Massachusetts Trial Court Officer physical ability diagram

Diagram of the Physical Abilities Test (PAT) for Massachusetts Court Officer candidates.

To become a Massachusetts Court Officer, candidates must successfully complete a PAT. The PAT is designed to measure strength, agility, endurance and aerobic capacity in relation to court officer duties and functions. Passing the PAT qualifies the candidate for further consideration and PAT results are valid for one year before appointment. Review this Court Officer physical ability diagram for a description of the PAT.

Note: This diagram is laid out on the dimensions of a basketball court. The dimensions of a court are 15 meters by 28 meters.

1. Weight lift

A medium-sized bag (approximately 26 inches by 18 inches by 10 inches) weighing 30 pounds will be picked up from the ground, placed on a waist-high table and then placed back on the floor.

2. Weight carry

A 30 pound canvas bag of lead shot carried across gym 3 times (approximately 150 feet).

3. Straight-line run

100 meter run around perimeter of basketball court (perimeter is 86 meters). Approximately 1.16 laps or 330 feet.

4. Stair climb

To achieve ascending 14 total flights (10 steps per flight is 140 steps total) 7 flights of stairs will be ascended and descended. Candidates will have to climb up and down a 5-step staircase 14 times.

5. Obstacle run

Candidates will run 100 meters (approximately 330 feet). They will loop around a total of 7 cones and complete this process once. No single straightaway will be longer than 14 meters.

6. Dummy drag

1. A 165 pound dummy will be dragged 25 feet to a turnaround point and back 25 feet. The total drag will be 50 feet.
2. The dummy will be face-down on the ground, feet facing the center court. The candidate must flip the dummy and turn the dummy so its head is facing the center.

7. Dexterity

With feet stationary, the candidate must laterally hook the weighted (37 pounds of force) handcuff extension to the center pole in a controlled manner and then lower the handcuff bar back to the start without dropping the weight. The candidate must then complete the same movement on the opposite side.