment Context
Recent recruitment places the PAT within a broader field-office visit.
Applicants who successfully pass the FAB are directed to a specified FAMS field office. Recent public language describes the next sequence as:
- complete the PAT;
- if successful, complete the panel interview;
- meet with a field-office executive; and
- provide fingerprints.
The ability to reschedule can be extremely limited, and applicants can be responsible for their own assessment travel costs. Follow the invitation rather than relying on a general article.
Read the Federal Air Marshal interview guide for the nonphysical parts of the visit.
Technique Matters
A repetition can be excluded when it does not meet the evaluator’s required form.
Candidates should study the official guide for:
- starting position;
- body alignment;
- required range of motion;
- hand and foot placement;
- contact points;
- cadence or timing instructions;
- prohibited rest positions; and
- how the evaluator counts repetitions.
Training to a looser personal standard can create a false sense of readiness. Practice the exact authorized form once you understand it.
Build a Baseline Before Training Hard
Test each event under safe conditions and record:
- correct sit-ups completed in one minute;
- correct push-ups completed in one minute;
- current 1.5-mile time;
- running pace by lap or segment;
- pain or mobility limitations;
- recovery between events; and
- performance when the events are completed in the official order.
One isolated maximum attempt does not show whether you can repeat the performance after fatigue or under evaluation pressure.
Preparation Principles
A balanced program generally includes:
- aerobic base work;
- gradual running progression;
- controlled faster intervals;
- specific 1.5-mile pace practice;
- upper-body muscular endurance;
- core endurance;
- mobility;
- recovery days;
- sleep; and
- injury management.
Do not train only the event you already perform well.
Running
Useful elements can include:
- easy conversational runs;
- short controlled intervals;
- longer aerobic efforts;
- race-pace segments;
- recovery sessions; and
- occasional full 1.5-mile assessments.
Running every session at maximum effort increases fatigue and injury risk without guaranteeing faster improvement.
Push-ups
Practice correct repetitions rather than accumulating partial repetitions.
A progression can use:
- submaximal sets;
- timed sets;
- controlled tempo work;
- upper-back and shoulder support work;
- recovery between hard sessions; and
- periodic one-minute assessments.
Sit-ups
Core preparation should combine the tested movement with broader trunk stability and hip mobility.
Avoid suddenly adding high-volume sit-ups when the lower back or hip flexors are not conditioned.
Practice the Full Sequence
After building a base, rehearse:
- one-minute sit-ups;
- the official rest period;
- one-minute push-ups;
- the official rest period; and
- the 1.5-mile run.
This reveals whether the first events affect breathing, pacing or running mechanics.
Do not perform a full maximum simulation every day. Hard test-specific sessions require recovery.
Train Above the Minimum Without Using Unsafe Shortcuts
The published numbers are minimum continuation standards. Arriving able to meet them only on a perfect day leaves little margin for:
- travel fatigue;
- weather;
- unfamiliar facilities;
- evaluator counting;
- stress;
- poor pacing; or
- minor variation in performance.
Build a reasonable safety margin gradually. Avoid extreme last-minute dieting, dehydration, unapproved stimulants or sudden high-volume training.
Injuries and Medical Concerns
Stop and seek appropriate medical advice when training produces warning signs such as:
- chest pain;
- fainting;
- unusual severe shortness of breath;
- acute joint injury;
- neurological symptoms;
- significant swelling;
- worsening pain; or
- complications after recent surgery.
Do not hide an injury from a medical professional or evaluator. Training through a serious problem can worsen the injury and affect both PAT and medical qualification.
This page is not individualized medical clearance.
Test-Day Preparation
Review the invitation for:
- location;
- arrival time;
- identification;
- clothing;
- footwear;
- weather contingency;
- food and water rules;
- medication procedures;
- prohibited items; and
- rescheduling instructions.
Before the appointment:
- maintain a normal sleep schedule when possible;
- reduce hard training close to the test;
- eat familiar food;
- hydrate normally;
- wear tested footwear;
- arrive early; and
- bring only authorized items.
Do not try a new supplement, stimulant, shoe or training method on test day.
During the PAT
Listen to the complete instructions before beginning.
During each event:
- use the required form;
- pace the first repetitions;
- avoid arguing while the clock is running;
- respond to evaluator corrections;
- use the rest period to control breathing; and
- report an injury or illness accurately.
The official result depends on counted repetitions and recorded time, not a personal training log.
Failure, Retesting and Waiting Periods
The official notice determines:
- whether a retest is available;
- any waiting period;
- whether a failed PAT ends consideration under the announcement;
- whether reapplication is allowed; and
- how a prior failure affects a new application.
A recent public FAM announcement stated that applicants who failed the PAT, FAB or panel interview within the previous 12 months were not eligible under that announcement. That was announcement-specific language and should not be generalized without checking the current vacancy.
Fitness During Academy Training
Passing the applicant PAT establishes minimum pre-employment readiness. It does not mean academy fitness will be easy.
Training can include:
- physical conditioning;
- defensive tactics;
- firearms work;
- scenario exercises;
- prolonged instructional days; and
- repeated performance under fatigue.
Candidates should arrive conditioned rather than expecting the academy to create a basic fitness foundation from zero.
Fitness After Appointment
Federal Air Marshals must remain capable of:
- carrying firearms and equipment;
- defensive response;
- extended travel;
- irregular schedules;
- prolonged sitting or standing;
- rapid physical action; and
- recurring agency training and qualification.
One passing pre-employment test does not end the responsibility to remain fit for duty.
Common Mistakes
Candidates often:
- use an outdated scoring table;
- apply another agency’s standards;
- ignore event order;
- count repetitions that would not meet official form;
- train only push-ups or sit-ups;
- neglect running;
- practice every session at maximum effort;
- begin an intense program too quickly;
- train through a significant injury;
- attempt extreme weight loss immediately before testing;
- confuse PAT with medical clearance;
- assume pull-ups are a scored current PAT event; or
- stop conditioning immediately after passing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a physical test for Federal Air Marshal applicants?
Yes. Recent public recruitment requires successful completion of the PAT.
What are the current published events?
Sit-ups, push-ups and a 1.5-mile run, in that order.
What are the current minimums?
At least 31 sit-ups in one minute, at least 29 push-ups in one minute and a 1.5-mile run in 16:31 or faster, based on the guide reviewed July 25, 2026.
Are standards different by age or sex?
The current published minimums are the same for male and female applicants and are not presented as age-adjusted scores.
Is the PAT the same as the medical examination?
No. The PAT measures performance; medical review evaluates job-related health standards.
Does the PAT happen during the Field Office Assessment?
Recent recruitment places it at the field-office stage before the panel interview. Follow the current invitation.
Can a failed PAT be retaken?
The announcement and official notice control retest and reapplication rules.
Does passing guarantee an offer?
No. Interview, medical, drug, polygraph, background, clearance and selection stages can remain.
Federal Air Marshal preparation
Read the Federal Air Marshal career guide, FAB study guide and law-enforcement careers hub. For additional practice, see the JobTestPrep FAM review and the Federal Air Marshal preparation package.