Dear Applicant: Read and complete these pages carefully. Incomplete applications will be disregarded.

Please fill out the Preliminary Testing Application: Due by June 30, 2026.
No refunds will be issued.

Upon process of your application, a notice will be emailed to you advising you of the date, time and location of your physical fitness assessment. You MUST PASS the fitness testing to be eligible to sit for the written exam. Applicants must achieve a minimum written exam score of 70% to be placed on the final eligibility list.

All testing is scheduled for Aug. 1, 2026.

Photo identification is required for admission to both the physical and written test.
There are no physical assessment day exceptions or make-up days. You must be on time when you are scheduled to take the test.

Please direct all questions to policetesting@mercyhurst.edu.
Before calling or emailing, please review the list of frequently asked questions below.

First Name

Middle Name

Last Name

Mailing Address

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

Birthdate

Mobile Phone

Home Phone

Email Address

Last four digits of Social Security Number (for tracking purposes)

Are you currently enrolled in or have you completed PA ACT 120 training?

Yes

No

Are you currently employed as a certified police officer in another state?

Yes

No

Where?

Do you hold a current Pennsylvania MPOETC certification?

Yes

No

5-digit MPOETC number

Are you claiming a Veteran's Preference under applicable law?

Yes

No

Do you hold a valid driver's license?

Yes

No

State

DLN

Are you a U.S. citizen?

Yes

No

Are you a high school graduate or do you hold a GED?

Yes

No

Are you a college/university graduate?

Yes

No

Number of credits

Will you be 21 years of age by the end of this year?

Yes

No

Provided with this application are the requirements for physical fitness assessment. I have read the Physical Fitness Assessment and understand I will be required to successfully PASS the requements in order to continue on to the written testing portion of this preliminary testing process.

Yes

No

Amount Due
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Amount Due

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I hereby attest that all of the information set forth on this application is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I understand that the statments made herein are subject to the penalties of 18 PA Consolidated Statuses Annotated and ss4904, relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.

Sign and Date

Informed Consent Form

The undersigned hereby gives informed consent to engage in a series of procedures relative to taking a battery of exercise tests, and participating in a variety of physical activities. The purpose of the testing is to determine physical fitness, cardiovascular function, and health status. All exercise testing and physical activity sessions will be monitored. These activities include walking, running, and callisthenic exercises performed in either field or gymnasium settings.

I am aware of the possibility that certain detrimental physiological changes may occur during exercise and exercise testing. These changes could include heat related illness, abnormal heartbeats, abnormal blood pressure, and in rare instances a heart attack. If abnormal changes were to occur, the staff has been trained to recognize symptoms and take appropriate action, including administering CPR and first aid.

I have read this form and understand that there are inherent risks associated with any physical activity and recognize it is my responsibility to provide accurate and complete health/medical history information. Furthermore, it is my responsibility to monitor my individual physical performance during any activity and to alert the supervising exercise technician of any pain, discomfort or adverse effects I may experience.

I hereby waive and release PCPA, its testers, trainers, helpers and other participants and persons who will be assisting in this testing, whether employees of PCPA or independent contractors or consultants, and the owner of the locations where the testing is held, its officers and employees or agents from any and all liability of any nature for injury, damage or other loss resulting from the testing and expressly assume the risk of such damage, injury or loss while engaged in any testing.

I give informed consent for testing data to be recorded to determine my state of physical readiness as it applies to the essential job functions of a Pennsylvania Police Officer.

Sign and Date

Physical Testing Standards

It is the responsibility of each applicant to possess an acceptable level of physical readiness, which ensures that the applicant is, at all times, at a level of physical readiness necessary to perform the essential tasks of a police officer.

In order to ensure that each applicant can perform his/her duties safely and effectively without undue risk to themselves or the public, the applicant is required to take a Physical Fitness Test as part of the selection procedures. This test was designed using the guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine and the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research.

The test battery consists of:

300-Meter Run: 66 seconds
Sit-Ups: 30 Reps
Push-Ups: 25 Reps
Vertical Jump: 15.5 inches
1.5-Mile Run: 15 minutes, 54 seconds

Each test is preceded by a warm-up or rest period, with mandatory cool-down period at the conclusion of the tests.

Please take the time to be sure you can complete the above requirements.

Failure to complete any single event will result in immediate ejection from the rest of the testing process.

Download PDF of this information here.

Submission Directions

Submit this form, which includes:

Preliminary Testing Application
Informed Consent Form
Payment of $35 fee

Bring with you the day of testing:

Personal Injury Waiver (which must be notarized)
Physician Statement Form (which must be signed and dated by a licensed physician)
Driver's License/Photo ID

FAQs

Is this fitness test pass/fail? Yes. You must pass all five tests in the prescribed order.
Is there a study guide for the written test? Yes. Practice test or related information can be found under the Notice to Applicant page of this website: https://www.fpsi.com/police-test-preparation-manual-tpm/.
Can I challenge any part of the testing process? No
Can I debate my ejection by staff from the testing process, based on staff judgement at the time of testing? No. Counseling sessions may be offered at the conclusion of the event testing.
Are there make-up days for fitness test or written exam? No. The facilities are scheduled months in advance.
Do I need to be Act 120 certified to apply? No. Some departments do not require Act 120 certification for appointments.
How many departments are hiring? Unknown. Hiring cycles of participating agencies are predicated by personnel needs.
Can I choose or change my time for physical testing? No. You are expected to appear at your prescribed time.
Will my criminal history preclude me from employment? Please refer to the MPOETC website.
What are the essential duties of a police officer? Please refer to the MPOETC website.
If I miss the testing date, is my application fee refundable? No. All fees are non-refundable.
How will I know if I get hired? Departments wishing to hire you will reach out to you based on the information you provided in this application with any offers or conditions. Some departments may require further applications, interviews, and/or evaluations.
How will I receive information regarding the test and the testing process? All communications form NWPAR will be via email. Ensure your email address listed on the application is correct.

Keep in mind that participating departments may enter or withdraw from the consortium at any time. Participating departments listed now may no longer use this list at the time of publishing. Some may join as well.

NWPAR nor its agents or subcontractors are employers. NWPAR is a testing agency only, operating under the Mercyhurst University Police Academy Director and PA Chiefs of Police. NWPAR offers all participating departments the applicants' raw test score, pass or fail physical agility test, and contact information. No offers of employment or recommendations will come from NWPAR.

Download PDF of this information here.

Mercyhurst University

Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Police Testing Consortium 2026

Dear Applicant: Read and complete these pages carefully. Incomplete applications will be disregarded.

Informed Consent Form

Physical Testing Standards

Submission Directions

Portal Help

Policies