AFTER THE WRITTEN EXAM
The physical & screening process
Passing the written exam and being reached by rank is the start. Before you enter the academy, you clear a multi-phase screening — physical, psychological, medical and a background investigation. Here is what the court system says it involves.
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 Physical Ability Test
According to the court system's candidate materials, the Physical Ability Test is a battery of four tests:
- ✓Push-ups
- ✓Illinois Agility Run
- ✓Sit-ups
- ✓Beep Test (a paced shuttle-run endurance test)
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We deliberately do not publish specific rep counts, run times or pass standards here.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.
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.
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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