Police Fitness Test Medical Exemptions & Health Conditions (2026 Guide)

01

Is There a
Medical Exemption?

The standard requirement for UK police recruitment is a baseline aerobic capacity equivalent to Level 5.4 on a 15-metre shuttle run. One of the most frequent questions from applicants is whether they can bypass this requirement due to a pre-existing medical condition. The short answer is: The standard remains 5.4 for all operational roles.

No Age or Gender Adjustments

Unlike some military or overseas entities, Home Office forces operate a 'single operational threshold.' Whether you are a 19-year-old or a 54-year-old applicant, and regardless of gender, the aerobic requirement is identical. It is viewed as the minimum safety standard for frontline policing.

Occupational Health Control

Fitness instructors do not have the authority to grant exemptions. Their role is purely to facilitate the test. Any discussion of medical eligibility must happen with the Occupational Health (OH) team. If OH clears you to participate, you must complete the test to the standard.

Equality Act & Operational Safety

Under the Equality Act 2010, the police must consider 'reasonable adjustments' for candidates with disabilities. However, the College of Policing maintains that the ability to perform a short, intensive aerobic burst (Level 5.4) is an essential requirement for the role. This means adjustments typically apply to how the test is administered (e.g., specific lighting or acoustics) rather than a reduction of the physical standard itself.

Asthma and
The Fitness Test

02

Asthma is the single most common declared health condition among police applicants. It is not an automatic bar to entry, but it requires a structured approach during the medical and fitness phases.

Inhaler Protocol

If you use a blue (reliever) inhaler, you must bring it to the fitness test. Instructors will often ask you to keep it on the side of the hall where it is accessible. Using your inhaler immediately before or after the test is standard practice for many serving officers.

Medical Declaration

Transparency is critical. If you fail to declare asthma and suffer an attack during the bleep test, it raises serious safety and integrity questions. If it is declared and well-controlled, it is viewed simply as a manageable health status.

Assessment Outcomes

The force medical officer looks for 'control.' If you have had zero hospitalizations in the last 12 months and your peak flow is within normal range, you are likely to be cleared for the fitness test with no restrictions.

Key Fact: Serving with Asthma

Thousands of serving UK police officers have controlled asthma, including many in specialist firearms or public order roles. The condition only becomes an issue if it is severe, uncontrolled, or preventatively restrictive. As long as you can hit the aerobic threshold of 5.4, asthma itself is unlikely to prevent you from serving.

Note: This is guidance only. Always follow the specific advice of your force's clinical lead and your own GP.

03

Temporary Injuries:
Deferrals explained

If you break a bone, sprain an ankle, or undergo surgery during your recruitment cycle, you are not "failing." You are simply temporarily unfit. Handling this correctly involves immediate communication and medical evidence.

The Deferment Window

Deferments for minor injuries are typically granted for 4 to 12 weeks. This effectively puts your application on hold. The force will typically request a letter from your GP or Physiotherapist confirming you are once again "fit for the full duties of the role" before rebooking your test.

Procedural Strategy

Entering a bleep test while injured is a recipe for a permanent failure mark. If you turn up, start, and then stop due to pain, it counts as one of your three attempts. If you defer before the test starts, it usually doesn't count as a fail.

Important: Deferments are not indefinite. If you are still unfit after 12-16 weeks, the force may withdraw your application and ask you to reapply once you have achieved a sustained recovery.

Long-Term
Medical Conditions

04

For significant long-term conditions, the bleep test is a secondary concern. The main hurdle is the structured medical examination. However, specific conditions have direct implications for physical performance.

Cardio

Heart Conditions

History of arrhythmias, heart murmurs, or valve repair requires deep clinical audit. If the condition limits the heart's ability to safely reach a high rate (approx 170-190bpm), recruitment is unlikely due to the extreme cardiac demand of operational shifts.

Metabolic

Diabetes

Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes is not an automatic bar. However, insulin-dependent candidates must prove stable control. During the bleep test, the rapid glucose burn can trigger hypoglycaemia, which requires an individual risk assessment and management plan.

