Should CPAT be made less intense so more women can pass?

There has been a lot of talk going around in the Fire and EMS field about a few women wanting to take legal action against departments because CPAT is to hard for women to pass and some even feel it is a way to keep women out of the fire service. I'm not sure if that is so because there are a lot of men who fail it also! I know women who have passed and they passed with ease! I think its a matter of how bad you really want it! I think it truely sets a fair minimum standard for men and women because it reflects the stamina and strenth needed to perform the job and not if you're male or female! What are your thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by FETC on April 17, 2009 at 5:13pm

If we were to lower the testing requirements for ANY gender to pass, including some men who can't pass it now, do you really want to work with a "person" (non-gender answer) who may not be capable to operate at the pre-determined capacity?

If a guy can't cut it now, my answer would be no... same goes for females.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on April 17, 2009 at 6:00pm

NO.....!!! It is a requirement for the job....Sorry but if you can't pass CPAT then you shouldn't take on the job.....Paul

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Permalink Reply by Jake Fireman on April 17, 2009 at 6:11pm

I agree with whoever said it should be made more difficult!!!!

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Permalink Reply by CHRIS STIMMELL on April 17, 2009 at 6:13pm

No, I think its pretty fair.

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Permalink Reply by Jason Koontz on April 17, 2009 at 6:40pm

The CPAT is just fine. The only complaint I have with it is the fact that the groups putting them on change way too much money. Keep the CPAT the way it is. Its fair, even across the board, and makes no distinction between man or woman. Just stop making money on people trying to get a job. Between departments charging to take the damn test, and the jerks charging to take the CPAT, you damn near have to have a trust fund anymore to take a fire test.

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Permalink Reply by Dave on April 17, 2009 at 8:09pm

Thats exactly what i am saying!! Bring back the days of having to study for the written exams ....that are actually fire related. Bring back the days that the CPAT had a run and swim test! Bring back the days where a coward would be called out and fired on the spot! Bring back the days where peoples feelings came second to what was best for the dept and job! I long for those days!!

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Permalink Reply by Jake Fireman on April 17, 2009 at 8:16pm

Ya know...back when I first applied to the fire department...uh early 80's....I took a test for a major county in California. The written exam was 500 questions! Some englis, some math, about 100 mechanical advantage and math problems, about 100 questions based on tools and the trades, and then a 100 question set of questions on things related to the fire service. You had to be in band #2 or above to move on. Band #1 was 95% and above, band #2 was 89.9% and above. The test was deemed to be gender discrimanatory.

The agility was ALL fire. Connect/disconnect sets of hoses to a hydrant...pull hose...stack hose rolls in back of an engine, then unload them again...hoist a 50# hose roll up and down a hose tower 5 times....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh memories...

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Permalink Reply by DUST on April 17, 2009 at 9:08pm

Did you really just admit to getting cut from a Tee Ball team?

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Permalink Reply by Jake Fireman on April 17, 2009 at 9:18pm

Jason...you're not kiddin....that is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy to much to pay for a test!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Shadow on April 17, 2009 at 10:13pm

I dont think fire cares if your a man or a woman nor do i think the people care when there house is on fire thay just want there loved ones safe and the fire out .