Many applicants train one capacity in isolation (running only, or lifting only). The PFA and Depot retests reward combined output under fatigue. Stack cardio before strength work in practice sessions when you can.
RCMP Push-Up Requirements
RCMP push-up requirements start at 29 reps for men aged 20-29 at Level 1 and climb to 50-plus at the Level 4 ERT benchmark. Women begin at 21 reps from the knees at Level 1 and must reach 35-plus from the toes at Level 4. Each level sets a specific minimum before you can advance.
Push-ups are the one exercise that appears at every stage of RCMP training. They show up in the self-assessment, in every level’s exit criteria, and in the ERT benchmark goals. If you want to know where you stand in the RCMP conditioning program, your push-up count is the fastest indicator. This article gives you the exact RCMP push-up requirements at each level, by age and gender, so you can find your number and start from there.
The Push-Up Position Changes as You Progress
Before you look at any numbers, understand that the position requirement changes between levels. At Level 1, women perform push-ups from the knees. At Level 2 and beyond, everyone performs from the toes. This matters because a rep from the knees and a rep from the toes are not equivalent. Reaching the Level 1 minimum from the knees does not mean you can immediately hit the Level 2 minimum from the toes. Build your from-the-toes capacity before you test yourself against Level 2 numbers.
Level 1 Exit Standards
To leave Level 1 and enter Level 2, you must hit the minimum push-up count for your age group. Men perform from the toes. Women perform from the knees. These numbers come directly from Table 1-1 of the Level 1 source document.
| Age Group | Men (from toes) | Women (from knees) |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 29-35 | 21-29 |
| 30-39 | 22-29 | 20-26 |
| 40-49 | 17-24 | 15-23 |
| 50-59 | 13-20 | 15-23 |
| 60-69 | >21 | 12-16 |
The ranges in the table represent the minimum acceptable count to advance. If you are a 32-year-old man, you need at least 22 push-ups from the toes. Hitting 21 means you stay at Level 1 until you close the gap. The upper end of each range is where you want to be before advancing, because Level 2 sets its floor above Level 1’s ceiling.
For the full RCMP fitness hub, see our guide to RCMP physical readiness.
Level 2 Exit Standard
Level 2 drops the age-banded table. It sets a single number for each sex, and both men and women now perform from the toes.
| Standard | Men (from toes) | Women (from toes) |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2 exit minimum | >38 | >23 |
For most men in the 20-29 bracket, jumping from the top of the Level 1 range (35 reps) to the Level 2 minimum (38 reps) is manageable within 16 weeks of Level 2 training. For men in older age groups who cleared Level 1 with 22 to 24 reps, reaching 38-plus requires more deliberate push-up work alongside the main program. Women face a position change here that adds difficulty regardless of their raw rep count.
Level 3 Exit Standard
Level 3 raises the floor again. These numbers are the gate between the advanced and elite tiers of the program.
| Standard | Men (from toes) | Women (from toes) |
|---|---|---|
| Level 3 exit minimum | >43 | >29 |
A man who exits Level 2 with 39 push-ups needs to add 4 more reps across 24 weeks of Level 3 training. That gap is achievable with the progressive volume built into Level 3. A woman who exits Level 2 at 24 reps needs to reach 29, which means consistent from-the-toes volume across all three phases.
Level 4 Benchmark Goals
Level 4 has no exit criteria. These are benchmark goals, not pass/fail standards. They represent ERT-level conditioning.
| Standard | Men (from toes) | Women (from toes) |
|---|---|---|
| Level 4 benchmark goal | >50 | >35 |
Fifty-plus push-ups from the toes is a genuine upper-body strength and endurance standard. For context, a 2024 study published in JAMA Network Open found that men who could perform 40 or more push-ups had a 96% lower risk of cardiovascular events compared to those who managed fewer than 10. Reaching 50-plus puts you well into the top tier of physical readiness for any policing role.
The Full Progression at a Glance
| Checkpoint | Men | Women | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 exit (age 20-29) | 29-35 | 21-29 | M: toes / F: knees |
| Level 2 exit | >38 | >23 | Both: toes |
| Level 3 exit | >43 | >29 | Both: toes |
| Level 4 benchmark | >50 | >35 | Both: toes |
How the Program Builds Push-Up Capacity
The conditioning program does not train push-ups in isolation. Push-up capacity grows as a byproduct of the horizontal pushing pattern trained across all four levels. At Level 1, push-ups on the knees and 45-degree incline push-ups build the pattern under reduced load. At Level 2, full push-ups from the toes replace the knee variation and are repeated in both strength days and the circuit. At Level 3, dumbbell bench press at a 3-1-1 tempo adds loaded pressing volume. At Level 4, total pressing volume peaks.
If your push-up count is lagging behind the exit criteria at your current level, add one supplementary set of near-maximum push-ups at the end of each session. Test your count every two weeks. Do not add volume on top of an already incomplete recovery, address sleep and nutrition first if progress has stalled for more than three weeks.
Where Push-Ups Fit in the PFA
The Physical Fitness Assessment replaced the PARE in April 2024. The PFA does not include a standalone push-up test. Push-up capacity matters for the PFA indirectly: the upper-body pushing and stabilising demands of the dummy drag, the push-through station, and the vault all draw on the same muscle groups trained by push-up progressions. A candidate who enters their PFA date with 40-plus push-ups has the upper-body reserve to handle those stations without fatiguing early. For station-specific tips, see our RCMP fitness test tips guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Level 1 program has no entry push-up minimum. You start at Level 1 regardless of your current push-up count.
Only at Level 1. From Level 2 onward, women perform push-ups from the toes. The Level 2 exit minimum for.
Canadian Armed Forces entry standards require 19 push-ups for men and 7 for women, with no age adjustment. The RCMP.
Yes. If you currently hit 40-plus push-ups from the toes and also meet the other Level 2 exit criteria (cardio.
Sources
Poirier, G., & Lemelin, C. (2014). RCMP Conditioning Program Level 1, Table 1-1. RCMP Health Services.
Poirier, G., & Lemelin, C. (2014). RCMP Conditioning Program Levels 2, 3, 4. RCMP Health Services.
Yang, J., et al. (2019). Association between push-up exercise capacity and future cardiovascular events. JAMA Network Open, 2(2), e188341.
Sources:
Physical standards to become an RCMP officer
RCMP Gazette
This article reflects current RCMP policy based on official government documentation. Eligibility and suitability decisions are assessed on a case-by-case basis during the application process.
This article reflects current RCMP policy based on official government documentation. Eligibility and suitability decisions are assessed on a case-by-case basis during the application process.
By Alex Morgan, Certified Personal Trainer, https://joinrcmp.ca/author/alex-morgan/
Last Updated: May 31, 2026