Physiology

BMI / Obesity

Most forces check BMI during the medical. While a high BMI (30-35) isn't an automatic rejection, it typically triggers a body fat measurement or a more scrutiny-heavy bleep test. Functional fitness matters more than the scale. If you have a BMI of 33 but can comfortably pass Level 5.4, you are likely to be cleared.

Psych

Mental Health

Anxiety or depression history is assessed for operational resilience. While not direct fitness test factors, significant performance anxiety can manifest physically (hyperventilation) during the test, which instructors will monitor for safety.

05

Medication
& Physical Performance

Being on regular medication does not automatically disqualify you from police service or the fitness test. However, certain classes of drugs can affect your physiological response to the bleep test. Transparency with Occupational Health is the only way to ensure safety.

Cardiac

Beta Blockers

These suppress heart rate. Since the bleep test requires reaching near-maximal heart rates, candidates on beta blockers may experience premature exhaustion. OH may require a specialist report.

Respiratory

Steroid Inhalers

Preventer inhalers (like Beclometasone) are standard and generally welcomed by medical teams as they indicate a candidate who is actively managing their asthma.

Psychiatric

Anti-Anxiety / SRIs

Medications like Sertraline or Citalopram do not typically impact fitness test performance, but their use must be declared to explain the underlying health history.

Recovery

Pain Relief

Heavy use of NSAIDs or Opiates shortly before a test can mask injury symptoms, leading to severe damage. Medics should be notified of any recent use.

What Happens If
You Cannot Complete?

06

The bleep test hall can be a high-pressure environment. Sometimes, despite your best intentions, a medical event occurs during the 4-minute duration of the test.

Acute Illness or Fainting

If you collapse or faint, testing is stopped immediately. You will be assessed by a first-aider or medical professional. This usually triggers an automatic Occupational Health referral. You will not be allowed to restart the test on the same day.

Asthma Attack or Breathing Difficulty

If you cannot reach the line due to shortness of breath (outside of normal fatigue), you must signal the instructor. They will stop you for safety. If this is respiratory distress, you move into a medical review. If it's simply 'blowing', it counts as a failed attempt.

Panic Attacks & High Adrenaline

Candidates often suffer from 'test nerves.' If a panic attack prevents you from completing the test, instructors are generally supportive. You may be allowed to depart and rebook for a later date once you've had time to reset mentally—but this is at force discretion.

07

Equality Act &
Reasonable Adjustments

The Equality Act 2010 requires public bodies—including the police service—to make reasonable adjustments for those with disabilities. However, applying this to a physical fitness standard is a complex legal area.

The Non-Negotiable Standard

The police service argues that Level 5.4 is a 'proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim'—namely, public and officer safety. Consequently, you cannot be 'exempted' from the aerobic standard simply because a disability makes it harder to achieve.

Allowed Adjustments

• Testing at a quieter time for those with sensory processing disorders.
• High-contrast marking tape for those with visual impairments.
• Alternative testing methods (e.g., Chester Step Test) in specific medical cases.
• Longer rest periods between recruitment stages.

Non-Adjustable Standards

• Lowering the required bleep test level (e.g., to 4.5).
• Skipping the fitness test entirely.
• Granting a pass for a failed test due to a medical condition.
• Unlimited retakes beyond the standard force policy.

Serving Officers &
Medical Fitness

08

Policy for serving officers is significantly different from recruitment protocol. While recruits are expected to arrive 'fit for duty', the force has a duty of care to support serving officers through illness or injury.

Medical Downgrading

If an officer develops a condition that prevents them passing the Job Related Fitness Test (JRFT), they may be 'medically downgraded' and placed on restricted duties (office-based roles). They are not expected to take the fitness test until cleared by OH.

Alternative Testing

Serving officers with long-term lower-limb injuries may be permitted to perform the 'Chester Step Test' or a rowing machine equivalent if the impact of the bleep test is medically detrimental.

Ill-Health Retirement

In extreme cases where an officer can no longer perform any police role due to medical reasons, they may enter the 'Ill-Health Retirement' process. This is a complex pension matter, unrelated to simple fitness failure.

