The CPAT exam: Candidate Physical Ability Test. The CPAT is a pass/fail timed test (10 minutes; 20 seconds) which consists of eight separate events: stair climb, hose drag, equipment carry, ladder raise and extension, forcible entry, search, rescue, and ceiling breach pull). The test is a sequence of events that requires the candidate to progress along a predetermined path from event to event in a continuous manner. In these events, the candidate wears a 50 pound vest to simulate the weight of t