Why fitness matters in custodial roles

Part of the recruitment process for custodial roles is completing a Physical Readiness Assessment (PRA). The PRA is based on typical tasks you may face in your role, reflecting a sequence of activities that might occur during a normal working day.

A career as a corrections officer requires a reasonable level of everyday fitness to ensure that they can keep themselves, their colleagues, and the people they manage safe.

In a prison environment, situations can change quickly. Corrections officers need to be able to respond to urgent incidents with little warning, going from stretches of inactivity to sudden physical exertion. Tasks like walking quickly between units, responding to emergencies, or supporting control and restraint all place demands on their strength, stamina, balance, and grip.

In this role, good functional fitness helps you to:

• Respond safely in emergencies
• Manage physical tasks with confidence
• Support teamwork and safety
• Reduce the risk of injury

What is the PRA designed to test?

The PRA assesses whether you can safely and confidently manage the physical realities of the job. It reflects events that custodial staff will likely deal with in their role, such as a call to an emergency, or walking quickly from one unit to another.

“The PRA is held near the end of the recruitment process and is designed to make sure that you are physically fit for tasks that you may have to carry out on the daily as a corrections officer.” - Fitness and wellbeing adviser

The PRA provides assurance that you are at a suitable fitness level for the role and confirms that your colleagues are also capable of providing the necessary support in an emergency.

What happens at the PRA?

Every task in the PRA is based on something you may do in your role.

There are six exercises that you will need to complete in quick succession, with your total time adding to your score. An assessor will show you what is required for each of the steps before you start the test.

Speed walking

This activity reflects the long distances that staff may need to cover between units. 

• Walk as fast as you can around the 300m course
• You must not run
• Your score is based on timed seconds

“To help make your lap time as fast as possible, make tight turns around the cones and stride out using your arms to assist.” – PRA assessor

Search simulation

The bunk search simulation is not testing search skills or technique. The exercise mirrors the bending, reaching and range of motion used during daily checks, and is designed to measure your functional flexibility and strength.

• Touch four locations around the bunk unit as quickly as possible
• Your assessor will demonstrate what you must do
• This exercise is not timed, but it will contribute towards the score for your total time

Emergency response

The emergency response run simulates moving quickly and safely when an alarm sounds.

• Complete five laps of the circuit as quickly as possible at a fast, running pace
• You will need to ensure that you make contact with each step
• Your score is based on timed seconds

“Your assessor will encourage you throughout and count each lap.” – PRA assessor

Control and restraint (C&R) simulation

C&R is used to safely manage and restrain individuals when necessary. This exercise assesses your functional grip strength and ability to generate and maintain a sustained pulling force.

• Pull as hard as you can and hold it steady for five seconds, in three different pulling positions
• Your assessor will demonstrate the pulling positions
• Do not wrap the rope around your hands or wrists
• Your score is based on the percentage of body weight pulled

Recovery walk

This final exercise assesses your ability to recover from high intensity exercise. It’s not about speed alone - it’s about demonstrating you can settle your body back into steady movement and continue working safely after a burst of activity.

• Walk as fast as you can around the course
• You must not run
• Your score is based on timed seconds

Once it’s all complete, you will be given a total score – to be successful, you must achieve an overall score in the green zone. Details on the scoring can be found in our PRA guide.

Together, these tasks represent the physical demands of a typical shift – steady movement, bursts of strenuous activity, prioritising safety, and working under pressure.