The IAFF, IAFC and 10 pairs of local union and their municipalities joined together to form the Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness-Fitness Task Force. The Task Force has dedicated itself to developing a holistic, positive rehabilitating and educational approach to wellness and fitness programs in the fire service. The Task Force has developed the following three programs.

The Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness/Fitness Initiative
This program is designed for incumbent fire service personnel. It requires a commitment by labor and management to a positive, individualized wellness-fitness program. The manual includes information on these topics:

• Fitness evaluation
• Medical evaluation
• Rehabilitation
• Behavioral health
• Data collection

The Candidate Physical Ability Test
The Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) was developed as a fair and valid evaluation tool to assist in the selection of fire fighters, and to ensure that all fire fighter candidates possess the physical ability to complete critical tasks effectively and safely. The CPAT Program covers every aspect of administering the CPAT, including recruiting and mentoring programs, providing recruits with fitness guidance to help prepare them for the CPAT and setting up and administering the test. The entire validation process is discussed in detail, as well as the legal issues that departments might face when implementing the actual program.

New CPAT License
In our ongoing effort to ensure that the CPAT is being used properly and only as intended, we have recently enacted a new licensing policy that will affect the way in which this program can legally be used.  This procedure was instituted by the Task Force to protect the integrity of the CPAT Program and the interests of the members of the IAFF and the IAFC by ensuring that the program is implemented properly and as intended.  Read More

To apply for a CPAT license, please go to: http://daily.iaff.org/forms2/CPATApplication/form.htm

The Fire Service Peer Fitness Trainer Certification
The IAFF/IAFC Task Force has determined that successful implementation of the Wellness/Fitness Initiative and the CPAT requires a fire fighter in each department who can take the lead. This individual must have the ability to design and implement fitness programs, to improve the wellness and fitness of his or her department and to assist with the physical training of recruits. This need for a department-level leader led to the development of the Fire Service Peer Fitness Trainer certification program. The program is being developed in conjunction with the American Council on Exercise.