Scottish Ambulance Service Fitness Test Explained

An Occupational Test, Not a Fitness Score

The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) does not test your general fitness in the way a gym assessment would. Its published physical assessment specification explains that SAS chose an "occupational test". The test asks whether you can actually manage tasks specific to the role. It does not measure things like grip strength or body mass index against a threshold.

The specification says the test was last updated in 2020. It is the same test for A&E (emergency) and PTS (patient transport) crews, with one difference in the final carry, explained below. It is preceded by a brief medical check and questions to confirm you are well and understand each part of the test.

This article describes the published test only. It is not training or medical advice. If you have any concerns about your health or your ability to take part, speak to your GP first.

The Test, Component by Component

According to the specification, the test consists of the following stages.

1. Familiarisation and warm-up

You are talked through what will happen before you start.

2. Step test carrying 10kg

You step on and off a 20cm platform carrying 10kg (two 5kg weights). This represents carrying response equipment up a flight of stairs to a patient. The specification says the metronome is set at 100 beats per minute. It also suggests reducing the cadence to 80bpm to better reflect a natural stepping speed, so check your invitation for the current rate. The 20cm height is fixed across all centres, matching the UK standard step height.

3. Chest compressions for 2 minutes

You perform chest compressions for two minutes. The specification is clear that the purpose is "to observe the candidate's ability to kneel and conduct chest compressions". It also says "the efficacy of the compressions themselves is not considered". In other words, this is about physical capacity, not clinical technique.

4. Manual dexterity: bag-valve-mask assembly

You are shown how to assemble a bag-valve-mask and ensure an oxygen flow, then you repeat the task yourself. This tests observation and fine motor skills, deliberately straight after the stepping and compressions, when your heart rate is raised.

5. Three-minute step carrying 30kg

The final stage is a three-minute step test carrying 30kg (two 15kg weights). This replicates carrying a patient up or down stairs. The specification notes that 30kg is less than the load of two people carrying a very light adult (the 1st percentile adult male). Using hand weights means you can put them down safely if the effort becomes too much. The A&E and PTS versions both last three minutes, but the PTS test allows one break.

A few other details from the specification:

• Dumbbells or a barbell may be used. It recommends that candidates be allowed to wear weightlifting gloves for grip.
• It acknowledges that some smaller candidates find standard handles too wide, and recommends narrower 25mm handles for new equipment.

What About Sentence Recall?

An older SAS technician applicant pack from 2017 set out a seven-stage version of the test. It included two listening-and-repeating exercises:

• a three-minute exercise at rest, with a 50% pass mark needed before going on
• a two-minute exercise at the end, when your heart rate is raised, with an overall 70% pass mark

The pack explained these as representing taking an emergency call and handing over to another clinician.

The current specification document does not list these cognitive stages, and the 2017 pack predates the 2020 update. We cannot confirm whether sentence recall is still part of the test. Check your invitation. If it is included, practise listening to and repeating short spoken passages accurately. It costs nothing and can only help.

The 2017 pack also stressed safety. A qualified paramedic talks you through each stage and can stop the test if they have concerns. Candidates should stop and tell the assessor if they feel discomfort, breathlessness, dizziness or pain.

Where the Test Fits in Selection

The 2017 pack described seven stages: self-assessment, application, longlisting, shortlisting, the occupational fitness test, a competency- and values-based interview, and pre-employment checks. The pack is not fully consistent about whether the fitness test comes before or after the interview, and it says they may sometimes fall on the same day. Your invitation will confirm the order.

The same pack described an interview of about 40 minutes built around six core competencies and the NHS Scotland values. Our AAP interview questions article lists its published example questions. The technician role itself needs a full UK licence including C1, according to NHS Scotland Careers, and training takes 16 months.

An Honest Note on Current Recruitment

Before you invest time in preparing, it is worth knowing how little SAS technician recruitment there has been recently. In a freedom of information response (FOI 26-220, June 2026), SAS reported:

• Vacancies: 2,568 in 2021, 973 in 2022, 68 in 2023, 64 in 2024 and 19 in 2025.
• Applications: 981 in 2021/22, falling to 75 in 2025/26.
• New starts: 390 in 2022, falling to 59 in 2024 and 24 in 2025.

That is a very small intake. It does not mean there will be no opportunities, but campaigns may be infrequent and places limited. Keep an eye on vacancies, consider other entry routes such as patient transport, and do not assume a campaign will open on a predictable timetable. Our patient transport jobs guide covers PTS roles, and the trust-by-trust guide covers services elsewhere in the UK.

Other Things SAS Asks You to Consider

The 2017 pack included a self-assessment questionnaire. It was not scored, but it is a useful reality check. It asked candidates to consider whether they could:

• work flexibly as relief staff, sometimes changing shifts at short notice
• work from other stations when required
• live within three miles of the station if offered an on-call location
• undertake training that might take them away from home
• accept vaccinations and boosters on occupational health advice

The same pack noted that the role requires the DVLA Group 2 medical standard for driving, as part of pre-employment health screening. If any of these would be a problem for you, it is better to know before you apply.

Sensible General Preparation

Because the test mirrors real tasks, the most useful preparation is familiarity with the format, not a specific training plan. In general terms:

• Know the sequence. Read the specification so nothing on the day surprises you.
• Get used to kneeling. The compressions stage is about being able to kneel and work for two minutes.
• Watch and repeat carefully. The dexterity task rewards calm attention to the demonstration, even when you are breathing hard.
• Practise listening and repeating short sentences, in case a recall element is included.
• Rest well, eat sensibly and wear suitable clothing and footwear on the day.
• If you have a health condition or injury, speak to your GP and tell the recruitment team in advance about any adjustments you may need.

For how fitness tests compare across other UK services, see our ambulance fitness test guide.

Preparing for the Rest of Selection

The physical test is only one stage. Ambulance Crew Prep covers the written and knowledge-based side: a Highway Code and road-sign quiz, a non-clinical ambulance situational judgement test, map-reading exercises and a trust-by-trust process guide. The pack costs £14.99, paid once. You can try the free Highway Code demo first. For the competency interview, our Values-Based Interview Coach supports the NHS Scotland values and gives feedback on your own answers. 999ready is independent and not affiliated with the Scottish Ambulance Service or NHS Scotland.