Note for Serving Officers: If you are on an 'Undeployed' or 'Restricted Duty' status, you generally do not take an annual fitness test until you are moving back to a frontline status.

09

When You Should
NOT Attempt the Test

Bravery and resilience are key police traits, but pushing through a severe medical crisis during the bleep test is dangerous. There are specific 'Red Flag' scenarios where you must prioritize long-term health over a 4-minute recruitment test.

Chest Pain or Palpitations

If you experience sudden chest tightness, pain radiating down the arm, or irregular 'thumping' in the chest, do not start. If this happens during the test, stop immediately. It requires urgent cardiac review.

Uncontrolled Asthma

If you are already wheezing or using your reliever inhaler every few hours before the test starts, your lungs are already in a state of inflammation. A high-intensity bleep test can trigger a severe, life-threatening attack.

Recent Major Surgery

Post-operative candidates (especially abdominal or lower-limb) are at risk of hernia, wound dehiscence, or blood clots (DVT). You must have full clinical clearance before attempting maximal exertion.

Other Red Flags

• Severe Dizziness or Vertigo
• High Fever / Acute Flu
• Significant Visual Disturbance
• Severe Joint Inflammation

Fitness Medical
Myths Debunked

10

"Inhalers mean failure."

FALSE. Possession of an inhaler is not a disqualification. Many officers carry them daily. The only issue is if the condition is so severe it prevents you from hitting Level 5.4.

"Lower standards for older recruits."

FALSE. The operational safety requirement (5.4) is blind to age. A 50-year-old recruit must meet the same benchmark as a 20-year-old to ensure they can survive a violent encounter or foot chase.

"BMI over 30 is an automatic no."

FALSE. It triggers more investigation (body fat %, waist circumference, fitness monitoring), but as long as you can do the job and pass the test, the number on the scale is secondary.

"You can get a permanent exemption."

FALSE for recruitment. You cannot be 'permanently exempt' from the bleep test if you are applying for an operational police role. Only some non-operational staff roles bypass the requirement.

11

Pre-Test
Medical Checklist

1

Medication Prep

Ensure you have a full supply of any regular medication (inhalers, etc.). Check expiry dates.

2

Declaration Review

Ensure the medical questionnaire you sent earlier matches what you tell the fitness instructor on the day.

3

Avoid New Substances

Never try new pre-workout supplements or fat burners on test day. They can spike heart rate dangerously.

4

Hydration Status

Drink 500ml of water 2 hours before the test. Dehydration is a common cause of dizziness in the testing hall.

5

Force Confirmation

If you've had a recent injury, ensure you have an email from recruitment confirming you are cleared to attend.

Medical & Fitness
Exemption FAQs

Can I join the police with asthma?

Yes. If it is well-controlled and does not prevent you from passing the bleep test, it is not an automatic bar to entry.

Is there a medical exemption?

No. The standard of 5.4 is the minimum safety requirement for operational roles. No permanent exemptions exist during recruitment.

What if I am injured on test day?

Notify recruitment immediately. It is better to defer for 4-8 weeks than to fail an attempt due to physical pain.

Is BMI tested?

Yes, usually during the medical phase. High BMI leads to more scrutiny but is not a reason for rejection if fitness is high.

What happens if I collapse?

The test stops. You will receive first aid and be referred to Occupational Health for a full medical review before a retake is booked.

Are pregnant applicants tested?

No. Pregnant applicants are typically deferred until they are medically cleared post-birth. They are not 'exempt', but their tests are delayed.

Do older applicants get exemptions?

No. The operational threshold is identical for all ages to ensure safety on the frontline.

Can diabetics join?

Yes, but they require a stable clinical history and an individual risk assessment for operational duties.

Can I appeal a medical decision?

Yes, but you usually need a counter-report from an independent specialist stating the force's medical assessment was incorrect.

What about high blood pressure?

Severe hypertension may prevent you starting the test. Medical clearance is needed if your resting BP is above certain limits.

Cluster Hub

Is There a Medical Exemption?