Physical tests in Polizia and Vigili del Fuoco competitions

Both the Concorso Polizia di Stato and the Concorso Vigili del Fuoco require candidates to pass a dedicated physical fitness stage in addition to the written exam, and both treat it as an elimination stage rather than a score that simply adds to the final ranking. In the Vigili del Fuoco competition, three separate motor and aptitude tests are each scored out of thirty and each must reach at least 21 out of 30 to pass. The Polizia di Stato competition uses its own accertamento dell’efficienza fisica set out in the ministerial regulations, alongside separate medical and psychological fitness stages.

What does the Vigili del Fuoco physical stage actually test?

The pattern for this competition lists three prove motorio-attitudinali, each marked out of thirty with a minimum passing score of 21 out of 30 on every single test, not an average across all three. One of the named tests, prova 1, modulo A, is traslocazione alla trave alta: crossing a balance beam five metres long and ten centimetres wide, set at roughly four metres of height, within a maximum time of three minutes. The remaining modules follow the specific structure set out in the bando, which is the only place the full, current list is defined for a given edition. This stage sits after the prova preselettiva, since the Concorso Vigili del Fuoco filters candidates down first before the physical tests begin.

What does the Polizia di Stato physical stage involve?

The AG and BIL procedures for allievo agente include an accertamento dell’efficienza fisica following the written exam, run according to the ministerial regulations in force, together with a separate accertamento dell’idoneità psico-fisica covering medical and psychological fitness, and an accertamento dell’idoneità attitudinale assessing suitability for service in the Polizia di Stato. The Concorso Polizia di Stato pattern places these physical, medical and aptitude stages after the written test and before the final valutazione dei titoli, meaning a candidate who does not clear the written test never reaches the physical stage at all.

Why do these competitions treat physical fitness as elimination rather than scoring?

Because the role itself requires a baseline of physical capability that cannot reasonably be traded off against a higher written score; a candidate cannot compensate for failing a fitness threshold by scoring exceptionally well on the written test. This is different from how the written exam functions in most other concorsi, where the score itself, not a pass or fail cut, is what ultimately separates candidates in the graduatoria. For how scoring generally works in a written exam elsewhere in the concorso landscape, see minimum passing scores in a concorso pubblico.

Do age limits interact with the physical requirements?

Yes, indirectly, since both competitions set age ceilings for admission that reflect, among other things, the physical demands of the role. The Polizia di Stato competition sets its age limits per procedure, generally under 26 for the AG and BIL routes and under 25 for the VFP route reserved to Armed Forces volunteers, while the Vigili del Fuoco competition sets an age ceiling that can be raised for volunteer personnel already enrolled in the corps’ registers. Before committing preparation time to either physical stage, confirming your exact age against the bando’s stated cutoff with the age calculator is a sensible first step, and the broader picture of how these limits work across different competitions is in age limits in Italian concorsi.

Frequently asked questions

Can a strong written test score offset a failed physical test? No. Both competitions treat the physical stage as pass or fail; a candidate who does not clear it is eliminated regardless of their written test result.

Are the physical tests the same every year? The general structure tends to be stable, but the specific tests, thresholds and modules are those published in the bando for that edition, so the current notice is the source to check.

Is a medical certificate required before the physical tests? Yes, both competitions require fitness certifications tied to specific timing rules set by the bando, such as the certificato di idoneità sportiva agonistica for the Vigili del Fuoco competition.

Does the preselettiva happen before or after the physical tests? Before, in both competitions. The preselettiva or written test filters the candidate pool first, and only those who clear it move on to the physical and aptitude stages.

Do reservists or existing corps volunteers get different physical requirements? In some cases, yes. The Vigili del Fuoco bando, for example, raises the general age ceiling for volunteer personnel already enrolled in the corps’ registers for at least one year, though the physical test content itself follows the same published structure.