Prison Service · Officer
Prison officer fitness test: what level is 5:4?
The Job-Related Fitness Assessment (JRFA) uses the same 15 m shuttle run as the police JRFT, to level 5:4, plus grip strength, a static shield hold and a timed speed and agility course. The shuttle run is one attempt only.
Verified 2026-09-06 against Ministry of Justice — Prison Officer Fitness Testing.
The pass mark
15 m shuttle run (JRFA)
5:4
3 min 35 s · 525 m (35 shuttles) — one attempt only
Grip strength
25 kgf each hand
dynamometer, both hands tested
Static shield hold
6 kg for 1 minute
candidate portal states 7 kg — TO SETTLE on publish
Speed and agility course
34 s
timed course, part of the JRFA
Role standards
Control and Restraint (C&R) Advanced
7:2
Run itGood to know
VO₂ equivalent
The guidance booklet lists 5:4 as approximately VO₂ 34.7 ml/kg/min.
Common questions
What level is the Prison officer (JRFA) bleep test?
15 m shuttle run (JRFA) to level 5:4 (3 min 35 s · 525 m (35 shuttles) — one attempt only).
When do I take the Prison officer (JRFA)?
At the assessment centre, after a conditional offer.
How many attempts do I get?
Three attempts in total: fail the first, retest after 8 weeks, retest again after a further 4 weeks, then a final attempt. A full fail means reapplying after 6 months.
Does the standard change by role?
Yes — 1 roles carry a different standard from the entry-level one. See the role standards below.
8 weeks to 5:4, on-site
Plan opens next
Sources
- Ministry of Justice — Prison Officer Fitness Testing
- Prison Officer Online Assessment Centre — fitness guidance booklet
Changelog
- 2026-09-06 — Initial verified entry against the MoJ fitness testing PDF and the prison-officer-online-ac.co.uk guidance booklet. The booklet's own 600 m figure for 35 shuttles is arithmetically wrong (35 x 15 m = 525 m) — used the correct 525 m here. Static shield hold weight conflicts between sources (6 kg in the booklet, 7 kg on the candidate portal) — TO SETTLE on publish.