AFTER THE WRITTEN EXAM
The NYS Court Officer physical test & screening process
The NYS Court Officer physical test — the Physical Ability Test, which candidates call the JPAT — is a battery of four tests: Push-Ups, the Illinois Agility Run, Sit-Ups and the Beep Test. It is Phase 1 of screening, and it happens after the written exam, once your rank is reached. Verified against the Unified Court System’s candidate materials on August 12, 2026.
Where screening fits in
The written exam comes first. Candidates who pass are notified in order of their rank number when to begin screening, and receive a conditional appointment when their rank is reached for the region they selected. In other words, the physical and the rest of the screening happen after the written exam, and only once you have been reached on the eligible list.
You must successfully complete each step before moving on to the next. Notably, the court system states the background investigation begins only after you qualify on the Physical Ability Test — so the physical is an early gate, not a final one.
The four events in the physical test
According to the court system's candidate materials, the Physical Ability Test is a battery of four tests. The official name is on the left; the name candidates search for is underneath it.
- ✓Push-UpsOften called the push-up test. Measures upper-body muscular endurance.
- ✓Illinois Agility RunOften called the agility test. Measures change-of-direction speed around a marked course.
- ✓Sit-UpsOften called the sit-up test. Measures core muscular endurance.
- ✓Beep TestOften called the bleep test or multi-stage shuttle run. Measures aerobic endurance over repeated paced shuttles.
One naming note, because it costs people search results: the Unified Court System's own materials never use the word JPAT — they say Physical Ability Test, or PAT. JPAT is what candidates and message boards call it. Both refer to the same four events above.
These tests assess whether you can meet the fitness requirements of the academy. The court system describes the test as physically demanding and says candidates must train to be successful. It also reserves the right to modify the test at any time during the life of the list.
We deliberately do not publish specific rep counts, run times or pass standards here. The Office of Court Administration publishes its own Physical Ability Preparation Guide and a Points Table, and those standards can change — so the official page is the only source you should rely on for numbers.
Last verified: August 12, 2026 against the linked NYS Unified Court System source.
The full screening, phase by phase
Phase 1 — Physical Ability Test, vision screening & fingerprints
You must pass the Physical Ability Test battery and a vision screening test, then you are fingerprinted at the academy. A completed Medical Release Form, signed by a medical professional who has examined you, is required to take part in the physical test — candidates without it are not allowed to participate.
Phase 2 — Written psychological tests & background investigation
You take a series of standardized written psychological assessments, and an extensive background investigation begins — but only after you have qualified on the Physical Ability Test. Investigators review education, employment, military service, and driving and criminal records.
Phase 3 — Psychological interview & evaluation board
You sit for an interview with a licensed clinical psychologist, and an evaluation board of court managers and security professionals reviews your background history to determine fitness for appointment.
Phase 4 — Pre-appointment medical exam & appointment
A comprehensive pre-appointment medical examination (including a urinalysis drug screen) is conducted before appointment to the academy. Candidates must meet the court system's medical standards at the time of the exam and at appointment.
This is a summary of what the court system publishes. Exact requirements, forms and medical standards live on the official page and can be updated at any time.
How to prepare (in general terms)
We are an exam-prep product, not a medical or fitness provider, so we keep this general and always defer to the official guidance and a medical professional:
- →Start early. The court system itself says the physical test is demanding and candidates must train for it — it is not something to cram the week before.
- →Work toward the four events specifically — general endurance, core strength and agility all show up in the battery.
- →Get the Medical Release Form completed and signed in advance — without it you cannot participate on test day.
- →Consult a medical professional before starting any new fitness program, and follow the official Preparation Guide for the actual standards.
Court Officer physical test: common questions
What is the NYS Court Officer physical test?
It is the Physical Ability Test, a battery of four tests the Unified Court System lists as Push-Ups, the Illinois Agility Run, Sit-Ups and the Beep Test. The court system describes it as physically demanding and says candidates must train to be successful.
Is the JPAT the same thing as the Physical Ability Test?
Yes, in practice. Candidates and message boards call it the JPAT; the court system's own candidate materials only ever call it the Physical Ability Test, or PAT. This page uses both because they refer to the same four-event battery.
When does the physical test happen?
After the written exam, not before. Candidates who pass are notified in rank order when to begin screening, and the Physical Ability Test is Phase 1 — so you only take it once your rank is reached for the region you selected on the Availability Form.
Is there a beep test on the NYS Court Officer physical?
Yes. The Beep Test is the fourth of the four tests in the Physical Ability Test battery. It is a paced shuttle-run endurance test, sometimes called the bleep test or multi-stage fitness test.
What are the passing standards for the physical test?
The Office of Court Administration publishes them itself, in a Physical Ability Preparation Guide and a PAT Points Table linked from its Candidate Screening Process page. It also reserves the right to modify the test at any time during the life of the eligible list, so we do not reprint rep counts or times here — the official page is the only source to rely on for numbers.
What do I have to bring to the physical test?
A completed Medical Release Form, signed by a duly certified physician, nurse practitioner or physician's assistant who has personally examined you and reviewed your ability to take part in the entire test battery. The court system states that candidates who appear without it will not be allowed to participate.
What happens if you fail the Physical Ability Test?
You do not move on. The court system states the background investigation begins only after candidates qualify on the Physical Ability Test, and that each step of the selection process must be completed successfully before proceeding to the next.
Every answer above is drawn from the Candidate Screening Process page published by the NYS Unified Court System, retrieved August 12, 2026.
The physical comes later. The exam comes first.
You only reach the screening if your rank is reached — and that comes down to your written exam score. See where you stand today.
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